with the Holy Ghost not many | saying, Lord, wilt thou at this days hence. time restore again the kingdom 6 When they therefore were to Israel? come together, they asked of him, hence. The promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, as is related in the second chapter of the Acts. The Pentecost occurred fifty days from the passover, which was the time when our Lord was crucified; and as his ascension occurred forty days (v. 3) after his resurrection, the promised effusion of the Holy Spirit took place about ten days from the time of this declaration. 6. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him. The same interview is here referred to, as is spoken of in the two preceding verses; and the original might be more literally rendered, Those who had come together asked of him. || Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? The word Israel here means the Jewish nation. In common with other Jews, the disciples appear, before their Lord's crucifixion, to have cherished the expectation that the Messiah would establish an earthly reign of great dignity and glory. Compare Matt. 20: 21. After his resurrection, similar views appear to have been cherished by them for a time; and it was in consequence of this expectation, that the question in this verse was proposed to our Lord. The disciples wished to know whether the time was now come in which he would assume royal power, and restore to the nation its former prosperity, giving it dominion, under his auspices, over all the nations of the earth. With this earthly view of the Messiah's reign, there was, doubtless, associated in their minds a partial view of its spiritual nature, as designed to establish true religion, and to bring over the nations to that religion. Their views of religion had also undergone a great change; and they were far superior to their countrymen in valuable religious knowledge. They had not been connected so long with Jesus wholly in vain; nor were his 7 And he said unto them, It is instructions without good effects on their minds, as well as hearts. Still, they were not yet wholly free from the erroneous impressions which their early education had made. 7. It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, &c. Without aiming directly to remove their misapprehensions, and without answering their inquiry, Jesus presented to the disciples the thought, that it was properly no part of their concern to know the precise time, or the appointed opportunity, for a signal manifestation of the Messiah's authority. God had seen fit to reserve to himself such knowledge. It was their duty patiently to wait the developments of divine Providence, and to hold themselves ready to receive the extraordinary endowments which the Spirit would bestow. Events were just at hand, the Saviour knew, which would correct all the misconceptions of the disciples; and he confidently trusted, in respect to their attaining correct views, to the efficacy of the Spirit's influences, which were soon to be imparted. Their views would then be corrected and enlarged. Light would beam on their minds, and they would discover the utter needlessness of some inquiries which were now deeply interesting to them. It appears from the ninth verse of this chapter, that, at the close of the interview during which this conversation occurred, our Lord's ascension took place. The time when a very important manifestation of the Messiahship of Jesus was to be made, was only ten days distant. Forty days were already passed since his resurrection; and ten more would introduce the Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit would be shed forth. REFLECTION. The remark of our Saviour to his inquisitive disciples conveys a salutary lesson to us all. When we feel desirous to pry into not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come the counsels of God respecting the future, and to inquire at what time the millennial glory of the church will be ushered in, or when the end of the world will come, or the day of judgment break upon the world, let us check such unprofitable inquiries by remembering, that it is not for us to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath established by his own authority, and kept concealed in his own mind. Soldiers in active service are not expected to be inquiring into the times and seasons, when their general's plans are to be executed. Be it, rather, our solicitude to be always ready for our personal summons to the bar of God, and to be always living in such a manner that we shall contribute to the preparation of others, as well as of ourselves, to give up the final account with joy. upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. edged as Jews. Between them, indeed, and the Jews, there existed deepseated hostility. See John 4:9. In our Lord's first commission to his apostles, he forbade them to "enter into any city of the Samaritans " (Matt. 10: 5); for the time of his full manifestation as the Messiah and Saviour was not then arrived; and during his lifetime he was specially sent to "the house of Israel." Matt. 15: 24. He did, indeed, himself visit Sychar, a city of the Samaritans, and spent two days there. John 4:5, 43. But this was an exception to his ordinary practice. Now, however, that he was about ascending to heaven, and that the gospel was to be spread every where, the Samaritans, as well as the Jews, were to be blessed with it. And on account of the unfriendly feeling between the Jews and the Samaritans, a special direction was 8. Ye shall receive power; ye shall needed by the apostles concerning receive all needed ability for the office Samaria. Without this, some of them to which ye are called. Reference is might have been in danger of cherhad, as appears by the next clause, to ishing the same spirit which was felt the supernatural ability with which by James and John, when they said, the apostles were to be endowed by in reference to a village of the Samarthe Holy Spirit. They would need itans, "Lord, wilt thou that we comspecial illumination and the extraor- mand fire to come down out of heaven