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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 1:3

Verse 3 3.Unto whom, etc He addeth this, that he might make the resurrection to be believed, as a thing most necessary to be known, and without the which the whole gospel falleth fiat to the ground, neither remaineth there any more faith. And that I may omit to speak of other discommodities that come by being ignorant of the resurrection of Christ, the gospel loseth his whole authority, unless we know and be also fully persuaded that Christ being alive, speaketh unto us from the heavens.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1

I made for have I made, A.V.; concerning for of, A.V.; to teach for teach, A.V. The former treatise; literally, the first history, narrative, or discourse. The form of the Greek, τὸν μὲν τρῶτον , shows that the writer had in his mind at the time to contrast the second history , which he was just beginning, and that naturally τὸν δὲ δεύτερον or τοῦτον δὲ τὸν λόγον , ought both grammatically and logically, to have followed. But the mention of "the apostles... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1

"Alpha and Omega." "Concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach." This opening sentence of the Acts, full of significance, as pointing at once to the past years of Christ's earthly ministry and to the future work of his people, in his Name and by his power, and connecting them together. He himself is the Alpha of the kingdom, and he is the Omega. His doing and his teaching really one; in matter and in manner, Divine; the standard for apostles and all others; the Acts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1

The apparent incompleteness of our Lord's life. It was but a beginning. The word "began" is as characteristic of St. Luke as " straightway " is of St. Mark; it occurs thirty-one times in his Gospel. The idea of Christ's life on earth as being a "beginning" fits well into the Pauline theology, which sets in such prominence the present and continuous working of the risen, glorified, living Savior. To the apostles' first view our Lord's earthly life must have seemed a failure; they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1

The origin of the Gospel records. Luke reminds Theophilus of his having written his Gospel, and of the circumstances which called for his labors (comp. Luke 1:1-4 ). Incidentally we are assured that the historical figure of Christ is the essential foundation of the Christian system; and, therefore, such extreme care was necessary in securing authentic records of his words and works. The trustworthiness of our Gospels may be efficiently impressed by the illustration and enforcement of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1

The threefold aspect of our Lord's human life. The aspects that need to be so carefully recorded. Two are stated in the text—to do, and to teach; the third we gather from the Gospel itself—to suffer. I. OUR LORD CAME TO DO . It has been said that "conduct is three-fourths of life;" and upon our Lord's daily life and doings we, first of all, reverently fix our gaze. 1. He came to live; to express in pure, beautiful character, and in sweet, self-denying, helpful... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1-5

The forty days after the Passion. I. JESUS PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE . In the work of God all is continuous. As in nature there is no pause, but in autumn we find the new petiole or leaf-stalk already formed when the old leaf is detached, so in the kingdom of God. There were ages of preparation for Christ's coming; and when he came, his life-work was a making ready to go. Full of blessing was the ministry of his visible presence; fuller still was to be that of the invisible... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1-5

The dawn of the gospel day. These verses form an introduction to the whole book. The risen Christ is the chief Object in view. The light which has been a lowly light upon the earth, is now about to ascend and take its place as the Sun of Righteousness in the heavens. From thence he will shine upon the earth—first upon that part of the earth immediately below the point of his ascent; and from that, as a starting-place, from country to country, till the whole earth is enlightened. The Acts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1-8

Christ's mission and ours. The introduction to this narrative of" the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" suggests to us truths concerning the mission of our Divine Lord and also concerning our own. I. THE MISSION OF CHRIST . We gather front the opening words of Luke that this was fourfold, and may be included under these heads: 1. Miraculous works. He "began to do " (verse 1). The "mighty works" of Jesus were far from being mere "wonders:" they were 2. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 1:1-11

The recapitulation. St. Luke is like a traveler, who, having gained a certain summit, before he proceeds on his journey through the new country which is opening upon his view, stops and looks back upon the scene which he has traversed, but which he is now about to lose sight of. He marks the sites which had attracted his attention as he journeyed—the rising knoll, the conspicuous wood, the sheet of water, the open plain. But as he looks he spies out other objects which he had not noticed... read more

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