Acts 3

NOw Peter and John went up together into the temple Not to communicate with the Iews in their worship, which was now antiquated; but that they might have a larger field to sow the seed of the Gospel into, and therefore it was most probably, upon some Sabbath or Festival-day; and not unlikely in the evening of that great day of Pentecost, (of which in the former Chapter) at the hour of prayer That God must be worshipped, and daily prayed; the Law of Nature, and positive Law of God requires: but says M mon, there is no obligation by virtue of any command of God, unto any number of prayers, nor to any certain prayers, nor to any definite time of prayer: Howsoever, they did usually pray thrice a day, and thought each of those three times recommended unto them by one of the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. Howsoever, the time of offering up the morning and evening Sacrifice, was recommended or commanded by God, as a time of prayer. A Sacrifice being an actual prayer, as the other is real or verbal., being the ninth hour About three a clock in the afternoon, the time of the evening Sacrifice..

And a certain man lame from his mothers womb And not by any casualty, that so the miracle might be the greater, and the Power of the God of Nature appear. was carried, whom they laid daily By which it was manifest, that it could not be by any correspondence betwixt the Apostles and the lame man upon this occasion. at the gate of the temple Where there must needs be the greater notice taken of him none going in or out, but such as might see him., which is called beautiful For the excellency of the workmanship: It was at the entring into the second Court, or the Court of the Iews from that of the Gentiles. This man out of pride, being unwilling to beg of the Gentiles, tho Proselyted, (whom they did contemn) or out of policy, hoping to receive more of the Iews, whom he is nearer related to., to ask alms Poverty is no sign of Gods disfavour; (our blessed Redeemer is in an especi manner called Caput pauperum) but lameness in this man, divers miseries, and calamities in others, bring them to the knowledge of Christ, and Salvation through him. of them that entred into the temple:

Who seeing Tho lame; every one has something that is truly valuable, and matter of praise and thanks unto God. Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.

And Peter fastning his eyes upon him The eye affects the heart, and speaks the compassion he had of this poor man, whom he did not disdain thorowly and eriously to behold: he excites the lame mans expectation, and requires his Attention, that he might the more mind the manner and means of his cure, and be the better prepared to give God the glory of it. with John, said, Look on us.

And he gave heed With his eyes and mind too; being intent upon the Apostles, this he was commanded to do, and it succeeds beyond all hopes: Thus we receive of God daily, more than we can ask or think. unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none n, but such as I have A power from Christ to heal., give I thee I apply it to thee, and will make it effectual for thee.: In the Name In the power, or at the command of Jesus Christ; and trusting unto his promised assistance, who can speak to things that are not, as if they were. of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Our Saviour was usually so called, and being known by that name, the Apostle does not decline it, tho it had been by many (without cause) given him by way of reproach., rise up and walk. That is, at hand or about me, neither had he much elsewhere; the Apostles abounded indeed, but in grace, not in riches.

And he took him by the right hand Not disdaining to take hold of a poor cripple beggar; as also being fully persuaded of Christs presence with him for his cure: and, and lift him up; and immediately that it might the more evidently appear, that this was the work of God, who can without means, and on a suddain, bring ought to perfection. his feet and ancle-bones Whence his lameness did proceed; thus God can say unto the weak, Be strong. received strength.

And he leaping up Thus was fulfilled that Prophecy of Isaiah, Chap. 35.6. then shall the lame man leap as an hart; and thus the lame man manifested that he was perfectly cured; tho in an instant, walking, and leaping, and praising God, to whom alone he attributed that sudden, and perfect (and therefore) Miraculous cure; nay, he attributes nothing unto the means; the Apostles words he knew did little or nothing, but God i all in all unto him: and he to evidence the truth of the Miracle that was wrought upon him, and that his Soul rejoyced in God his Saviour., stood, and walked, and entred with them into the temple, walking, and leaping y, and praising God.

And all the people saw him walking and praising God. This Miracle was so publickly done, that none could deny the matter of fact; which the enemies of the Gospel are forced to confess, Chap. 4.16.

And they knew that it was he The very same lame beggar, probably, notoriously known to many: which which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement being so much contrary to what they had seen but a little while before, when he had begged their alms; and as he reasoned well Iohn 9.32. Since the world began, was it not heard, that any opened the eyes of one that was born blind: So it was never heard, that any strengthened thus the feet of him that was born lame. at that which had hapned unto him.

And as the lame man which was healed, held Peter and John In an extasy of thankfulness unto them, they having been the instruments of so great a mercy from God towards him; as also out of fear, lest when they were gone, he might relapse: He that found so great a change in himself, could not but be as much surprized, as they that saw the change upon him., all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomons, greatly wondring. Not that which was built by Solomon, for that was destroyed by the Babylonians, as the rest of the Temple was, 2 Kings 25.9 unless some part of this porch might not be consumed by the fire, when the other parts of the Temple were burned: some morsel often escaping the jaws of that devouring element fire; or it may be it was built in the re-edification of the Temple, in the same place where Solomons porch had stood, and thence called by the former name that was so much renown'd. If any wonder that a porch should hold so many thousands of people, in as much as Chap 4.4. five thousand of them are said to be converted. This porch is thought, not only to have been the Court of the Gentiles, and that of the Iews, that is, the outward and inward Court; but to have contain'd a great part of the Court of the Gentiles, if the whole Court of the Gentiles might not be so called, as being indeed but a porch, or an entrance into the Court of the Iews.

