THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMENTARY ON THE HOLY BIBLE; CONTAINING THE TEXT ACCORDING TO THE AUTHORISED VERSION; WITH MARGINAL REFERENCES; MATTHEW HENRY'S COMMENTARY, CONDENSED, BUT RETAINING THE MOST USEFUL THOUGHTS; THE PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS OF REV. THOMAS SCOTT, D. D. WITH EXTENSIVE EXPLANATORY, CRITICAL, AND PHILOLOGICAL NOTES, SELECTED FROM SCOTT, DODDRIDGE, GILL, ADAM CLARKE, PATRICK, POOLE, LOWTH, Burder, harmer, calmet, stuart, THE WHOLE DESIGNED TO BE A DIGEST AND COMBINATION OF THE ADVANTAGES OF THE BEST BIBLE COMMENTARIES, OF SCRIPTURE SCENES, AND ILLUSTRATIVE OF SCRIPTURE MANNERS, CUSTOMS, ANTIQUITIES, ETC. ACTS-REVELATION. BRATTLEBORO': PUBLISHED BY THE BRATTLEBORO' TYPOGRAPHIC COMPANY. (INCORPORATED OCTOBER 26, 1836.) 1899. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by THE BRATTLEBORO' TYPOGRAPHIC CO., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Vermont. PUBLISHERS' ADVERTISEMENT. In presenting to subscribers the fifth and last volume of the Comprehensive Commentary, the publishers cannot refrain from expressing their pride and pleasure in being the means of laying before the religious public so important and valuable a work, complete. No pains or expense have been spared to render it in every respect worthy of patronage; and it may justly be said, that no work was ever issued in this country which more completely fulfilled all the promises of the original proposals than this. The number of pages in every volume except the last, exceeds the number stipulated for in the prospectus; while the Engravings are very much more numerous and expensive than was originally anticipated. The amount of matter comprised in the work is almost incredible. The pages are as long and nearly as wide as those of the common quarto Bibles, and the quantity of reading_matter, in the whole work, (exclusive of the Supplement,) is equal to that in nearly seventy common octavos of 450 pages each. Printed in such a manner, the matter contained in the five voluines of the Commentary, would have cost the subscribers one hundred and seventy-five dollars, or about THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS per volume! Or reverse the calculation; and the publishers have furnished subscribers with this great amount of valuable biblical matter, at the rate of less than twenty-five cents each for octavo volumes of 450 pages! A library, indeed, of the most valuable materials, equal to 70 octavo volumes, for fifteen dollars!! The expense of editing has been more than treble the original calculation; and the whole cost of getting up' the work (exclusive of paper, printing, and binding) has been about FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.-In conclusion, the publishers return their thanks to those of the subscribers who have continued cheerfully to receive and pay for the successive volumes of the Commentary, and they trust that none such will ever lament having, by their names and patronage, aided in bringing before the American people so important a work, and one calculated to be so extensively useful in our land. It is, in fact, as the publishers believe, a national work, adapted to the times, and to the circumstances of the people of the United States; and one of the most stupendous literary enterprises ever undertaken in America. No man, surely, will ever repent having purchased the work for his own use, or regret to leave so rich a legacy, and so valuable an heirloom to his descendants. The Supplementary, or sixth volume of the Commentary will be found an almost indispensable companion to the original work, and an invaluable aid to the Minister, Sabbath School Teacher, and every one who desires to study the Bible; and it is to be hoped,. that every subscriber will make his set complete by adding this valuable volume. JUNE, 1838. EDITOR'S NOTICE. Having now, by the Divine blessing, been permitted to bring to a close this fifth volume, which, with the Supplement, will complete the work, that, six years ago, I entered upon with trembling; it is my heart's desire to bless and praise God for his great goodness experienced throughout it. To his glory, and the furtherance of his kingdom of love, righteousness, holiness, and peace, be this labor consecrated and devoted; and may He accept and deign to bless it, for the Redeemer's sake! No alteration, of great moment, has been made in the arrangements for conducting this volume; but the same helpers have been with me, and their efficient and indispensable exertions appear on every page of it. To the sound judgment and orthodox heart of my invaluable friend, the Rev. Mr. HOADLY, and to the assiduity, care, and taste of my son, J. W. JENKS, M. A., the work, in all its parts, since their early connexion with it, is abundantly indebted. A few contributions of scattered notes have been made by others, and are acknowledged in their places, excepting some which were kindly sent by my friend, Rev. J. WARD, and received too late, and a dissertation by Rev. Mr. BARSTOW; for both which, however, I tender my sincere thanks. Nothing but such a diligent comparison, as this work necessarily required, of the labors of HENRY and SCOTT, could have shown how greatly the latter was indebted to the former, especially in the Old Testament; and the lack of acknowledgment can be accounted for, and reconciled with principle, only by the consideration, that, possibly, if it had been made in every case where it was due, the work would have been less acceptable to persons of the 'establishment,' whom the writer was very desirous to influence favorably. In the last volume of the New Testament, the originality and force of Dr. ScOTT's mind more peculiarly display themselves; and to this portion of his labors, probably, may be with most justice applied the well-known commendations of the present bishop of Calcutta; commendations in which generally I can join with great cerdiality; holding, as I do, in most respects, the same theological views: yet I can by no means admit, that he is, at any moment, forgetful of his 'system. On the contrary, no occasion is suffered to escape,-and it may be satisfactorily accounted for,-in which he does not evince his own peculiarities. For this, however, there is abundant occasion to be grateful to God; since, without question, the high and just popularity of the excellent and finished work of this venerable man, combined with its extensive circulation, has tended to produce more distinct tones of evangelical sentiment, and a greater degree of uniformity in it, than previously obtained. The plan of re-editing, in this country, Henry's Exposition in an abridged form, originated with J. C. HOLBROOK, Esq., and was by him communicated to me. It was soon agreed to combine this with Scott's admirable work, as far as practicable, and to add illustrations from all available sources. To the accomplishment of this plan, brought out into its necessary details successively, Mr. HOLBROOK has devoted himself with unabating industry, talent, and perseverance, and a resolution to spare no needful expense, notwithstanding the overwhelming embarrassments of times unfavorable to literary enterprise. I had feared, that consequent disappointments, and loss of property, would have greatly retarded the appearance of the work, or compelled to its utter abandonment. But the formation of a stock company, under Mr. H.'s superintendence, has, in the good providence of GOD, secured now to the Christian community among us its entire publication. It leaves the press with many prayers, I trust, for its usefulness; and the originator and conductor of the enterprise is not to be forgotten in them. It may be necessary to observe, that, in the notes, illustrations, and original remarks, a considerable range of research has been indulged in, without any other restriction of names, or subjects, than the occasion, and the necessary limits of the work, required. From this cause one advantage, of no small moment, is anticipated,-the creation of a habit, in the readers, of making all their inquiries and acquisitions concur to the elucidation of the blessed Word of God, and the application of its salutary truths to the diversified character and wants of man, in his education to be useful here, and prepared for higher service and blessedness in eternity. BOSTON, June 1st, 1838. WILLIAM JENKS. 116 116 Acts 28:40, Acts 28:11. 159 Acts 19:29. 168 169 Classical 2, 3 and 4-horse Chariots Classical antique, showing a heathen Plan of Greco-Roman Theatre Hinder part and tackling of a ship of Ground-plan of the first (?) Christian View of Corinth in 1810 house Plan of the Roman dining-table, and Plan of the Grecian Gymnasium, CAMBRIDGE: STEREOTYPED BY FOLSOM, WELLS, AND THURSTON, PRINTERS TO THE UNIVERSITY. 44 1 Cor. 4:9. 257 View of Khonos, on the site of an- 423 &c. 288 1 Cor. 11:22. 295 of the age of the apostle John Joseph Mede's idea of the sealed book' Rev. 1:12. 668 'Mark of animals sacred to the DEC 1930 sington, Wis.- Pub. Lib. CBD +353 5 AN EXPOSITION ACTS OF THE OF THE APOSTLES, WITH OBSERVATIONS AND NOTES. We have seen the foundation of our holy religion laid in the history of our blessed Savior, its great Author, as related and left on record by four several inspired writers, who all agree, That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. this Rock the Christian church is built; and how it began to be built thereon, comes here next to be related. I. This history looks back to the preceding Gospels; the promises there, are here made good; particularly the great promise of the descent of the Holy Ghost, and his wonderful operations, both on, and with the apostles, making the Word mighty which had been before comparatively preached in vain. The commission there granted to the apostles we here find executed, and the powUpon ers there lodged in them exerted in miracles wrought on the bodies, and much greater miracles on the minds of people, in pursuance of Christ's purposes and promises, which we had in the Gospels. The proofs of Christ's resurrection, which the Gospels closed with, are here abundantly corroborated, not only by the constant and undaunted testimony of those that conversed with Him after He rose, (who had all before deserted Him, and one of them denied Him,) but by the working of the Spirit with that testimony for the conversion of multitudes, according to the word of Christ, that his resurrection, the sign of the prophet Jonas, which was reserved to the last, should be the most convincing proof of his divine mission. II. It looks forward to the following epistles, introduces, and is a key to them, as the history of David is to David's Psalms. The four Gospels showed us how the foundation of God's house was laid; this shows us how the superstructure began to be raised. 1. Among the Jews and Samaritans, which we have an account of in the former part of this book. 2. Among the Gentiles, which we have an account of in the latter part: from thence, and downward to our own day, we find the Christian church subsisting in a visible profession of faith in Christ, as the Son of God and Savior of the world, made by his baptized disciples, incorporated into religious societies, statedly meeting in religious assemblies, attending on the apostles' doctrine, and joining in prayer and breaking of bread, under the conduct and precedency of men that gave themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word, and in a spiritual communion with all in every place that do likewise. Such a body as this there is now in the world, which we belong to: and in this book we find the rise and original of it, vastly different from the Jewish church, and erected on its ruins; but undeniably appearing to be of God, and not of man. Its penman was Luke, who, as Whitby shows, was, very probably, one of the 70 disciples; it should seem he wrote this history when with Paul at Rome, during his imprisonment there, for the history concludes with Paul's preaching there in his own hired house. Its title is, The Acts of the Apostles; of the holy Apostles, so the Greek copies generally, Rev. 18:20. One copy inscribes it, The Acts of the Apostles by Luke the Evangelist. It is the history of the apostles; yet here is in it the history of Stephen, Barnabas, and some other apostolical men, not of the 12. of Peter and Paul only is here recorded; Peter the Apostle of the circumcision, and Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles, Gal. 2:7. But this suffices as a specimen of what the rest did in other places, pursuant to their commission, for they were none of them idle. t It is called their acts, or doings. The history is filled with their sermons and their sufferings; yet so much And of those that were apostles, the history did they labor in their preaching, and so voluntarily did they expose themselves to sufferings, and such were their achievements by both, that they may very well be called their acts. HENRY. Luke, undoubtedly, intending this book as an appendix to his Gospel, inscribes it likewise to Theophilus. (Pref. to Luke.) Indeed, the whole may be considered as one publication, in two parts: but the convenience of having the four Gospels together, seems to have induced Christians in early times to divide it, by inserting John's Gospel between these two parts. It was written (as may fairly be concluded) within 30 or 31 years after our Lord's crucifixion. But the circumstance which most of all demands our attention, and should raise our expectations respecting it, is this; it records the fulfilment of the ancient prophecies concerning the kingdom of the promised Messiah, and the manner in which it should be established in the world; and also of those predictions, or promises which our Lord gave to his disciples, while He was yet with them,' concerning the powers to be bestowed on them, the success of their labors, and their persecutions. (Notes, Mat. 10:16-23. 24:6-8. Lu. 10:17-20, v. 18. 21:12-19. Jn. 12:27-33, vv. 31,32. 14:7-14, vv. 12,25,26. 15:17-21. 16:1-3,7-13.) SCOTT. The Acts comprise a history of about 30 years, from the Savior's ascension, to Paul's arrival at Rome after his appeal to Cesar... The book being continued to the 2d yr. of Paul's imprisonment, could not have been written before A. D. 63; and as his death in 65 is not mentioned, was probably composed before. Hence Mich., Lard., Bens., Ros., Toml., and the generality of critics, date it in 63: to its genuineness and authenticity, the earlier Christian fathers bear unanimous testimony.' HORNE. the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and the first successes and sufferings of the apostles, little is recorded in the Scripture concerning most of them. Indeed the names of more than half of them are never mentioned after the first ch.; and most of the ancient records and traditions of them are so mingled with fiction, as not to be entitled to implicit or indiscriminate credit. The events of several years of Paul are summed up in 2 or 3 che. And though, after Luke the historian joined him, and became his faithful companion, (shown by his using we, in the narrative,) he is somewhat more circumstantial; yet Paul's epistles prove his labors, peisecutions, and successes far greater, and instructions to his converts far more particular, than a cursory reading of this history would lead us to suppose. At the same time, the remarkable coincidence, even in minute particulars, of the bistory and the epistles, is such, as could never have taken place, had not both been genuine. See Paley. Sc. version, and is totally silent concerning the spread of Christianity in the E. and in Egypt, as well as the foundation of the church of Christ at Rome, Paul's journey inte Luke does not write a complete ecclesiastical history of the church for 30 yrs. nor Arabia, and other interesting topics and labors. We shall perceive the historian had of Paul's life, for he has wholly omitted what passed among the Jews after Paul & con2 objects in view :-1. To relate how the gifts of the Holy Spirit were communicated at Pentecost, and the subsequent miracles of the apostles, by which the truth of Christianity was confirmed. An authentic account of this matter was absolutely necessary, because Christ had often assured his disciples that they should receive the Holy SpirJews, especially at the time Luke wrote the Acts. Hence the relations, cha. 8. 10. it: unbelievers, therefore, whether Jews or heathens, might have made objections to 11.-3. Mich. too, thinks it probable, Luke might design only to record the facts he our religion, had not this been shown.-2. To deliver such accounts as proved the had either seen himself, or heard from eyewitnesses. Dr. Benaon, however, thinks claim of the Gentiles to admission into the church of Christ,-a claim disputed by the the Jews only, from A. D. 33 to A. D. 41; this first part including ch. 2 to 13:2. II. A. D. 41 to 44. Acta, 10-12. II. Among the idolatrous Gentiles, and further among the book was written, to show in its 3 parts, how the Gospel was propagated, 1. Among the 2 preceding classes, A. D. 44 to 63. Acts, chs. 13-28. Horne: whom see, (with Hug.) for Chronology of Acts; and for an Analysis. Comp. too, 'Sacred Chron. Ed. Among the devout Gentiles, (proselytes of the gate,) and further among the Jews, effects of genuine Christianity: and it should be carefully noted, that, in every age, all those multitudes who are called Christians, yet bear no resemblance to this specimen, will be driven away as chaff, at the great decisive day: and that the more we are 1 The book contains also a specimen of true believers, as illustrating the nature and dent it is, that we shall be numbered with them in glory everlasting-Some intimations are also given of the manner, in which the primitive church was constituted and governed, its ministers appointed, its ordinances administered: yet it can hardly like these primitive believers, when great grace was upon them all, the more evibe supposed, but that the eager disputants of all [eects] must feel considerably disappointed in this respect; and secretly regret, that more particular and explicit infor. mation has not been given on these subjects; but this the Lord for wise reasons has Been good to withhold. Scott. If a man wishes to learn how to preach well, he can probably acquire it nowhere else so readily as by giving himself to the prayerful and profound study of the specimens contained in this book. have here a view of the character of the true church of Christ. The simplicity of this church must strike every reader. Religion is represented as a work of the heart; the pure and proper effect of truth on the mind. It is free from pomp and splendor, and from costly and magnificent ceremonies. There is no apparatus to impress the senses, no splendor to dazzle, no external rite or parade adapted to draw the afAt the same time, we rade of Pagan worship! How unlike the vain and pompous ceremonies which have since, alaa! crept into no small part of the Christian church. Scott. fections from the pure and spiritual worship of God. How unlike the pomp and pa It is fact, that the religion of Jesus the Nazarene, who expired on a cross at Jeru salem, 1800 years ago, was soon very extensively propagated among the nations; that it obtained a permanent establishment, which it preserves to this day; and that the prophets had foretold that this would be the case, as to the kingdom of the Messiah: but the book before us is the only history, which expressly relates the manner in which this religion was first promulgated.