Acts 6 - 10

Chapter 6

(A.D. 33)

THE FIRST DEACONS

1 And in those days, when the number of the Disciples was multiplied (the followers of Christ were multiplying), there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews (refers to Jews who spoke Greek as a result of having once lived in various countries where Greek was spoken), because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration (speaks of relief in the form of food and money given to “widows” in the Church in Jerusalem who had no way to provide for themselves).

2 Then the Twelve (Twelve Apostles) called the multitude of the Disciples unto them, and said (constitutes probably the very first business meeting in the Early Church), It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God, and serve tables (refers to the voluminous administrative duties which accompanied the great growth of the Early Church in Jerusalem).

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom (is thought by some to represent the first Deacons, even though they are not called that in this Chapter), whom we may appoint over this business (the Holy Spirit told the “Twelve” what to do, the number to choose, and how they were to be chosen).

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the Ministry of the Word (tells us that “Prayer” is mentioned first, and is more important than “Preaching”; without a proper Prayer Life, there can be no proper Ministry).

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude (proclaims wisdom the people could not fault, for it was wisdom from above): and they chose Stephen, a man full of Faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch (presents the seven men):

6 Whom they set before the Apostles (now presented for acceptance and confirmation): and when they had prayed (sought the Lord’s approval of these men, which evidently they received), they laid their hands on them (the laying on of hands was to designate them for an office, work, or Ministry, as Moses did Joshua [Num. 27:18-23]).

7 And the Word of God increased (means that more and more men were Preaching the Gospel of Jesus); and the number of the Disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly (could have been as many as one hundred thousand people who had accepted the Lord); and a great company of the Priests were obedient to the Faith (presents one of the greatest Testimonies to date of the Power of God).

STEPHEN

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power (speaks of a great knowledge of the Word of God, and of the Holy Spirit controlling this man, and, thereby, using him), did great wonders and miracles among the people (these things were Divinely done).

9 Then there arose certain of the Synagogue, which is called the Synagogue of the Libertines (speaks of Jews who had been taken as slaves to Rome or elsewhere in the Roman Empire, but now had been set free, consequently coming back to Jerusalem; they had a Synagogue in Jerusalem, and perhaps several), and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia (pertains to each one of these groups of Jews who had a Synagogue in Jerusalem), disputing with Stephen (it is thought by some that Paul, then known as Saul, was the leading disputer against Stephen; he could have been associated with the Synagogue that pertained to Cilicia, as Tarsus, the hometown of Paul, was in that region).

10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke (if it was Paul who led the dispute against Stephen, it would have been most interesting, considering that Paul was the hope of the Pharisees at that time and, therefore, reputed to have great knowledge of the Law; the difference is that the Holy Spirit anointed Stephen!).

11 Then they suborned men (they planned and formed a scheme together, which held no validity or truth), which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God (concerns their concocted scheme).

12 And they stirred up the people, and the Elders, and the Scribes (refers to the lies they told and kept telling respecting Stephen), and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the Council (refers to them getting permission from the Sanhedrin to arrest Stephen, which they did),

13 And set up false witnesses, which said (proclaims the similarity of Stephen’s trial with that of our Lord), This man ceases not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the Law (this was their charge, which was false):

14 For we have heard him say (represents a distortion of what Stephen had probably said; they probably based their accusation upon some semblance of Truth, but totally distorted its meaning), that this Jesus of Nazareth (said in such a way as to be most contemptuous) shall destroy this place (probably referred to the Words said by Jesus in the Olivet discourse [Mat. 24:2]), and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us (it is true that the customs were to be changed as a result of the New Covenant, and in fact were meant to be changed).

15 And all that sat in the Council (Sanhedrin), looking stedfastly on him (gazed intently, and for purpose and reason), saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel (pertains to the Glory of the Lord shinning on the face of Stephen).

Chapter 7

(A.D. 33)

STEPHEN’S DEFENSE

1 Then said the High Priest, Are these things so? (This was asked concerning the charges!)

2 And he said (Stephen), Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken (addresses and is meant to address the religious hierarchy of Israel); The God of Glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran (doesn’t tell us exactly what this appearance was, whether visible or that the Lord may have used someone else to deliver the Message; the exact place in that land was Ur of the Chaldees [Gen. 15:7]),

3 And said unto him, Get thee out of your country (pertained to a land of idol worship), and from your kindred (in effect, says they were idol-worshippers as well), and come into the land which I shall show you (refers to the land of Canaan).

4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran (about 700 miles north of Ur of the Chaldees; he stayed there approximately two or three years): and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein you now dwell (the Land of Canaan).

5 And He (God) gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on (means that Abraham personally never owned any of the Land of Canaan, except the “Cave of Machpelah,” which was used for a burial place for he and Sarah [Gen. 23]): yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him (refers to the seed of Isaac, not Ishmael [Gen. 17:19]), when as yet he had no child (for all of this to be done, Abraham and Sarah must have an heir, which they ultimately did have in Isaac).

6 And God spoke on this wise (concerns the Prophecy given to Abraham by the Lord respecting the future of his seed), That his seed should sojourn in a strange land (Egypt); and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years (the whole length of the Dispensation of Promise [Abraham to Moses] was 430 years [Ex. 12:40; Gal. 3:14-17]; the 400 years of Gen. 15:13 and Acts 7:6 are to be reckoned from the confirmation of Isaac as the seed when Ishmael was cast out [Gen. 21:12; Gal. 4:30]; this was five years after the birth of Isaac).

7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God (speaks of Egypt [Ex. 1:1-14; 31]): and after that shall they come forth, and serve Me in this place (the Children of Israel were delivered from Egyptian bondage and given the Promised Land, which Stephen refers to as “this place”).

8 And He (God) gave him (Abraham) the Covenant of Circumcision (refers to the Abrahamic Covenant of Gen. 12:1-3; 17:9-27, and not the Mosaic Covenant which continued Circumcision, but did not originate it): and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the Twelve Patriarchs (speaks of his sons as the Twelve Heads of the Tribes of Israel, and who came under the same Covenant of Circumcision).

9 And the Patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt (they were jealous of him, in that he was chosen by his father Jacob to inherit the Birthright [I Chron. 5:1-2]): but God was with him (men rule, but God overrules!),

10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions (does not say there were no afflictions, but that the Lord delivered Joseph out of every snare set for him by Satan), and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him Governor over Egypt and all his house (portrays, for a change, a wise ruler!).

11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan (refers to the seven year famine), and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance (all of this was orchestrated purposely by the Lord, in order that His Plan be carried out respecting the nation of Israel).

12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first (he sent his sons).

13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren (refers to their second trip to Egypt with Joseph testing them [Gen. 45:1-28]); and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh (they were introduced to Pharaoh, with Joseph seeking permission for his family to come into Egypt).

14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him (this is symbolic of the Second Coming, when Israel will finally come to Jesus), and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls (seventy-five souls; Stephen was including the five sons of Manasseh and Ephraim; Gen. 46:27 and Deut. 10:22 mention seventy people who went into Egypt, but did not include these five).

15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers (while his life and Ministry were in Egypt, his heart was in Canaan),

16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem (refers to “Shechem” [Gen. 23:6-20; 33:19; 47:30; 49:29; 50:5; Ex. 13; 19; Josh. 24:32]; this was in Canaan).

17 But when the time of the Promise drew near (God’s timing is just as important as His Promise), which God had sworn to Abraham (the Promise of God concerned the Land of Canaan being given to the Children of Israel), the people (Israelites) grew and multiplied in Egypt,

18 Till another king arose (another Pharaoh), which knew not Joseph (means that this new Pharaoh had no regard for Egypt’s past respecting Joseph, and consequently had no regard for Joseph’s people, the Israelites!).

19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers (proclaimed such being allowed by the Lord, and for purpose and reason; had they been treated kindly by this Pharaoh, they would not have desired to leave Egypt), so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live (speaks of the demand ordered by Pharaoh that all the boy babies of the Israelites be killed when they were born).

20 In which time Moses was born (presents another step in the Plan of God for Israel’s deliverance), and was exceeding fair (describes the appearance of the child), and nourished up in his father’s house three months (pertained to the time he was hidden by his parents, in order that he not be killed as was demanded by Pharaoh of all newly-born baby boys):

21 And when he was cast out (speaks of the time when he could not be hidden any longer), Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son (again, this was orchestrated by the Lord).

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians (highly educated), and was mighty in words and in deeds (Josephus says that Moses ultimately became a General in the Egyptian Army, and defeated the Ethiopians).

23 And when he was full forty years old (pertains to the years Moses spent in Pharaoh’s Court), it came into his heart to visit his brethren the Children of Israel (before now it seems that he had not been too occupied with the plight of “his brethren”).

24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him (the Holy Spirit begins to move Moses in this direction), and avenged him who was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian (Moses had the right motive, but this was the wrong way):

25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them (the sentence structure here tells us that the Lord was definitely dealing with Moses about the deliverance of the Children of Israel; however, the people were not ready and neither was Moses!): but they understood not.

26 And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again (these two Israelites were angry with each other), saying, Sirs, you are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? (This will bring forth an answer he was not anticipating.)

27 But he who did his neighbour wrong thrust him (Moses) away (plainly proclaims the man rejecting the leadership of Moses), saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? (As stated, neither Moses nor the people were yet ready for deliverance.)

28 Will you kill me, as you did the Egyptian yesterday? (Evidently, Moses did not realize that his killing of the Egyptian was known; however, he had been seen!)

29 Then fled Moses at that saying (Moses was soon to find out that Pharaoh also knew and was angry, so he fled Egypt [Ex. 2:14-15]), and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons (their names were Gershom and Eliezer [Ex. 2:22; 18:3-4]).

30 And when forty years were expired (it only took a very short time to get Moses out of Egypt, but forty years to get Egypt out of Moses; the flesh dies hard!), there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sina an Angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush (this was actually God Himself appearing to Moses [Ex. 3:2; 4:17]).

31 When Moses saw it (the burning bush), he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the Voice of the Lord came unto him (after forty years, the Lord now speaks),

32 Saying, I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (in essence says that He was the same One Who had spoken to them; it also means they were alive at that very time, actually in Paradise). Then Moses trembled, and turned his face away (Ex. 3:6).

33 Then said the Lord to him (begins a scenario that would only end some forty years later), Put off your shoes from your feet: for the place where you stand is Holy Ground (the pulling off of the shoes signified that Moses was relinquishing ownership to everything; slaves do not wear shoes, and he, in effect, would be a slave of Christ, exactly as Paul).

34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of My people which is in Egypt (God sees all and knows all), and I have heard their groaning (groaning under the burden imposed by the Egyptian taskmasters, who were types of Satan), and am come down to deliver them (He delivered them by the means of the slain lamb and the blood applied to the doorposts, in essence the Cross; the Cross is still the only manner of Deliverance [Ex. 12:13]). And now come, I will send you into Egypt (presents one of the most appalling commissions ever given to any man).

35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? (This is meant by the Holy Spirit through Stephen to show that the Jesus they had rejected and crucified was their only Present and Eternal Saviour.) the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush (the Sanhedrin were overly familiar with this; however, they surely understood the implication).

36 He brought them out (speaks of Egypt, but is meant to convey as well the Deliverance effected regarding every believing sinner upon coming to Christ), after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt (he manifested His great Power to Egypt, so that the Egyptians were without excuse), and in the Red Sea (speaks of the greatest Miracle that had ever been performed up to that time), and in the wilderness forty years (presents the Divine protection of God for this length of time, even though it was His Will that they only be there about two years, if that!).

37 This is that Moses, which said unto the Children of Israel (portrays Stephen now presenting the fact of Christianity, even though it was not even called such then), A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall you hear (points directly to Jesus as the fulfillment of that Prophecy given by Moses so long before).

38 This is he (Moses), who was in the Church in the wilderness with the Angel which spoke to him in the Mount Sinai (actually refers to God Himself, Who gave Moses the Law), and with our fathers (refers to the fact that the Elders of Israel, were to help Moses, but rather, did the opposite!): who received the lively oracles to give unto us (refers to the Law of Moses):

39 To whom our fathers would not obey (marks the history of Israel, which ultimately led to their destruction), but thrust him from them (had God not intervened, at least several times, they would have killed Moses), and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt (puts the finger right square on the problem; their “hearts” were still in Egypt, just like the hearts of many Believers presently are still in the world),

40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us (proclaims the sin which ultimately destroyed Israel): for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him (while God was preparing great things for them, they were preparing to worship idols!).

41 And they made a calf in those days (this was their idol), and offered sacrifice unto the idol (probably represented a lamb, but in times to come would include human sacrifice), and rejoiced in the works of their own hands (it is still the problem presently, with the Church little desiring to lean solely on Christ and what He has done at the Cross; many prefer a Salvation “of their own hands”).

42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of Heaven (refers to the sun, moon, and stars); as it is written in the Book of the Prophets, O ye house of Israel, have you offered to Me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? (While Israel did offer up Sacrifices, they were not always to God. “To Me” is emphatic!)

43 Yes, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch (refers to the name of the main Ammonite Deity to whom children were offered by fire [Lev. 18:21; 20:2; Deut. 18:10; II Ki. 16:3; 26:6; 23:10; Jer. 19:5; 32:35]), and the star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship them (this was the star-god of Babylon): and I will carry you away beyond Babylon (Stephen quotes from Amos 5:25-27; however, he used the name “Babylon” while Amos used the name “Damascus”; both were correct).

44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He had appointed (means that God gave them the “Tabernacle” plus the articles of Sacred Vessels, in order that His People may have a way to worship Him), speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen (presents the design exclusively by the Lord, which means that Moses was not to deviate from that design).

45 Which also our fathers who came after brought in with Jesus (Joshua) into the possession of the Gentiles (refers to the Land of Canaan), whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David (refers to a time span of approximately five hundred years; during that time, victories were sparse);

46 Who found favour before God (referring to David), and desired to find a Tabernacle for the God of Jacob (speaks of the Ark of the Covenant being brought into Jerusalem, after being untended for approximately seventy years [II Sam. 6:12; Ps. 132:6]).

47 But Solomon built Him (God) an house (the plans were given to David, but it is Solomon, his son, who built the house).

48 Howbeit the most High dwells not in Temples made with hands (speaks of the prayer offered by Solomon at the dedication of the Temple [I Ki. 8:27]); as said the Prophet (this phrase should have been in the next Verse, because it speaks of Isaiah),

49 Heaven is My Throne, and earth is My Footstool (God is bigger and greater than anything): what house will you build Me? says the Lord (the Temple was to be merely a stopgap measure until Christ would come): or what is the place of My rest? (Israel had come to the place where they believed the Temple was all in all. They didn’t see it as a step toward an ultimate goal. The “rest” is found only in Christ [Mat. 11:28-30].)

50 Has not My Hand made all these things? (He has made the heavens and the Earth and all that is therein, so why would He want to confine Himself totally to one small building on Earth?)

51 You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears (presents Stephen using the same language as Moses when he conveyed God’s rebuke to Israel [Deut. 10:16]), you do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do you (everything carried out by God on Earth is through the Person and Office of the Holy Spirit; to resist Him is to resist God, for He is God; they resisted Him by resisting the Plan of God, Who and What was Jesus Christ).

52 Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted? (This is very similar to that stated by Christ [Mat. 5:12; 23:30-31, 34-37; Lk. 13:33-34].) and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One (they killed the Prophets who pointed to the One Who was to come, namely Jesus); of Whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers (is about as strong as anything that could be said; how different this is from most of the modern Preaching!):

53 Who (Israel) have received the Law (Law of Moses) by the disposition of Angels (speaks of the myriads of Angels who were present and were used to help give the Law of Moses to Israel [Ps. 68:17]), and have not kept it (contradicted their claims!).

THEIR ANSWER

54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart (refers to the depth to which the Holy Spirit took Stephen’s words, which, in effect, were the “Words of the Lord”), and they gnashed on him with their teeth (proclaims their answer to Stephen and the Holy Spirit).

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit (the second time this is said of him [Acts 6:5]), looked up stedfastly into Heaven (means that Stephen saw something in Heaven which immediately seized his attention), and saw the Glory of God (he saw the Throne of God), and Jesus standing on the Right Hand of God (Christ is usually presented as sitting at the Right Hand of God [Heb. 1:3], but here He is seen standing, as rising to welcome His Faithful martyr and to place on his head the Crown of Life),

56 And said, Behold, I see the Heavens opened (proclaims Jesus in His Glory as God, just as the Heavens had opened to see Jesus in His humiliation on Earth as Man [Jn. 1:51]), and the Son of Man standing on the Right Hand of God (proclaims His rightful place by virtue of His achievements and exaltation to original Glory [Jn. 17:5; Eph. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 1:3-4]).

57 Then they (members of the Sanhedrin) cried out with a loud voice (had they cried out in Repentance, the future of Israel could have been drastically changed for the better), and stopped their ears (means that they no longer desired to hear anything he desired to say), and ran upon him with one accord (all of the religious leadership of Israel were guilty),

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him (this was their answer to the plea of God for their souls): and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet (they took off their outer garments so as to be free to hurl the stones at their victim with greater force), whose name was Saul (presents the first mention of this man who would have a greater positive impact on Christianity than any other human being who has ever lived; the death of Stephen, no doubt, played a part in the later conversion of Paul).

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God (presents a monstrous offense on the part of his murderers; we must remember, he was murdered by the religious leaders of Israel), and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (presents Stephen rendering Divine Worship to Jesus Christ in the most sublime form, and in the most solemn moment of his life).

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge (presents him dying on his knees, without malice toward his murderers). And when he had said this, he fell asleep (portrays the body falling asleep, while his soul and spirit instantly went to be with Jesus; due to what Jesus did at the Cross; death is now looked at as merely going to sleep).

Chapter 8

(A.D. 34)

SAUL

1 And Saul (Paul) was consenting unto his death (means that he expressed hearty approval of the stoning of Stephen). And at that time there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem (the Church, as far as we know, was then confined to Jerusalem); and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria (the persecution helped take the Gospel to these particular regions; so Satan’s plan backfired), except the Apostles (they stayed in Jerusalem, no doubt at the behest of the Holy Spirit; for the Apostles to leave at that time could have destroyed the infant Church).

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial (proclaims the high esteem with which they held this man, and rightly so!), and made great lamentation over him (what a difference between his death and that of Ananias and Sapphira).

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the Church (it seems he was the leader of this persecution), entering into every house (referring to those houses he knew contained followers of Christ), and haling men and women committed them to prison (he spared no age or gender, but forced them all before magistrates).

4 Therefore they who were scattered abroad (refers to a result of the persecution) went every where preaching the Word (as stated, the persecution backfired; instead of stopping the “Word” it rather scattered the “Word!”; Satan dreads the preaching of the Gospel by the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, but has no controversy with either ritualism or philanthropy).

PHILIP

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria (should have been translated, “a city of Samaria,” which was probably “Sychem;” this was the Philip of Acts 6:5), and preached Christ unto them (refers to him proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, God manifest in the flesh, and being raised from the dead; he would not have understood much about the Cross at this particular time; that awaiting the conversion of Paul).

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke (proclaims a great acceptance of the Gospel), hearing and seeing the miracles which he did (verified the Message he preached).

7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many who were possessed with them (the Name of Jesus was used to cast out demons): and many taken with palsies, and who were lame, were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city (when the Message of Christ is accepted, it always brings “great joy”).

THE SORCERER

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery (pertained to the practice of the rites of the art of the Magi; it is of Satan), and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one (it seemed they believed his claims):

10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest (proclaims that all were duped by his sorceries), saying, This man is the great power of God (they attributed his magic and stunts to being done by the Power of God, when in reality it was of Satan; much in the modern Church which claims to be the Power of God falls into the same category).

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries (the word “bewitched” refers to the fact that the person or persons are deprived of the ability to think or order their thoughts correctly).

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God (they now encountered a Power which was greater than the powers of darkness), and the Name of Jesus Christ (Salvation is in that Name and what it refers to, which speaks of the Cross; the very Name “Jesus” means “Saviour”), they were baptized, both men and women (they were baptized in water after they were saved, not baptized in order to be saved).

13 Then Simon himself believed also (every evidence is that Simon truly gave his heart and life to the Lord Jesus; the word “believed” is used here exactly as it was in the previous Verse, which signifies Salvation [Jn. 3:16; Rom. 10:9-13]): and when he was baptized (plainly informs us that Philip saw enough evidence of Repentance and Faith in Christ that he baptized Simon exactly as he did the others), he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done (he watched carefully what Philip was doing, and noted that there was no trickery involved).

THE HOLY SPIRIT

14 Now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God (many had been saved), they sent unto them Peter and John (for a reason which we will see):

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit (this was their purpose for coming, and this is how important it is for Believers to be Baptized with the Spirit):

16 (For as yet He (the Holy Spirit) was fallen upon none of them (evidently Philip had strongly preached Salvation, but had not preached the Baptism with the Holy Spirit): only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.) (This is meant to infer that they had been baptized in water, but not the Baptism with the Spirit.)

17 Then laid they their hands on them (presents one of the ways Believers can be baptized with the Spirit, but this is not necessary in order to be filled [Acts 2:4; 10:44-48]), and they received the Holy Spirit (doesn’t give any more information, but we know from Acts 2:4; 10:44-48; 19:1-7 that they also spoke with tongues).

THE SINFUL PROPOSAL

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given (what did he see? he saw and heard them speak with tongues), he offered them money (he would not have offered money for the mere laying on of hands),

19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit (money cannot purchase these Gifts, or anything else of God for that matter).

20 But Peter said unto him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the Gift of God may be purchased with money (every Preacher must be extra careful that money not be made a part of the equation; God has nothing for sale; everything He has is a “Gift” [Jn. 3:16]).

21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter (the word “matter” in the Greek, as it is used here, is “Logos,” and means “a word or speech”; Peter is referring to these Believers speaking with other tongues): for your heart is not right in the Sight of God (self-will is the cause of the evil heart).

22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness (proclaims just how bad the sin was, but yet that hope is offered), and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you (tells us that God Alone could remedy this situation, and He always will upon proper Repentance, which says that He is right and I am wrong).

23 For I perceive (refers to the Holy Spirit informing Peter of the exact cause, and not mere symptoms) that you are in the gall of bitterness (condition of extreme wickedness), and in the bond of iniquity (a bondage of greed for money, power, and control over other men).

24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me (suggests a right attitude on the part of Simon), that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me (has reference to him potentially perishing, that is if he remained on that particular course).

25 And they, when they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord (they, no doubt, saw a Church established there), returned to Jerusalem, and preached the Gospel in many villages of the Samaritans (on their way to Jerusalem, they preached in many towns and villages, probably taking several weeks to do so).

PHILIP

26 And the Angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip (proclaims another mission entirely for Philip, rather than going back to Jerusalem with Peter and John), saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert (probably referred to the road that led to the Old Testament Gaza, which was destroyed in 93 B.C.).

27 And he arose and went (a distance of approximately one hundred miles; He immediately obeyed): and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an Eunuch of great authority under Candace Queen of the Ethiopians (evidently presents a Gentile who was proselyte to the Covenant of Israel), who had the charge of all her treasure (he was the treasurer of that African country), and had come to Jerusalem for to worship (could refer to the Feast of Tabernacles, which was held in October; Eusebius says, “He was the very first Gentile to convert to Christ, at least in the Early Church.”),

28 Was returning (returning to Ethiopia), and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the Prophet (more than likely spoke of a translation into Greek).

29 Then the Spirit (Holy Spirit) said unto Philip (the Holy Spirit will lead and guide all who desire such a relationship), Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him (the driver had probably stopped to water the horses), and heard him read the Prophet Isaiah (means that he was reading aloud), and said, Do you understand what you are reading? (This was perhaps asked because the Holy Spirit told him to ask such a question.)

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? (This is the reason the God-called Preacher is so very important!) And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him (he wanted Philip to explain the Scripture to him).

32 The place of the Scripture which he read was this (as well presents an orchestration carried out by the Holy Spirit), He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened He not His mouth (this refers to the Cross and the manner of approach by our Lord to this Sacrifice):

33 In His humiliation His judgment was taken away (means that all justice was suspended concerning the trial and Crucifixion of Christ): and who shall declare His generation? (This means that the Jewish Sanhedrin had tried to blot out His Memory, but with no success at all.) for His life is taken from the Earth (despite their evil intentions, the Plan of God was carried out to total fulfillment).

34 And the Eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaks the Prophet this? (This presents, as will become obvious, a heart hungry for God.) of himself, or of some other man? (This presents the correct question, which Philip will answer.)

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus (refers to Isa. 53:7-8; He explains to the Ethiopian that the Prophet Isaiah is speaking of Jesus).

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water (as they journeyed a little ways, with Philip explaining to him all of this time, they come to a place where there was water; evidently, Philip had explained to him that Water Baptism was the outward sign that Jesus had been accepted in the heart): and the Eunuch said, See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized? (He had accepted Christ, and was now eager to follow the Lord in Water Baptism.)

37 And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may (presents the only Scriptural requirement for Salvation). And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (this shows that Philip had explained the Gospel Program to this man very well!).

38 And he (the Ethiopian) commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch (this tells us that Water Baptism is by immersion, and not by mere sprinkling as taught by some); and he (Philip) baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip (means exactly what it says), that the Eunuch saw him no more (this would have been quite an experience): and he (the Ethiopian) went on his way rejoicing (his trip had been well worthwhile).

40 But Philip was found at Azotus (this was the old Ashdod, situated on the Mediterranean): and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea (about sixty miles north of Azotus).

Chapter 9

(A.D. 35)

SAUL

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord (presents Paul as the Leader of the persecution against the Early Church), went unto the High Priest (if it was A.D. 35, Caiaphas was the High Priest; once again, we see the evil of religion),

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the Synagogues (proclaims the persecution led by Paul branching out to other cities), that if he found any of this way (portrays the description of the Early Church [Jn. 14:6; Acts 18:25-26; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22]), whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem (refers to them appearing before the Sanhedrin, the same group that Crucified Christ).

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus (approximately 175 miles from Jerusalem): and suddenly there shined round about him a light from Heaven (proclaims the appearance of Christ in His Glory):

4 And he fell to the earth (implies that the Power of God knocked him down), and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? (To touch one who belongs to the Lord in a negative way is to touch the Lord!)

5 And he said, Who are You, Lord? (Paul uses this in the realm of Deity, not merely as respect as some have claimed.) And the Lord said, I am Jesus Whom you persecute (presents the Lord using the Name that Paul hated): it is hard for you to kick against the pricks (has reference to sharp goads, which were placed immediately behind the oxen and were attached to the plow; to kick against it, would cause sharp pain).

6 And he trembling and astonished said (he was stupefied and astounded), Lord, what will You have me to do? (This constitutes the moment that Paul was saved.) And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do (pertains to the Plan of God for Paul, which, in effect, would change the world).

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless (they were very much aware that something had happened, but they did not know exactly what), hearing a voice, but seeing no man (but Paul saw the man, and that man was Christ).

SAUL BLINDED

8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man (it seems that his eyes had been blinded by the Glory of the Lord): but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus (Paul, the champion of the persecutors, is now led like the blind man he temporarily is).

9 And he was three days without sight (speaks only of the physical sense; in fact, for the very first time he was now able to see), and neither did eat nor drink (presents him fasting three days and nights).

ANANIAS

10 And there was a certain Disciple at Damascus, named Ananias (the word “Disciple,” as used without exception in the Book of Acts, refers to followers of Christ); and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias (he actually saw the Lord, but in Vision form). And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord (proclaims an extensive familiarity with the Lord, far beyond the normal).

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight (proclaims the street, which still exists even after nearly two thousand years), and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus (expresses the name of the man who was the most notorious scourge of the followers of Christ in the world of that time): for, behold, he prays (Paul had much to pray about),

12 And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in (proclaims the second Vision that Paul had in a very short period of time), and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man (how empty our fears often are! how ignorant we are of where our chief good lies hid! but God knows; let us trust Him), how much evil he has done to Your Saints at Jerusalem (but yet, the Lord has changed this man, and he will become the greatest blessing to the Saints of anyone in history):

14 And here he has authority from the Chief Priests to bind all who call on Your Name (Paul’s evil intentions had preceded him; but the Lord invaded those intentions, completely changing them).

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go your way (presents an urgency which demands instant obedience by Ananias): for he is a chosen vessel unto Me (it means, “Divine Selection”), to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the Children of Israel (“Gentiles” are placed first; that was Paul’s principal calling):

16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for My Name’s sake (this is altogether different from much of the modern Gospel, which, in fact, is no Gospel at all!).

THE HOLY SPIRIT

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house (he obeyed the Command of the Lord); and putting his hands on him (on Paul) said, Brother Saul (he addressed Paul in this manner because Paul was already Saved, and had been so for the last three days and nights), the Lord, even Jesus, Who appeared unto you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit (this proclaims the fact that one is not baptized with the Holy Spirit at conversion, as many teach; in fact, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a separate work of Grace, which takes place after conversion [Acts 2:4; 8:14-17; 19:1-7]).

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized (was baptized with water, after he was baptized with the Holy Spirit).

PREACHING CHRIST

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened (refers to him ending his three-day fast). Then was Saul certain days with the Disciples which were at Damascus (probably means that Ananias introduced him to these followers of Christ; he had come to arrest them, and now he joins them; what a mighty God we serve!).

20 And straightway (immediately) he preached Christ in the Synagogues (these were the very Synagogues to which letters of the High Priest were addressed, empowering Paul to arrest any Jewish Believers who called upon the Name of Jesus), that He is the Son of God (the first time in Acts that Jesus is referred to by this title).

21 But all who heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he who destroyed them which called on this Name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the Chief Priests? (This means that those in the Synagogues had been expecting him, but not what he is now saying.)

22 But Saul increased the more in strength (refers to his greater understanding of the Word of God as the days wore on; in fact, for the first time, he understands the Word), and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ (proving from the Word of God that, Jesus, was the Messiah).

JEWISH LEADERS

23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him (the persecutor is now persecuted):

24 But their laying await was known of Saul (presents Believers informing him of the proposed action of the Jews). And they watched the gates day and night to kill him (which he was informed of as well; therefore, he will escape by a different route).

25 Then the Disciples (followers of Christ) took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

JERUSALEM

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem (presents his first visit there after his conversion), he assayed to join himself to the Disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a Disciple (they thought it was a ploy!).

27 But Barnabas took him (presents the same one mentioned in Acts 4:36), and brought him to the Apostles (actually only refers to Peter and James, the Lord’s brother [Gal. 1:19]), and declared unto them how he (Paul) had seen the Lord in the way (the Vision on the road to Damascus), and that He (Jesus) had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the Name of Jesus (Barnabas had heard this report, and now testifies to its veracity).

28 And he (Paul) was with them (the Apostles) coming in and going out at Jerusalem (probably refers to the approximate fifteen days he spent there, most of it with Simon Peter [Gal. 1:18]).

29 And he spoke boldly in the Name of the Lord Jesus (he did this, as is obvious, in the very center or core of Jesus hate), and disputed against the Grecians (he disputed with the Grecian Jews, probably preaching in the very Synagogues in which he had heard Stephen, and maybe even had debated him): but they went about to kill him (presents the same spirit now against him that he had presented against Stephen).

30 Which when the brethren knew (knew about the efforts to kill him), they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus (speaks of his home; as a result, we hear no more of Paul until Acts 11:25).

31 Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria (the attention of the Jews was diverted at this time from the Believers to other things, thereby giving the Churches rest from persecution, at least for a while), and were edified (without interruption, the Lord now builds His house); and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied (many people were saved).

PETER’S MINISTRY

32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters (now shifts the attention to this Apostle, and for a reason), he came down also to the Saints which dwelt at Lydda (refers to a town about thirty miles west of Jerusalem).

33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy (portrays, as is obvious, his helplessness).

34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you whole (refers to Peter staunchly giving Christ the credit for these Miracles): arise, and make your bed (as a token of his Miraculous Cure). And he arose immediately (he was healed instantly, and healed completely).

