The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-05-10
was given before. Iii: %, iii 49,

so look upon them as to pre-
vent their execution. These were the threat
enings with which Peter and John had been
dismissed, and which they had narrated to
their fellow disciples. The second petition
was that they might have boldness to speak
the word. This the two apostles had al
ready exemplifed, ". 49, and they had
avowed their purpose to pursue the same
course Tvs. 10, 2O.) They now all unite in
prayer for divine help to carry out their res
Olute purpose.
V. 30. They desired that this boldness
should be granted them by means of mirac-
ulOus displays of the power of the Lord Je'
sus. They, however, asked not power to ex-
eCute vengeance upon their enemies and His,
but that the hand of God should be stretched
forth to heal.
V. 81. They were probably in the same
room in which they had prayed together on
the day of Pentecost; and now as then the
answer came with manifestations patent to
their senses. Then the room was filed with
the sound of a rushing mighty wind; now
the place was shaken. And now as on the
former occasion they were filled with the
Holy Ghost; and by this power, according
to their prayer, they spoke the word of God
with boldness.
Fellowship az the church, vs.. 32-37.
The historian here resumes the account OF
the condition of the church, found in the
latter part of the second chapter. 1t was in
the happy and prosperous condition there
described, enjoying peace and Christian fell
lOwship within, having favor with the world
and receiving daily accessions, when there
occurred that event at the temple gate, which
led to the first assault upon it from without
This trouble now over, the account of the In
ternal condition is resumed, and some of the
statements repeated, showing the church to
be still in the same happy state.
V. 80. The unity of the body of Christ is
here so exemphfed as to suggest the prayer
of our Lord for believers, "That they all
may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and
in thee, that they also may be one in us !;
that the world may know that thou hast sent
me-" The mutual affection of these first
Christians is set forth in strong language !;
they " were of one heart and of one soul" A
second exemplifcation of their unity was the
use of their substance for their mutual good.
The language here employed, "Neither said
any of them that aught of the things which
he possessed was his own but they had all
things common, might mean that their pos
sessions were all thrown into one common
fund, each one relinquishing his separate
right to his property. But this is not the
most natural meaning of the first of these two
phrases, nor the necessary meaning of the
second. Moreover the context shows that
such is not the meaning of the passage
Their property was common only to the ex-
tent that they held it subject to the necessi-
ties of the church. They held their posses
sions not for their selfish use, but for the
relief of any of their brethren who needed
their benefactions.
V. 80. The apostles, having received the
fresh JUNCTION of the Spirit, preached the word
with power, divine power. This preaching is
called "giving witness of the resurrection OF
the Lord Jesus" A necessary characters
tic of an apostle was that he should be able
to testify as to the resurrection. They were
officially appointed of Jesus to testify to this
browning fact of His redeeming work, as set
ting forth the completion of that work
His resurrection involved all that series of
acts of which it was the grand contamination.
This gospel of the resurrection continued to
be the power of God for the salvation of
sinners. 1t is next stated that "great grace
was upon them ALL" This word grace is the
same that is translated favor iii: A. in
similar connection, and referring there to
the favor of the people. Here it may in
clude both the favor of God and that of man.
This success of the gospel, and favor enjoyed
by the church are placed in immediate connec-
ton with the manifested unity of the body of
believers. This is in accordance with the
PRAYER of our Lord above quoted; "that
the world may believe that thou hast sent
me-"
VS.. 81, 50. Such was the fruit of Chris
tian love in the Church that none of the
moor were allowed to suffer want. They
were supplied from the possessions of the
more wealthy, who voluntary sold their pos
sessions, to the extent that was necessary to
meet the wants of the church, and brought
the proceeds, and laid them down at the
apostles feet. This manner of presenting
their gifts indicated that they were an offer.
ing. They were given to the apostles as
church officers, that the distribution might
be an ecclesiastical act. The church, rather
than the individual, supplied the wants of the
needy.
VS.. So, 81. After this general description
of the practice of charity, special case is
mentioned, that of JOses. Had there been