"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (45) Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (46) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And ye are witnesses of these things. (49) And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
Though I venture not to enlarge on those very blessed words of the Lord Jesus Christ, for all comments must fail, in attempting to shew their full blessedness, yet I entreat the Reader to ponder deeply every sentence, and consider how the solemnity of the season, when Christ so addressed his disciples, rendered all he said peculiarly affecting. What a moment it must have been! What holy awe the disciples must have felt! How differently the words of Jesus must have operated upon their minds, to all his former discourses before his death; now they beheld him risen from the dead, and as coming from the other world to give them this endearing interview; and by opening their understanding, in giving them suitable apprehensions, both of the vast importance of his mission, and of his unceasing love towards them! And, as all the Lord Jesus then said had respect to his whole Church, as well as to them, the then representatives of his Church, I pray the Reader not to overlook the boundless grace and mercy of Jesus, when giving his parting commission to them, to go forth in his name, as soon as the Father's promise of the Holy Ghost should descend upon them, and in particularly charging them to begin at Jerusalem! Observe, Reader! how the Lord manifested his watchful care over the still beloved city! Jesses had many whom the Father had given to him there. Those Jerusalem-sinners, whose hearts were to be called by sovereign grace on the then approaching day of Pentecost, were there; many of whom had joined the Scribes and Elders in his crucifixion, and were now triumphing in having shed his blood. Yet, to this Jerusalem, this slaughter-house of his Prophets, and himself also, Jesus will have the first proclamation of mercy in his death made! Oh! the riches of his grace! Oh! the boundless love of Christ, which passeth knowledge!
The Reader will, I hope, observe how Jesus hath expressed himself concerning the coming of the Holy Ghost. He calls him the promise of my Father. Sweet consideration! God the Holy Ghost, in one and the same moment is the promise of the Father, Christ's promise, and the sovereign agent, God the Holy Ghost, in his own Almighty power, from his everlasting love, engaged in covenant offices. These things will appear more fully from the consultation of those numberless scriptures which refer to the subject. I beg the Reader to turn to a few in point. Isaiah 44:3-4; Joel 2:28, etc. Isaiah 59:21; John 7:37-39. and John 14:15 and John 16:1 Acts 13:2-4, etc.