¶ And when Peter saw it, he answered For he said, an ordinary Hebraism, tho no question was put unto him; thus the Evangelists tells us, that our Saviour answered and said, when there was no previous question spoken of, Matth. 11.25. Nay, Jesus answered and said unto the fig-tree, Mark 11.14. That is, he spake powerfully unto it. unto the people, Ye men of Israel An ingratiating compellation, they ever valuing themselves and others on that account, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness Holiness, were it never so real, and great in men, cannot cause the least Miracle, altho it is it self, all things considered, a very great one., we had made this man to walk?

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers has glorified his Son Jesus, whom ye delivered The Rulers, at whose command our blessed Saviour was appehended, bound, and delivered unto Pilate, Matth. 27.1, 2. up, and denied him This is charged upon the common sort of people also, who were earnest in crying, Matth. 27.25. His blood be upon us, and our children. Their sin is here ripped up, and their sore searched to the quick, that they might entertain the word of Salvation with the greater attention and desire. the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. He mentions them, because the promises of the Messiah was made to them. Has glorified his Son Jesus, or his servant; for so also he is called, Isaiah 53.11. and that he might redeem us, he took upon him the form of a servant, and was obedient to the death of the Cross, and did that great work of Redemption, which God sent him into the World to do.

But ye denied the Holy One Christ the Anointed; when they cryed out as with one voice, Iohn 19.15. We have no king but Cesar; disclaiming our Redeemer, and his being anointed over them:, and the Just, and desired a murderer To wit, Barabbas crying out, Iohn 18.40. Not this man, but Barabbas, which much aggravated their impiety, when the choice was given unto them of two, so vastly different, the just Jesus, and the murderous Barabbas; they chose the latter to their Destruction and Confusion unto this present day: Where will blindness of mind, and hardness of heart end! to be granted unto you,

And killed the Prince of life As God, he is the Author of our Temporal life too, in whom we live, and move, &c. and in whose hand is our breath; but Christ as Mediator, is the guide and way to Eternal life, Iohn 14.6. These are said to have killed our Saviour; tho neither Herod, or Pilate, nor probably many (if any) of them that nailed him to the Cross, were present; but it was done for their sakes, and at their desire, and therefore by their means; and 'tis here charged upon them, as done by them., whom God has raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

And his name His power; for by it he is known as men or things are, by their several names; or the Name of Christ is put for Christ himself, as the Name of God is put for God commonly. through faith in his name Calling by Faith on the Name of Christ; being thorowly persuaded that he could and would heal this cripple. has made this man strong, whom ye see and know yea, the faith which is by him, Not only Faith, as on Christ as its Object: but by and from Christ as its Author: Faith being twice made mention of in this cure, there being required Faith in Peter to heal, and in the lame man to be healed. has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

And now brethren Lest the Corrasive in the 13, 14, 15. verses, should pierce too far, to prevent despair in his Auditors, the Apostle useth in this verse a lenitive calling them; yet, Brethren, tho guilty of so great a mistake in their judgment and fault in their practice. Whatsoever they did against Christ, whom St. Peter Preached, was out of a double error. 1. About the place of Christs Birth, supposing him to have been born at Nazareth. 2. They were ignorant of the nature of this Kingdom., I wot that through ignorance ye did it r, as did also your rulers Whose fault was the greater, as having seduced others, &c. Yet St. Peter opens a door of hope by repentance, even for them also..

But those things which God before had showed by the mouth The Prophets did all speak the same things, as if they had spoken out of one mouth, as they did speak by one Spirit. of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he has so fulfilled God used the ignorance of some, and the malice of others, for his own holy ends: and that it was Prophesied that Christ should suffer, is very plain. Isaiah 50.5, 6, 7.

¶ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out Alluding to the manner of writing upon Tables in those times, and not much disagreeing from what is in use amongst us, who write upon paper or parchment; there is a book of remembrance, and a record of all our sins kept, Ier. 17.1. The sin of Iudah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: when sin is pardoned, it is said to be blotted out, Isa. 44.22. and not to be found any more, tho it should be sought for, Ier 50.20., when the times of refreshing Or times of cooling; as afflictions are called a fiery tryal, so deliverance from them, is a season of refreshing or cooling: Such a time of refreshing shall come in this life, commonly from many troubles; but when this life ends, a deliverance comes from all afflictions to them that truly fear and serve God. shall come from the presence of the Lord Gods presence is the cause and ground, from whence all the refreshment his people take, do arise; Heaven would not be Heaven (a place of bliss and glory) without it: and as God is the object of our beatitude, so he is the giver of all comfort, and his Spirit is the only Comforter.. This is the true end, use, and application, both of the preceding Miracle and Sermon, to persuade unto Repentance and Conversion.