-Here we are informed, that 11 obscure men, whom Jesus had called to be his attendants and apostles, having continued with Him till his crucifixion, saw and conversed with Him after his resurrection, and afterwards beheld Him ascend from them towards heaven, till a cloud received Him out of their sight. In a few days, having appointed one in the room of the 12th, who had betrayed bis Lord and destroyed himself, and being accompanied with a small number of disciples, the Holy Spirit, according to the promise of their Lord, descended upon them in a most extraordinary manner, enabling them to speak divers languages, and work stupendous miracles; and in all respects qualifying them for their arduous undertaking. Accordingly, without further delay, within less than 2 months from the time when Jesus was crucified; and at Jerusalem, under the immediate notice of his crucifiers, they began boldly to declare, that He was risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and exalted at the right hand of God; that He was the promised Messiah, the Prince of Life,' the Savior and Judge of the world, and as such entitled to all confidence, obedience, and adoration; and openly to charge the people, the priests, and the rulers, with murdering the Lord of glory.' They were themselves unarmed, and unprotected, except by a divine power; they possessed neither human learning, eloquence, nor influence: yet they had all the wisdom and the folly, the learning and the ignorance, the religion and the irreligion, with all the obstinate and varied prejudices, and corrupt passions and habits of the whole world to encounter; as well as the power of rulers and princes to oppose them: notwithstanding which, they became decidedly and permanently triumphant. They employed no weapons, but simple testimony to the facts which they had witnessed, cogent arguments, affectionate persuasions, holy, beneficent lives, fervent prayers, and patient sufferings, even unto death.-With the Jews they reasoned from the SS. of the O. T., and showed how exactly these had been fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth; and when they afterwards went among the Gentiles, they reasoned with them from such principles as they themselves acknowledged.-Proceeding in this manner, and everywhere attended by a divine power, both manifested in undeniable miracles, and by inwardly preparing men's hearts to receive the truth; they had such astonishing success, that many hundreds of thousands, if not millions, not only from among the Jews and proselytes, but also from the grossest and most licentious idolaters, became the avowed disciples of the crucified Jesus, and the devoted worshippers and servants of the one living and true God. Thus, in the Acts of the Apostles,' there is given ns the only history of the manner, in which the most extraordinary revolution that ever took place in the moral and religious state of the world was first begun: and if this account be true, the Gospel must be divine. Jerusalem, Cesarea, Antioch, and Ephesus, all great and celebrated cities, nay, Rome itself, the proud capital of the world, were among the places, in which the miracles are attested to have been wrought, and the success attained, in the full view of the vehement and powerful opposers who never ventured to deny the facts, though they could not account for them, without allowing the truth of the Gospel.-To suppose, that such a religion as Christianity, which directly opposes every corruption of the human heart, without making the least allowance, either to persons in the highest stations, or to its most zealous friends, could have prevailed in the world as it has, by such instruments and means, and in the face of such powerful opposition, without the power of God succeeding it; is to assume, without shadow of proof, a fact immensely more incredible, than any of the miracles recorded in Scripture, or all of them combined.. We must not here expect a full and particular history of the labors and successes of the apostles and primitive evangelists: a select specimen alone is given. After |