35 And all who dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord (the word “all,” as it is given in the original Greek, does not necessarily mean every single person in these areas, but rather to those who “saw him,” which no doubt numbered many).

TABITHA

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain Disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas (it was “Tabitha” in Syrian and “Dorcas” in the Greek; both names mean “a gazelle”): this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did (she was a lady of fine reputation and love for God).

37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died (refers to the days in which Peter was at Lydda; her death was unexpected): whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber (it means that they laid her out for viewing).

38 And forasmuch as Lydda was near to Joppa, and the Disciples (followers of Christ) had heard that Peter was there (tells us that there was a Church in Joppa), they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them (it seems that they were expecting a Miracle, irrespective that the woman was dead).

39 Then Peter arose and went with them (indicates that he was led by the Lord to do so). When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them (seems to indicate that Dorcas was a widow as well!).

40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise (exactly the same as that said by Jesus when He raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead [Mk. 5:41]). And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up (presents the first person being raised from the dead in the Early Church).

41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up (a common courtesy), and when he had called the Saints and widows, presented her alive (she is one of few in human history who has actually died, and then come back to tell the story; all who did so were connected with the Lord).

42 And it was known throughout all Joppa (one can well imagine the impact this Miracle had); and many believed in the Lord.

43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner (probably referred to several months; about eight years had passed now since Pentecost, during which time the Gospel had been preached only to the Jews; that is about to change).

Chapter 10

(A.D. 41)

CORNELIUS

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius (presents the beginning of one of the great turning points of history), a centurion of the band called the Italian band (in charge of about a hundred men),

2 A devout man (but unsaved!), and one who feared God with all his house (but unsaved!), which gave much alms to the people (but unsaved!), and prayed to God always (but unsaved! all of these things were wonderful, and certainly noticed by the Lord; but they did not save the man, even as they do not save anyone now; being religious does not constitute Salvation; there must be an acceptance of Christ and His Finished Work, if one is to be saved [Jn. 3:16; Rom. 10:9-10, 13]).

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day (but which did not save him) an Angel of God coming in to him (this as well did not save him!), and saying unto him, Cornelius (the Angel knowing his name did not save him!).

4 And when he (Cornelius) looked on him (the Angel), he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? (The title “Lord,” in the manner in which Cornelius used it, does not refer to Deity, but rather refers to respect or honor.) And he (the Angel) said unto him, Your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before God (a seeking heart will find the Lord).

5 And now send men to Joppa (proclaims the Angel telling Cornelius what to do in order to hear the Gospel, but not presenting the Gospel himself; that privilege is given to man and not to Angels), and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter (through Peter, the Lord will open the door to the Gentile world, for whom Christ died):

6 He lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side (presents, as should be obvious, the Lord knowing at all times exactly where His People are): he shall tell you what you ought to do (all he had previously done, as commendable as it was, did not save him).

7 And when the Angel which spoke unto Cornelius was departed (signals the beginning of this scenario which will shake the world), he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them who waited on him continually (concerns the three who would go to fetch Peter; it was about thirty-five miles from Caesarea to Joppa);

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them (no doubt referred to the visitation by the Angel, and what the Angel had said), he sent them to Joppa.

THE VISION

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew near unto the city (probably means that they left Caesarea very shortly after being given instructions by Cornelius the day before), Peter went up on the housetop to pray about the sixth hour (12 noon):

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten (proclaims that he was about to quit praying and have lunch): but while they made ready, he fell into a trance (a state in which one ceases to be aware of surroundings, but sees only what is portrayed to him),

11 And saw Heaven opened (before Jesus, Heaven had been closed; due to the Cross, it is now open!), and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the Earth (an object lesson):

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the Earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air (they all seemed to be unclean animals and fowls as listed in Lev., Chpt. 11).

13 And there came a Voice to him (proclaims the Lord now speaking to Peter), Rise, Peter; kill, and eat (literally says in the Greek Text, “sacrifice and eat”).

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord (Peter will now have to be taught a lesson); for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean (refers to that which is defiled and forbidden by the Law of Moses [Lev. 11; Deut. 14; Mk. 7:2]).

15 And the voice spoke unto him again the second time (proclaims a correction tended toward Peter by the Lord), What God has cleansed, that call not thou common (struck at the very heart of present Jewish beliefs; as stated, the Lord is giving Peter an object lesson, proclaiming the fact that what He did on the Cross was for the Gentile world as well as the Jewish world, with Gentiles being symbolized by the unclean animals).

16 This was done thrice (meant to impress the significance of what is being said): and the vessel was received up again into Heaven (the Vision ended).

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean (proclaims that, at this stage, Peter did not actually know what the Lord was telling him), behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate (he will soon know what the Vision meant, and will understand perfectly what the Lord is telling him),

18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there (specifies emphatically, so that only Peter would do!).

19 While Peter thought on the Vision (trying to understand what the Lord had told him), the Spirit (Holy Spirit) said unto him, Behold, three men seek you.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down (pertains to Peter being on the housetop, which in those days, as now, in that area are flat), and go with them, doubting nothing (do not waver or hesitate to obey): for I have sent them (now he will begin to understand what the Lord was telling him).

21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom you seek: what is the cause wherefore you are come? (The Holy Spirit didn’t tell Peter what they wanted or the reason for their coming. He just told Peter to go with them, “doubting nothing.”)

