Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and were filled with indignation, (18) And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. (19) But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, (20) Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. (21) And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. (22) But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, (23) Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. (24) Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. (25) Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. (26) Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. (27) And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, (28) Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. (29) Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (30) The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. (31) Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (32) And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (33) When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. (34) Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; (35) And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. (36) For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to naught. (37) After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. (38) And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: (39) But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. (40) And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. (41) And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (42) And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Let the Reader in this place remark again, what hath been often noticed before in this Poor Man's Commentary, the hardened state of the mind, which nothing short of sovereign grace can cure. And in persons of the characters here spoken of, for whom no provision is made in a grace-union with Christ, the thing is impossible, 2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. And solemn as the subject is, yet we see in the history of the characters here shewn, the righteous judgment of God in the appointment. The everlasting hatred they manifested to Christ while upon earth, and now to his Apostles and followers after his departure, shutting up their minds against all conviction most plainly testified the influence of Satan upon their hearts. The Lord leaving all such to their own perverse wills, can be no impeachment of his justice. The Apostle hath very fully shewn this, in his opening of the Epistle to the Romans. As they did not (saith the Apostle) like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, Romans 1:28. This was only leaving a cause to produce its own natural effects. This was but suffering them to remain in that state of unbelief and ignorance, which by their own obduracy they have brought upon themselves, and of consequence will be found in at Christ's second coming.
The opening the prison doors to the Apostles, and bringing them out, might have taught them, would they have listened to the loud voice accompanying the sovereign act, that the miracle was of God. And those Apostles not running away when brought out, as is the case with ordinary prisoners, carried a further conviction under whose protection they were. But all lose their effect with such hardened minds as are resolutely bent to resist all persuasion. Hence a judicial blindness follows. Israel, (that is, professing Israel, Romans 9:6-7.) would name of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lusts, and they walked in their own counsels, Psalms 81:11-12
There is somewhat very sweet and striking in the angel's precept to the Apostles, Go, stand and speak in the temple, to the people, all the words of this life. Not, go, and hide yourself from the fury of your enemies. Not, go, and be idle, and give over what will expose you to persecution. But, go into the most public place, the temple, stand with firmness and intrepidity, and speak to the people, the Lord's people, the people whom Jehovah hath formed for himself, they shall shew forth his praise, Isaiah 43:21, all the words of this life, even eternal life, yea, Christ himself, who is life eternal: for he is the life and the light of men. By him, life and immortality is brought to light. For He it is, that by his incarnation, ministry, death, and resurrection, hath destroyed death, spiritual death, and eternal death. And by the life, both spiritual and eternal, which in his own life-giving, soul-renewing communication, as an Head to his members, he communicates to his whole body the Church, he quickens them from sin to salvation here in grace; and from death to life hereafter in glory. Go stand and speak to the people all the words of this life!
I pray the Reader to remark the firmness of the Apostles: But let him not fail to keep always in remembrance the cause. Oh! what strength cannot the Lord impart; yea, what strength will he not impart to his people, when his glory, and his Church's welfare, are concerned?
I must not stay to enter into particulars concerning the history here recorded, of the faithfulness of the Apostles, and the malice of their persecutors. Indeed the whole is so sweetly and plainly related, that it can need no comment. Let the Reader not fail to observe, how Peter harps in all his discourses, on Covenant love, while he so often calls upon those he addressed, to attend to what the Lord Jehovah hath done, in this grand concern, as the God of our fathers. And how blessedly he points to Jesus, as a risen, and an ascended Prince and Savior, for to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins. So that Jehovah's Covenant-love, and the Redeemer's fulness of grace, finally leaves all without excuse, who neglect so great salvation!
The indignation of the Council, the advice of Gamaliel, the beating of the Apostles, and the command with which they suffered them to depart, no more to speak in the name of Jesus; these open large subjects for improvement: and I pray the Lord the Spirit to give both to the Writer and the Reader of this Poor Man's Commentary, grace so to gather sweet instruction from the perusal. But I must not enlarge.
One point more, I would call upon the Reader particularly to notice in this Chapter; namely, the Apostles departing from the presence of the Council, when stripes had been laid upon them, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus. And so far were they from being overawed by the threats of their enemies, or paying the least respect to their commands, that daily in the temple, and from house to house, they ceased not to teach, and to preach Jesus Christ.
Reader! can your mind furnish to itself anything more lovely, than such a view of primitive faithfulness, in those first earnest laborers in the Church! They were nothing intimidated by their adversaries, nothing terrified or distressed. Both publicly in the temple, and in every private house wheresoever they came; not Lord's days only, but every day; and not now and then, but unweariedly, their teaching, as well as their preaching, was all of Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus was with them, both text and sermon; they found enough in him for endless discourse. Oh! that those glorious days would return, when Christ and Christ alone, Jehovah's Christ, and Jehovah's chosen, may fill every pulpit, occupy every house, warm every heart, and flow from every tongue, in his Churches, and among his people! Lord! the Spirit, in mercy to thy Church, hasten the hour, when, the Redeemer shall arise out of Zion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob! Come my beloved, (saith the Church), and be thou like to a roe, or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices!