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A. D. 33.

2

And fuddenly

there came a found
from heaven, as of a
rufhing mighty wind,
and it filled all the
house where they were
fitting.

3. And there ap-
peared unto them clo-
ven tongues, like as
of fire, and it fat up-

by

2 & 3. They first heard a ftrange and unufual Sound from above, fomewhat like that of a ftrong Wind, which came upon. the Room where they were affembled, and in a wonderful manner filled and fhook it (therefignifying the Strength and Power of that Spirit that was coming on them, for enabling them to fill the whole Earth with their Doctrine;) and then upon every one of the Company fat the Shape of a Cloven Tongue (to fignify the particular Gift of feveral Languages) which were bright like Fire (to fignify the clear Light and Knowledge that was now to be imparted to their Minds, and the vigorous Energy of the Spirit to enable them to spread and preach it to others.)

on each of them:

4. And they were 4. And the Effects were fully all filled with the ho- anfwerable to each Part of these ly Ghoft, and began figurative Refemblances, for they to speak with other were now every one of them entongues, as the Spirit dowed with many extraordinary gave them utterance. Abilities, and divine Powers, but particularly that of fpeaking what the Spirit dictated to them, in different Languages which they had never learnt. *

5. And there were dwelling at Jerufalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation

under heaven.

5. The Divine Wisdom made choice of this Time, to confer thefe miraculous Powers upon the Difciples; as for feveral others, fo for this particular Reafon, That as every Man of the Jewish Religion, of what Country foever, was obliged to appear at this Feaft at Jerufalem, this univerfal Refort might give the best Opportunity of observing, examining, and publishing

fuch

And thus as the Division and Variety of Languages was once made a Punishment, and wrought Confufion among Mankind; now by a wife Turn of Events, the fame Variety was made a Means of collecting and uniting them into one Religion and bleffed Society.

fuch a wonderful Event through the many and diftant A. D 33. Regions whither they were shortly to return.

6. Now when this ⚫ was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them fpeak in his own language.

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7. And they were all amazed, and marvelled, faying one to another, Behold, are not all these which fpeak, Galileans? 8. And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein

we were born?

9. Parthians, and

Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mefopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Afia,

10. Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and ftrangers of Rome, Jews and Profelytes,

6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12. Accordingly as foon as they heard the Report of fo marvellous a Thing, there was a vast Concourfe of People about the Place, the Strangers of feveral Countries efpecially, were in the utmost Degree of Aftonishment, to hear fuch a Number of plain and illiterate People, fpeaking to each of them the Language of his particular Country, with fo much Readinefs and Freedom; and upon difcourfing with one another about the great Number of different Languages of Europe, Afia, and Africa, thus all fo wonderfully attained, and spoken by fuch Men as they knew had never learnt any of them, and withal the great and admirable * Things they delivered about the Difpenfations of God to his People; they could not but conclude the Hand of God to be in it, for effecting fome great and extraordinary Defign, tho' they were much at a Lofs to know what it fhould be.

11. Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them fpeak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

*

12. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, faying one to another, What meaneth this?

are full of new wine.

13. Others mock- 13. But fome Jews of the ing, faid, Thefe men Town, that were prejudiced againft Jefus and his Difciples, and not understanding any of these foreign Languages, maliciously and ignorantly gave it out among the

B 4

common

* Probably the Miracles, Refurrection and Afcenfion of Chrift.

A. D. 33. common People, That the Difciples were drunk, and fo babbled at random fuch Gibberish as drunken Men are wont to do.

14. But Peter ftanding up with the eleven, lift up his voice, and faid unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerufalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words. 15. For these men are not drunken, as ye fuppofe, feeing it is but the third hour of the day.

14 & 15. To which falfe Suggeftion the Twelve Apoftles (as chief over the reft) gave a fufficient Confutation, by appointing Peter to reprefent to them, That whereas it was now but nine a

Clock in the Morning, the Time of the Morning Sacrifice, to which all the Jews thought themselves in Confcience obliged to come fafting, it was a most uncharitable and abfurd Thing, to fuppofe fuch a Number of them fhould dare to come in a debauch'd Temper to fuch a Divine Service, especially upon fo folemn a Festival as this was. 16. But this is that 16. That, on the contrary, which was fpoken by the Strangers of fo many different the Prophet Joel, Countries, now present, being able to testify the Truth of these great Performances, could not but fee and acknowledge them to be a moft eminent and full Completion of that famous Prophecy of Joel ii. 28.

