The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-05-24

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party or school in the Jewish church. The
Saddueees and Pharisees differed widely in
doctrine, but had no church organization.
E" Indignation" Greek, zelou,) here means
party zeal and jealousy, not however for
their "sect," to which Annas probably did
not belong, but for the Jewish religion.
V. Is. The twelve apostles were arrested
and put in prison to await their trial, as was
done on the former occasion with Peter and
John. Common prison means the public
prison, and no special odium is implied, as
though they had been cast into prison where
prisoners of every rank were thrown together
Unfortunately.
V. 10. Instead of "the Angel Of the
Lord, which in the Old Testament means
"the Angel of the Covenant the Lord
Jesus Christ, it should read, as in the origi-
nal, San Angel of the Lord" This angel,
in opening for them the prison doors and
bringing them out, was performing his official
work as ministering spirit sent forth to
minister for them who shall be heirs of saliva
tiOn," (Heb. i. AZ
V. 20. The object of their deiiverance was
that they might preach the Gospel; and the
command is given that they 60 again to the
temple where they were wont to preach, and
continue to speak to the people as before.
They were to speak sail the words of life, y
every doctrine of this way of life, all that
truth which men must receive in order to have
this life offered through Christ. Nothing was
to be kept back on account of threats and
Imprisonment, not even the hated doctrine
of the resurrection The command is spe-
cifc: $50" (away)-althOugh imprisoned
here; "stand "a conspicuous attitude ;
"speak although forbidden to teach Sin
the temple" despite the opposition of its
priests and guard; "to the people -
although the rulers are jealous of your in
fuence; "all the words of this life this
salvation through Jesus, the only name under
Heaven among men whereby they must be
saved.
The Council again IN perplerity, VS.. 2l-26.
V. 81. They went into the temple as
directed and began preaching about day
("early in the mOrning.") From this it ap-
pears that the people frequented the temple
at very early hour. Whilst they were en-
gagged in preaching, probably in SOlomon's
porch, the High Priest and those acting with
him, the Sadducees, came to the council hall
in another part of the vast temple area, and
summoned the Sanhedrim and 6" the Senate
of the children of Israel" The "Senate !"
means the eldership or body of elders. Some
of these were members of the council, but it
seems this whole body, as far as they could
be reached at Jerusalem, were called in as a
consulting body, representing the synagogues,
to give dignity and influence to their action
in this important move against The feadersvf
the new religion.
vs.. 1924. "The officers that is the
ministerial officers of the court, came to the
prison, but found no prisoners. They re-
ported back to the council that they had
found the prison fastened and the guards
in place, but no one within. The miracle of
the apostles release, as appears from this
statement, consisted not only in opening the
prison doors, but also in closing them, and
concealing the whole from the guards before
the door. So it was in Peters deliverance
at later day, xii. CD
V. "a. Two individuals and body Of men
are here mentioned as hearing this report;
the High Priest, the captain of the temple,
(iv. II who was the commander Of the
officers" the attendants or executive officers
of the court, and the chief priests, who were
either those who held the Office of High
Priest, or were the heads of the twenty-four
courses of priests. These did not constitute
the whole council; but their opinion, no
doubt expressed by them, is given as that of
the whole body. These " doubted of them "
were in perplexity as to them, some say
the apostles, but it is more natural to refer it
to the things they heard. They were per-
picked about what they had heard, not
knowing what it would beeOme-what effect
this state of things would have upon Christi
anity.
V. %. At this juncture one came and re-
ported that the Apostles were preaching to
the people. The size of the temple area,
the number of its porches or coonnades and
o is halls, and tie vast concourse of people
sufficiently aceocnt for the TACT that the
c3uncil now assembled IN one Of these halls,
were not aware that the Apostles we're
preaching in another and distant part of the
sacred enclosure.
V. 26 The captain now went himself in
charge of his band of Lsvites. The order of
thought in this verse may thus be given
they drought them without violence, lest
they should be stoned, for they feared the
people" The Apostles, had they attempted
it could easily have melted the mob to res
cue them, so great was their favor with the
people.
REMARKs.-1. ChastisementS yield their
fruits in the church, as well as in the case
of the individual believer. Especially is
this true where the result of the atfliction is
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