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Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Acts 4:18-31

Acts 4:18-31And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor to teach in the name of Jesus.Christian courageI. Its test. The apostles did not wish to separate themselves from the Jewish Church, for it was while entering the temple that Peter and John restored the lame man. See these men, then, confronted by a positive command from the nation’s highest tribunal to be silent, a tribunal, too, that had condemned their Master. National love, respect for law, pride of race, reverence... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Acts 4:23-37

Acts 4:23-37And being let go, they went to their own company.Being let goWe do not know what we or other people are until the restraint is taken off. We call ourselves free, but there is not an absolutely free man in the universe. We have the liberty of law. We have the freedom of a theocracy. “The Lord reigneth,” and He would reign to no purpose if He did not restrain every creature, and restrain with singular meaning and graciousness the creature who bears His own image.I. Good restraints.1.... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Acts 4:25-28

Acts 4:25-28Why do the heathen rage.Opposition to the gospelI. Its characteristics.1. Furiousness, “rage,” a word signifying the neighing or snorting of highly excited horses--Like the prancing war-horse in the book of Job. It is metaphorically used to represent the noise and fury of insolent and overbearing men, and well represents the attitude of Christ’s enemies.2. Vanity. They “imagine vain things.” Those who aspire to thwart the plans of Christ, to crush Christianity, live in a region of... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Acts 4:29-30

Acts 4:29-30And now, Lord, behold their threatenings. How a Christian ought to pray for his enemiesI. Without anxiety and fear: for he prays to the King of kings. “If God be for us, who can be against us?”II. Without hatred and malice; for he prays against wickedness, not against the wicked.III. Without pride and scorn; for he prays not for himself, but for the cause of God. (K. Gerok.)Grant unto Thy servants that with all boldness they may speak Thy Word.--The prayer of Christ’s witnessesI.... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Acts 4:31

Acts 4:31And when they had prayed the place was shaken … and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.Prayer effects miraclesI. Internal.1. Hearts are savingly affected.2. Spirits are mightily strengthened.II. External.1. Houses are moved.2. Churches awakened.3. Enemies frightened.4. Mountains displaced.5. The world convulsed. (K. Gerok.)The blessings of spiritual worshipI. The devotional supplication offered to God. “They prayed.” It was--1. Earnest.2. United.3. Believing.4. Sincere.5.... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Acts 4:14

14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. Ver. 14. They could say nothing ] The Arabian interpreter adds, Ut authoritate uterentur in eos, That they might punish them. They were clearly convinced, and yet ran away with the bit between their teeth; they would hold their own, howsoever, lest they should be taxed of lightness. read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Acts 4:15

15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, Ver. 15. They conferred ] Sic festucam quaerentes unde oculos sibi eruant, as Bernard hath it. They sought straws to put out their own eyes also. read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Acts 4:16

16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it . Ver. 16. A notable miracle ] A signal sign that all the country rang of. read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Acts 4:17

17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. Ver. 17. That they spake henceforth to none ] They must cut out their tongues then, for, as new wine, they must vent or burst. When Valens the Arian emperor threatened Basil with banishment, torment, death, &c.; Let him fright babies, said he, with such bugbears, and not me. He may take away my life, but not my love to the truth. read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Acts 4:18

18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Ver. 18. Command them not to speak at all ] So in the year of grace 494, Anastasius the emperor persecuted those that would not obey an edict of his, That no man should commend or condemn the Council of Chalcedon. (Alsted. Chron.) So Heraclius commanded that none should say, That there was either one or two wills in our Saviour Christ. So the Jesuits not long since set forth an edict at Dola, that... read more

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