22 And they said, Cornelius the Centurion (portrays to Peter immediately that this man is a Gentile), a just man, and one who fears God, and of good report among all the Nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an Holy Angel to send for you into his house, and to hear words of you (what Cornelius must hear in order to be saved; Peter had been chosen to deliver to those “Words,” and now it was up to Cornelius to “hear them”).

23 Then called he them in, and lodged them (tells us that Peter now knows what the Vision meant, or at least has a good idea). And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him (six Jewish brethren accompanied him [Acts 11:1-18; 15:7]).

PETER

24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea (they probably had spent the night at Apollonia, which was about halfway along on the coast road). And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends (probably was quite a crowd).

25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him (this meeting probably took place outside the house, at the gate), and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him (does not necessarily mean that Cornelius was worshipping Peter, but was merely worshipping, inasmuch as the pronoun “him” was added by the translators).

26 But Peter took him up (better translated, “but Peter raised him up”), saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man (he is not to be bowed before or worshipped).

27 And as he (Peter) talked with him (portrays Peter putting himself on the same level as Cornelius), he went in, and found many who were come together (implies that they were awe-struck when they saw him).

28 And he said unto them, You know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation (proclaims him relating something that was quite well-known by all Gentiles who had resided in Israel for any length of time); but God has showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean (tells us that Peter now fully understands what the Vision was all about, concerning the sheet let down from Heaven).

29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for (means he questioned nothing, but obeyed as the Holy Spirit had told him to): I ask therefore for what intent you have sent for me? (This actually pertains to that which he already knew, but wanted to hear from Cornelius.)

30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house (3 p.m.), and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing (the Angel who radiated with the Presence of God),

31 And said, Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God (God remembers both the bad and the good; in His Time, He rewards both accordingly!).

32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter (second time related, which tells us how important all of this is); he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he comes, shall speak unto you (refers to the Way of Salvation made clear by Peter; this signifies that God uses men in this capacity, and not Angels).

33 Immediately therefore I sent to you (implies that such was done within the hour); and you have well done that you are come (means that they are so very pleased that Peter has come, and that he came as soon as possible). Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are Commanded you of God (they were ready!).

THE GENTILES

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said (proclaims a profound truth, as simple as it was; the Gospel will now break the bounds of Judaism, despite the efforts of man to do otherwise), Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons (not meant to be implied by Peter that this Truth is new, for it is not [II Sam. 14:14], but up to this time Peter had applied it to Jews only, not Gentiles):

35 But in every Nation (the Gospel is for all) he who fears Him, and works righteousness, is accepted with Him (the pronoun “Him” refers to Christ; God accepted the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, and all who accept Christ and the Cross are accepted with “Him”).

36 The Word which God sent unto the Children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (this is justifying Peace, which comes instantly upon the acceptance of Christ): (He is Lord of all:) (Jesus Christ is Lord because He has made Salvation possible for all who will believe [Phil. 2:11]).

37 That word, I say, you know (refers to the Life, Ministry, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ), which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the Baptism which John preached (John introduced Christ);

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with Power (as a Man, Christ needed the Holy Spirit, as we certainly do as well! in fact, everything He did was by the Power of the Spirit): who went about doing good (everything He did was good), and healing all who were oppressed of the Devil (only Christ could do this, and Believers can do such only as Christ empowers them by the Spirit); for God was with Him (God is with us only as we are “with Him”).

39 And we (the Apostles and others) are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem (Jerusalem is inferred because it was the center of religious authority; so they were without excuse); Whom they slew and hanged on a tree (“they” referred to “the Sanhedrin,” the religious leaders of Israel):

40 Him God raised up the third day (Peter is affirming the Resurrection of Christ), and showed Him openly (Jesus revealed Himself after the Resurrection to quite a number of people);

41 Not to all the people (not to all of Israel), but unto witnesses chosen before of God (refers to those who had Faith in Him and Believed), even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead (proclaims that Jesus was not a spirit, or mere apparition, but rather real, physical, and alive).

42 And He Commanded us to preach unto the people (presents God’s Way of spreading the Gospel), and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick (living) and dead (today Jesus is the Saviour, tomorrow He will be the Judge).

43 To Him give all the Prophets witness (means that He fulfilled all of the Prophecies), that through His Name (His Name Alone) whosoever (anyone in the world) believes in Him (Believes in Who and What He has done, referring to the Cross) shall receive remission of sins (freedom, deliverance, forgiveness).

THE HOLY SPIRIT

44 While Peter yet spoke these words (concerning Believing in Him), the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the Word (even though we are given very little information here, this is the moment when Cornelius and his household accepted Christ, and were saved).

45 And they of the Circumcision (Jews) which believed (Believed in Christ) were astonished (at what they saw the Lord doing, which could not be denied), as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the Gift of the Holy Spirit (Cornelius and his household were saved, and then moments later Baptized with the Holy Spirit; it was quite a meeting!).

46 For they heard them speak with tongues (this is the initial, physical evidence that one has been baptized with the Holy Spirit; it always and without exception accompanies the Spirit Baptism), and magnify God (means that some of them would stop speaking in tongues momentarily, and then begin to praise God in their natural language, magnifying His Name). Then answered Peter (presents the Apostle about to take another step),

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized (they had accepted Christ and had been Baptized with the Spirit, so now they should be Baptized in Water, which they were), which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? (Multiple millions of Gentiles since that day have been Baptized with the Holy Spirit.)

48 And he Commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord (simply means, “by the Authority of the Lord”). Then prayed they him to tarry certain days (which he possibly did!).