Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Acts
Book: Acts
Chapter: 2
Overview:
The descent of the Holy
Spirit at the
Day of
Pentecost.
(1-4)
The apostles speak in divers languages.
(5-13) Peter's address
to the Jews.
(14-36) Three thousand souls converted.
(37-41) The
Piety and
Affection of the disciples.
(42-47)
1-4 We cannot forget how often, while their Master was with
them there were strifes among the disciples which should be the
greatest; but now all these strifes were at an
End. They had
prayed more together of late. Would we have the
Spirit poured
out upon us from
On high, let us be all of one accord. And
notwithstanding differences of sentiments and interests, as
there were among those disciples, let us agree to
Love one
another; for where brethren
Dwell together in unity, there the
Lord commands his blessing. A rushing mighty wind came with
great force. This was to signify the powerful influences and
working of the
Spirit of
God upon the minds of men, and thereby
upon the world. Thus the convictions of the
Spirit make way for
his comforts; and the rough blasts of that blessed wind, prepare
the soul for its soft and gentle gales. There was an appearance
of something like flaming
Fire, lighting
On every one of them,
according to
John Baptist's saying concerning
Christ; He shall
baptize you with the
Holy Ghost, and with
Fire. The
Spirit, like
Fire, melts the
Heart, burns up the
Dross, and kindles pious and
devout affections in the soul; in which, as in the
Fire On the
Altar, the spiritual sacrifices are offered up. They were all
filled with the
Holy Ghost, more than before. They were filled
with the graces of the
Spirit, and more than ever under his
sanctifying influences; more weaned from this world, and better
acquainted with the other. They were more filled with the
comforts of the
Spirit, rejoiced more than ever in the
Love of
Christ and the
Hope of
Heaven: in it all their griefs and fears
were swallowed up. They were filled with the
Gifts of the Holy
Ghost; they had miraculous powers for the furtherance of the
Gospel. They spake, not from previous thought or meditation, but
as the
Spirit gave them utterance.
5-13 The difference in languages which arose at
Babel, has much
hindered the spread of knowledge and religion. The instruments
whom the
Lord first employed in spreading the
Christian
religion, could have made
No progress without this
Gift, which
proved that their authority was from
God.
14-21 Peter's sermon shows that he was thoroughly recovered
from his fall, and thoroughly restored to the Divine favour; for
he who had denied
Christ, now boldly confessed him. His account
of the miraculous pouring forth of the
Spirit, was designed to
awaken the hearers to embrace the
Faith of
Christ, and to join
themselves to his
Church. It was the fulfilling the
Scripture,
and the
Fruit of
Christ's resurrection and
Ascension, and proof
of both. Though
Peter was filled with the
Holy Ghost, and spake
with
Tongues as the
Spirit gave him utterance, yet he did not
think to set aside the Scriptures.
Christ's scholars never learn
above their
Bible; and the
Spirit is given, not to do away the
Scriptures, but to enable us to understand, approve, and obey
them. Assuredly none will escape the condemnation of the great
Day, except those who
Call upon the name of the
Lord, in and
through his Son
Jesus Christ, as the
Saviour of sinners, and the
Judge of all mankind.
22-36 From this
Gift of the
Holy Ghost,
Peter preaches unto
them
Jesus: and here is the history of
Christ. Here is an
account of his
Death and sufferings, which they witnessed but a
few
Weeks before. His
Death is considered as
God's act; and of
wonderful
Grace and
Wisdom. Thus Divine
Justice must be
satisfied,
God and
Man brought together again, and
Christ
himself glorified, according to an eternal counsel, which could
not be altered. And as the people's act; in them it was an act
of awful
Sin and folly.
Christ's resurrection did away the
reproach of his
Death;
Peter speaks largely upon this.
Christ
was
God's Holy One, sanctified and set apart to his service in
the work of
Redemption. His
Death and sufferings should be, not
to him only, but to all his, the entrance to a blessed
Life for
evermore. This event had taken place as foretold, and the
apostles were witnesses. Nor did the resurrection
Rest upon this
alone;
Christ had poured upon his disciples the miraculous
Gifts
and Divine influences, of which they witnessed the effects.
Through the
Saviour, the ways of
Life are made known; and we are
encouraged to expect
God's presence, and his favour for
evermore. All this springs from assured belief that
Jesus is the
Lord, and the anointed
Saviour.
37-41 From the first delivery of that Divine message, it
appeared that there was Divine power going with it; and
Thousands were brought to the obedience of
Faith. But neither
Peter's words, nor the
Miracle they witnessed, could have
produced such effects, had not the Holy
Spirit been given.
Sinners, when their eyes are opened, cannot but be pricked to
the
Heart for
Sin, cannot but feel an inward uneasiness. The
Apostle exhorted them to repent of their sins, and openly to
avow their belief in
Jesus as the
Messiah,
By being baptized in
his name. Thus professing their
Faith in Him, they would receive
remission of their sins, and partake of the
Gifts and graces of
the Holy
Spirit. To separate from wicked people, is the only way
to save ourselves from them. Those who repent of their sins, and
give up themselves to
Jesus Christ, must prove their sincerity
By breaking off from the wicked. We must save ourselves from
them; which denotes avoiding them with dread and holy fear.
By
God's
Grace three thousand persons accepted the
Gospel
invitation. There can be
No doubt that the
Gift of the Holy
Ghost, which they all received, and from which
No true believer
has ever been shut out, was that
Spirit of
Adoption, that
converting, guiding, sanctifying
Grace, which is bestowed upon
all the members of the family of our heavenly
Father.
Repentance
and remission of sins are still preached to the chief of
sinners, in the
Redeemer's name; still the Holy
Spirit seals the
blessing
On the believer's
Heart; still the encouraging promises
are to us and our children; and still the blessings are offered
to all that are afar off.
42-47 In these verses we have the history of the truly
primitive
Church, of the first days of it; its state of infancy
indeed, but, like that, the state of its greatest innocence.
They kept close to holy ordinances, and abounded in
Piety and
devotion; for Christianity, when admitted in the power of it,
will dispose the soul to
Communion with
God in all those ways
wherein he has appointed us to meet him, and has promised to
meet us. The greatness of the event raised them above the world,
and the
Holy Ghost filled them with such
Love, as made every one
to be to another as to himself, and
So made all things common,
not
By destroying property, but doing away selfishness, and
causing
Charity. And
God who moved them to it, knew that they
were quickly to be driven from their possessions in
Judea. The
Lord, from
Day to
Day, inclined the hearts of more to embrace
the
Gospel; not merely professors, but such as were actually
brought into a state of acceptance with
God, being made
partakers of regenerating
Grace. Those whom
God has designed for
eternal
Salvation, shall be effectually brought to
Christ, till
the
Earth is filled with the knowledge of his
Glory.