And he shall send Jesus Christ To remove all evils and miseries from his people, when that sun shines, all clouds and mists are scattered; this refers especially to Christs second coming, which is here promised to encourage us to do good, and to deter us from doing evil: as also to move us to repentance, and to com ort us when penitent., which before was preached unto you:

Whom the heaven must receive That is, contain after it has received him, as a real place does a true body; for such Christs body was, which was received into Heaven: and Heaven is the Palace and Throne of this King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, where he shall reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet, 1 Cor. 15.25., until the times of restitution of all things Or restauration of all things, when all things shall be restored to that condition from which sin put them: for the fall has maim'd and disordered the whole Universe; and probably, there is not that excellency in any of the Creatures, which there was at first, before man (for whom they were made) by his sin brought death to himself, and as it were a dead colour over all them; this makes the whole Creation groan and travail in pain until now, Rom. 8.22. But the end of the World will be a time of restitution of all things, unto man especially; who shall be then restored unto God, and to a blessed Immortality: for unless this be granted, all their Preaching and Prophesying was in vain, 1 Cor. 15.14., which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began.

For Moses truly said unto the fathers Their Ancestors in the wilderness, Deut. 18.15. as also in the 8. ver. St. Peter names here but one of their Prophets, but a most remarkable one., A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me 1. In Wisdom. 2. In Miracles. 3. In being a Mediator betwixt God and his people. 4. In their being both out of their brethren, (i. e. of the seed of Abraham) 5. In that they were both sent from God after an extraordinary manner.; him shall ye hear in all things If any Prophet did come amongst them, and did foretel future things which came to pass, or did work a real miracle, they were bound to believe him, if he did not endeavour to draw them to worship a false God; and by consequence they were bound to have believed our Saviour, who taught them only to fear that true God, whom the Law and all the Prophets had spoken of. whatsoever he shall say unto you.

And it shall come to pass, that every soul That is, every. which will not hear that Prophet That is, believe and obey him., shall be destroyed from among the people As those that disobeyed Moses were destroyed, many perishing by strange and sudden deaths, Namb. 16.3. &c. We read of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and all that belonged to them, swallowed up for this sin. The Apostle demands, Hebr. 2.2. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? For a greater than Moses is here, and God has undertaken to require it of every one that will not hearken unto him, Deut. 18.19..

Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel Tho there were some Prophets betwixt Moses and Samuel, yet they were but such as Prophesied in some particular exigences and cases; and in Samuels days the word of the Lord was pretious or rare, 1 Samuel 3.1. but then David, that lively Type of Christ, appearing at the Throne, the Messi h began to be more discovered in, and by him: Besides, Samuel was the first who wrote his Prophesies, and erected the Schools of the Prophets, and therefore he is first mentioned; and the date of the Prophets is here begun from him., and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Ye are the children of the prophets The Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, are called Prophets, Psal. 105.15. and did Prophesie, foretelling things to come, &c. The Disciples of the Prophets are also called their Children or Sons, 2 Kings 2.3. and so these pretended and desired to be accounted., and of the covenant Children of the Covenant, are such unto whom the Covenant belong, which God made with Abraham and his seed; hence they are called the children of promise, Rom. 9.8. Gal. 4.28. and the children of the Kingdom, Matth. 8.12. nd this Covenant of God with Abraham, was the cause, that notwithstanding all the for and heavy calamities of that people, God did always preserve some, and there was a remnant saved. which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds Families or Nations. of the earth be blessed Through Christ who is this seed of Abraham, all mercies in this World, and Eternal Life in the World to come are bestowed; grace, and glory, and every good thing..

Unto you first The Iews and Inhabitants of Ierusalem, who are the lost sheep of the house of Israel. St. Peter did not yet know that the Gentiles should be called, until he was taught it by the vision, Acts 10. almost throughout; and tho our Saviour had told the Apostles, that they should be his witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth, Acts 1.8. they understood it only of those of their own Nation, scattered or dispersed abroad, 1 Peter 1.1., God having raised up his Son Jesus, Which word does not only refer to the Resurrection of Christ, but to his being constituted and appointed to be a Prince and a Saviour; thus 'tis said, a great Prophet is risen up amongst us, Luke 7.16. and God has raised up a horn of Salvation, Luke 1.69. Howsoever, it is by virtue of Christ being raised from the dead, and carried into his Kingdom, that we are blessed. sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities This is the greatest blessing indeed; hence our Saviour has his name imposed by God on him, Matth. 1.21. and was called Jesus, because he saves his people from their sins; and without this being saved from our sins, nothing can be a blessing to us, Isaiah 3.11. and 57.21. There is no peace says my God to the wicked: add to this, that if any be turned from their iniquities, it is through the blessing of God in Christ..