The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-05-10
NOTEs ON THE LESSON.


Il Prayer under Persecution, VS.. 1881.
V. %. Peter and John, who had been kept
in prison over night, and were brought to
trial and discharged by the Sanhedrim, i'm
mediately on being released returned from
the temple "to their own company" We
cannot suppose this body meant the whole
company Of believers, now perhaps nearly
ten thousand in number, but the other apos-
ties, and so many of the disciples as may
have been with them in their usual place of
assembly, still probably "the large upper
chamber" The imprisonment and trial of
the two apostles were no doubt known to the
Church. They had now only to relate the
threatenings they received, when called in
after the secret conclave. This recital led
to the prayer which follows. The Sanhe-
drim is here designated by naming two of
its principal constituent elements, chief
priests and elders, as above, ". 81 it was
by "elders and seribes."
V. "a. "They lifted up their voice to God
with one accord" The explanation of this
statement most in harmony with the language
used, and with New Testament custom, is
that one led the company in an audible
prayer, whilst all Joined him in heart, and
gave their assent, probably with an uttered
"Amen," q Cor. xiv: 16.) The language
in which God is here addressed as the Crea-
tor of all things is found in Psalm cxlVi: 6.
The word translated "Lord'' here is not the
one usually employed. 1t means "Master,"
and in contrast with this the supplicants call
themselves ". 90 "thy servants" But the
term, "Lord," or Master" not only con-
veys the idea of Gods relation to them as
their superior; but it is here employed to
set forth His authority as the supreme ruler
of the universe, as an appropriate introduce
ton to such a prayer as that which follows.
VS.. 25, 20. God is further addressed as
the author of 8 declaration quoted from the
II Psalm; "who by the mouth of thy servant
David hast said" SC. This asserts that Ds-
Vid ia the author of this Psalm, and that it is
the inspired word Of God The latter is true
of all Scripture, GI Tim. Iii: 49, The
Psalm quoted represents the nations of the
earth as in revolt against the Lord and his
Amounted, and asserts the divine purpose to
maintain the Kings authority. The folly of
rebellion against supreme power is strikingly
presented by the question, "Why did the
heather rage, and the people imagine vain
thing?" The kings and rulers cOnapire
against Jehovah and "his Christ" The He
brew word is Messiah, the Greek Christ, both
meaning Aaointsd in English.
V. 27. This verse states the circumstances
which show the fulflment of the prophecy in
the combination against Jesus. "Child"
as applied to him is in allusion to ''Son. - in
the Psalm and 'anointed refers to "Mes.
siah," or 'Anointed, as there used. A re-
markablo circumstance in the combination of
HerOd and Plate against Jesus was their be-
coming reeoneied to each other on the Occa-
sion, luke xiii 12.) And not only had
these "rulers" united in their opposition, but
according to the prophecy, " the heather "
and "the people" -"the Gentiles and the
people of Israel, had combined to compass
his death.
V. 2S. The rage Of these enemies had not
secured their end, but only accomplished
What God had determined before, a result
which was indeed an essential part of his
scheme of redemption. The same contrast