dinary influences of the Spirit, so as and consume them, as Elias did?" to apprehend and explain the prin- See Luke 9: 51-56. In the 8th ciples of the Messiah's religion, and chapter of Acts, vs. 9-25, we have to`give miraculous evidence that the an account of the gospel's being excause of Jesus enjoyed divine ap- tensively preached among the Samarproval and assistance. || After that itans. Unto the uttermost part of the Holy Ghost is come upon you; or, the earth. Still more widely were the Holy Spirit being come on you. they directed to make known the It was by the Holy Spirit's agency Lord Jesus, as the appointed Saviour. that the apostles were to be fully pre- Beyond the limits of Palestine, even pared for their office. Thus our Lord to the ends of the earth, were they here expressed plainly what he had to spread the gospel. The language called, in the fourth verse, the promise of the Saviour on this occasion is in of the Father. In Jerusalem and in interesting accordance with the lanall Judea; in the metropolis of the guage of the second psalm, v. 8, “I nation, and through all the country shall give thee the uttermost parts of the Jews. || In Samaria. This of the earth for thy possession." was the central portion of Palestine; Throughout the known world, wherbut its inhabitants were not acknowl-ever they could find, or make, an op 9 And when he had spoken | into heaven? This same Jesus these things, while they beheld, which is taken up from you into he was taken up; and a cloud re- heaven, shall so come in like manceived him out of their sight. ner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up portunity, they were to bear their testimony respecting Jesus. The providence and the Spirit of God, accordingly, so directed them, that, in a few years after the Saviour's ascension, the gospel was extensively proclaimed through the three quarters of the world then known. 9. He was taken up; into heaven. Compare Luke 24:51. || And a cloud received him, &c. He became enveloped and overshadowed, doubtless, by "a bright cloud," like that which appeared at the transfiguration of Jesus, as related in Matt. 17: 5. The forty days during which Jesus made communications to his disciples, were peculiarly important in preparing them for the copious outpouring of the Holy Spirit, by which they became fully qualified for their work of bearing testimony for their Lord. 10. Two men; angels in human form. Angels frequently appeared in such a manner. See Matt. 28: 2. Luke 24: 4. || In white apparel. Angels appearing in human form, on other occasions, assumed such apparel. See Matt. 28: 3. John 20: 12. 11. Ye men of Galilee. The apostles and the Christian company, generally, belonged to Galilee, the northern part of Palestine. Compare 2: 7. Matt. 26: 73. || Shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Jesus himself foretold, in Matt. 26: 64, that he should hereafter some "in the clouds of heaven." And in Rev. 1: 7, we read, "Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him." He departed into heaven in a truly glorious manner in due time he will appear again in his glory (Matt. 25: 31) to judge the world. 12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem, from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. 13 And when they were come REMARK. In the language of Doddridge, " let us, with the apostles, look up after an ascending Saviour, and send our wishes and our souls to heaven, where he now is, and where he must remain till that important day in which he shall descend to the final judgment. In the mean time, may his cause and service be ever dear to us! And while he is attending to our concerns in the world above, may we, with grateful and joyful alacrity, pursue that which he graciously condescends to own as his interest here upon earth!" 12. The mount called Olivet; the same as is elsewhere called "the mount of Olives." Matt. 21: 1. 24: 3. It was a high ridge, east of Jerusalem and parallel to the city. It was formerly planted with olive-trees. From this mount Jesus ascended to heaven. Compare the note on v. 4. Which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. A sabbath day's journey among the Jews, was about a mile. The expression here used is not, however, to be so strictly understood as to mean a definite number of paces, neither more nor less; but, a short distance, such as, according to Jewish custom, it was not considered wrong to go on the sabbath to attend wor ship at a synagogue. Different parts of mount Olivet were, of course, more or less distant from Jerusalem. one side, the foot of the mountain was but five furlongs distant; while Bethany, which lay on the opposite side, was fifteen furlongs. See John 11: 18. On 13. When they were come in; that is, into the city. An upper room, where abode both Peter and James, &c.; an upper room of the house in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of where Peter and the other apostles usually remained. Probably the idea is, not that they made this house their home, but that they habitually resorted to it, and were generally there. They would naturally wish to be frequently together, and to be often occupied in social prayer. Jewish houses were furnished with a large upper room (Mark 14: 15), devoted to conversation with friends, to prayer and meditation. At a later date, "the early Christians were accustomed to assemble in some convenient upper room, set apart for the purpose.' Such rooms were generally the most capacious, and in the highest part of the building. It may be interesting to observe, though the observation is of little importance, that early ecclesiastical tradition represents the room here spoken of as the very one in which our Lord celebrated the last passover, and instituted the Lord's supper, and in which the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost. Peter, &c. For a similar list of the apostles' names, see Matt. 10:2—4. Luke 6:14-16. James, the son of Alpheus. This is James the Less, so called to distinguish him from the other James, who was brother of John and son of Zebedee. Alpheus is believed