The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-03-22

the mlnu OF thlS apostle any Prepossessiou'
as DR.. Carpenter would say, which would
produce "fallacy of testimony respecting
the supernatural" On the other hand the
proofs were so convincing as to overcome his
aVowed unbeEef This period was spent IN
conversations about "things pertaining to
the kingdom of God" After the covenant
with David, the king, in which the Redeemer
was promised as King, the Church is COM
monty called "the kingdom of God" or
e" the kingdom of heaven" They conversed
no doubt both about the past and the future
of the Church.
There is probably a symbolic import in
the interval between the resurrection and as
cension of our Lord. He rose for our Justi-
fcation, but did not at once enter into glory
So the believer remains for time on earth
after he is justified, and before he enters
upon his inheritance. The sojourn of Israel
in the wilderness, after their release from
bondage and before entering the promised
land, has the same typical import. The Pc
Rod in the one case is forty days, in the other
forty years. Compare other examples of forty
years or days in Scripture history.
The Holy Ghost Promised, verses 4. 5.
Verse 4.-He met the apostles by appoint
ment. "Commanded them the word is
. not the same as that used in verse 2 but
J notes an authoritative order. They were
not to leave Jerusalem till the promise of
the Father, explained in the next verse, was
fulfilled. This promise had been given
E through the prophets, (e. g. Joel xii: -
but especially by Jesus himself, John xiv
Is, &c)
Verse 5.-The promise mentioned in the
preceding verse is here explained to be the
baptism with the Holy Ghost. The special
influence of the Spirit was necessary for the
: work assigned them, that of establishing the
Church under the new dispensation. They
must be Inspired in their teachings, writings,
and official acts. When John baptized with
water, he said that Christ would baptize with
the Holy Ghost, Matt. iii; II } The water
baptism foreshadowed the baptism with the
Spirit, which was the promise of the Father,
given them by Christ himself, as mentioned
above. This passage is significant both as
to the import of baptism, spiritual cleans
ing, and as to its mode The Spirit, with
which they were to be baptized, was repre-
!, sented as poured upon the recipient; "until
the Spirit be poured upon US from on high,
Us. xxi: Is. See also Joel ii; %, and other
~ passages. "This efusion is the very thing
for which they are here told to wait; and
therefore when they heard it called bap'
tism, whatever may have been the primary
usage of the word, they must have seen iti
christian sense to be compatible with such an
application, particularly as they must have
known it to be used in Hellenistic Greek tc
4 signify mode of washing where immersion
- was excluded, such as that of tables Oh
% cOuches, and the customary pouring of water
! on the hands before eating, as still prsctiseC
:. in the East (See Mark vii: 4, 8, Luke xi
> 38.'') Alerander.-"N Not many days hence,
proved to be ten days, but the exact time
was hidden from the disciples till the event
r. made it known.
+: An Inquiry and Ansesr abOutthe Kingdom
h Verses 6-8.
Verse Cit is uncertain whether this In
/ terview is the same as that mentioned il
verse 4. This ambiguity is not, as some ex
h positors assert, simply in the English YER
sion, bat is found alike in the Greek. 1t is
il however, a matter of no Importance. "There'
fore" connects this inquiry with the promise
e in verse 4; and we are led to infer that they
did not understand that promise. Exactly
what idea they had of the kingdom, when
they inquired, "Lord wilt thou at this time
restore again the kingdom to Israeli" we
cannot ascertain; but the form of inquiry
q implies temporal kingdom, and restora-
ton of national power, with no doubt mix
!. ture of truth as to its spiritual character
The point of the inquiry, however, is in the
words, " at this time" Will the promised
( kingdom be established nOO9
Verse Jesus replied, that it was not
q their part to know times and seasons, which
, God had not revealed. (Which the Father
hath put in his power, means, which he has
! fixed by his power or authority.
: Verse 8.-Their curiosity was not to be
f grati6ed; but what was more important,
they should receive what they needed, the
! "power" of the Holy Ghost preparing them
for work. Jesus thus carries their minds
Z back to the promise before made. The Ian
guage in Luke xiv: 40 is similar, and ex-
: plains this; "Until ye be endued with
power from on high" They were not now
to be kings, but their official work was to be
witnesses to Jesus. The field of their labOrs
, was to be first Jerusalem, then Judea; next,
as middle ground between Jew and Gentle,
Samaria; and then all the world. The re-
sxictiou to Israel formerly given Matthew
K: s. was now removed. The history as
given in this book shows that they followed
the order here indicated.
Tile ascension. Verse 9.
/ This important event is described in one
, short simple verse The same is true of
Luke's other account, (xxiv: ST. and of