to be the same as Cleophas, mentioned, in John 19:25, as husband of Mary, who was sister to our Lord's mother. Compare Mark 15: 40, where Mary is called the mother of James the Less. This James, therefore, and his brother Judas, or Jude, were own cousins to Jesus. Simon Zelotes. Compare Luke 6: 15. In Matt. 10: 4, instead of the appellation Zelotes, we find Canaanite, or, as the word ought to be spelled, Cananite. These two words are the same in meaning, but are derived from two different languages; the former being a Greek word, and the latter a Hebrew one. In the Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary age of Christ and the apostles, there was, among the Jews, an extensive association of private individuals, who undertook to maintain the purity of the national religion by inflicting punishment, without the form of a trial, on all Jews who should violate their sacred institutions. They declared themselves impelled by a more than human zeal. The word Zelotes (zealot) designates a member of this association; and Simon was probably once connected with it. The word Cananite, also, traced to its Hebrew origin, signifies a zealot. || Judas; also called (see Matt. 10: 3) Lebbeus and Thaddeus. Brother of James; that is, of James the Less, son of Alpheus. Compare the Epistle of Jude, 1st verse. 14. With the women; the women, who, as Matthew says (27:55), " followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him." Compare also Luke 8: 2, 3. These devout women associated themselves with the apostles, being of a kindred spirit, fervent friends of Jesus, and confidently expecting the fulfilment of his promises. The presence of Mary, the mother of Jesus, doubtless added fuel to the flame of their piety, as well as gave them opportunities for sympathizing with her. Mary, the mother of Jesus. "This is the last time," says Scott, "in which Mary, the mother of Jesus, is mentioned in Scripture: and it is in a very cursory manner, as one of the company who joined in prayer, but without any peculiar distinction, or the least appearance of her exercising authority over, or even of giving counsel to, the apostles." His brethren. The original word, translated brethren, was applied,among the Jews, to near relatives, as well as to own brothers; so that it cannot be decided whether the persons here spoken of were our Lord's brothers, or only his near relatives. The lan guage in Matt. 1: 25, and 12: 46, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of the names agrees well with the belief that he had brothers. It appears from John 7:5, that these persons did not at first acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah. But at the time of which Luke is here speaking, their doubts were overcome, and they had yielded to the evidence of his being the Saviour. How appropriately was this company of apostles and Christians occupied ! Expecting some signal manifestation of their Lord's power and grace, which would qualify them to promote his cause, they gave themselves to prayer. They waited for the fulfilment of their Lord's promise. They waited, however, not in idleness, but in earnest supplication. They waited on him, as well as for him. "Never have we more reason to expect the communication of the Holy Spirit of God to us, than when we are employing our time in devotion and in Christian converse, so far as Providence affords us leisure from our secular affairs." together were about a hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the had professed to be his disciples, had forsaken his cause since the fury of the Jewish rulers had prevailed against him. Others, too, had been thrown into perplexity; and, to human view, were on the point of wholly abandoning his cause. Such of these as had heard of the Saviour's resurrection had, doubtless, received a confirmation of their faith and hope. Thus there were scattered over the land not a few who would show themselves, on a suitable occasion, the steadfast followers of Jesus. 16. Men and brethren. The word and, it will be perceived by its being printed in Italics, was supplied by our translators. The form of expression in the original is simply equivalent to our term brethren, the word men being placed before it as indicative of respect. Such, too, was the manner of public address among the Greeks on occasions of importance, and when the speaker felt the respect which was due to the assembly. || This scrip15. Peter stood up in the midst of ture; namely, that which the apostle the disciples. Peter appears to have cites in the twentieth verse. || Must been a leader among the apostles. needs have been fulfilled. This does not Compare 2: 14. 3: 12. 4:8. 5: 3. mean that Judas, or any person conHis love to his Lord, whom he had cerned in apprehending and crucifydenied, was revived and confirmed; ing the Saviour, was compelled to and the natural fervor of his soul act thus against his will. The lanagain prompted him to take a forward guage merely affirms the certainty part in the transactions, in which he that the scripture would be fulfilled. was interested. The names; that Inspired prophets had foretold that is, the persons. A hundred and the Messiah would be violently put twenty. It is not said, that the whole to death. This event, therefore, was number of disciples was a hundred to take place. The scripture cannot and twenty; but such was the num- be broken (John 10: 35); and whatber now together in Jerusalem. There ever it had declared respecting this were others scattered through the event in general, or respecting the country, who were in heart disciples doom of any particular man who of Jesus, but whose occupation and should contribute to it, must be fulcircumstances did not allow of their filled. Yet we know that every one being in Jerusalem. Compare 1 who was concerned in the betrayal Cor. 15: 6, where mention is made and death of Jesus acted according of five hundred disciples to whom to his own will, and consequently Jesus appeared at one time after his contracted guilt. Compare 2: 23. resurrection. Many, doubtless, who||| Which the Holy Ghost by the mouth |