17. And it fhall 17 & 18. Wherein God promicome to pafs, in the fed, That in the Times of the Meflalt days, (faith God) fiah, He would bestow the Gifts I will pour out of my of the Holy Spirit, in its feveral fpirit upon all flesh Kinds and highest Degrees, upon and your fons and your daughters fhall fome of all Ranks, Ages, and prophefy, and your Sexes of People in his Church, for young men fhall fee the Propagation and Encouragevifions, and your old ment of his true Religion.

men fhall dream dreams :

18. And on my fervants, and on my hand-maidens, I will pour out in thofe days of my fpirit, and they fhall prophesy :

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19 & 20. And withal, That for the Terror and Condemnation of fuch as would not be convinced by this wonderful Effufion of his Spi

and fire, and vapour

of smoke.

20. The fun fhall be turned into darkinto blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come.

nefs, and the moon

rit, He would cause the most af- → frightening Prodigies to appear in the Air, and Earth, deftroy the Jewish Towns by the Fire, and great Numbers of their People by the Sword of their Enemies; and produce mighty Changes and Revolutions, both in their Government and Religion, as fo many Signs and Symptoms of the total and final Deftruction of that obftinate Nation.

*

21. And it fhall 21. But that, on the contrary, come to pals, that he would have a Special Eye of whofoever fhall call providential Mercy upon all that on the name of the embraced and obeyed the Religion Lord, shall be saved. of his Chrift, by rescuing them from the prefent Calamities of thefe fatal Wars, and crowning them with eternal Glory in another State.

22. Ye men of Ifra22. Having thus repeated to el, hear these words, them both the Promises and Jefus of Nazareth, a Threats of this famous Prophetman approved of cy, Peter earneftly called upon God, among you, by them all to confider seriously and miracles, and wonders, and figns, which without Prejudice, how exactly God did by him in the former of them were accomthe midft of you, as plifhed in the Person, Miracles, ye yourselves alfo Refurrection, and Afcenfion of know: Chrift; and in these Powers of the Holy Ghost upon his Apostles and Disciples.

23. As

* Ver. 21. Call on the Name of the Lord, i. e. believe and embrace his Religion. This is, no doubt, the Sense of the Phrafe in this Place, as alfo in Chap. ix. 14, 21. the xv. 17. and in xxii. 16. of this Book. In Chap. xix. 13. and iii. 6. it fignifies Invoking his Power, and making use of his Authority. In Chap. vii. 59. 'tis directly Praying to him. And for a full View of the Acceptation of it in the rest of the New Teftament, the Reader may fee Dr. CLARK, in Script. Doft. Trin. p. 132.

+ Ver. 22. A Man approved of God. Or, much rather, αποδεδειγμένον ἀπὸ τὰ Θεῖ, Demonftrated by God, viz. το be the true Meffiab.

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A. D. 33.

.

23. Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and fore knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and flain:

23. As to the Miracles of Chrift, they were fo full an Evidence of his being a divine Perfon, the Saviour of Ifrael and all fo plain and well known to be Matters of Fact; that to crucify, and in fo tumultuous a Manner to murder fuch a Perfon, muft have been the higheft Act of Wickedness and Impiety in you, tho' on God's Part it was a most wise and merciful Inftance of his Love to Mankind to permit you fo to do, as the Prophets foretold you would.

24. Whom God hath raifed up, having loofed the pains of death: because it was not poffible that he should be holden

24. God has ftill further demonftrated him to be the Person in whom this great Promife is compleated, by raifing him from the Dead; and indeed it was impoffible he fhould, like other Men, continue long in a State of Death, whether you confider the fuperlative Dignity of his Pe:fon, or thofe plain Prophecies concerning him, a moft particular Instance whereof, is that of David, Pfal. xvi. 8. &c.

of it.

25.For David fpeak-
eth concerning him,
I forefaw the Lord al-
ways before my face,
for he is on my right

hand, that I fhould
not be moved.

26. Therefore did
my heart rejoice, and
my tongue was glad:
moreover alfo, my flesh
fhall reft in hope.
27. Because thou
wilt not leave my foul
in hell, neither wilt

25, 26, 27, & 28. Wherein He brings in the Meffiah, the Son of God, expreffing the fullest Confidence, Hope, and Affurance in the Father, with the most unspeakable Contentment and Satisfaction under his Sufferings for Mankind; as having from him the abfolute Promife and Power of a glorious and Speedy Refurrection, thereby to triumph for ever over Death, and over all his, and our Spiritual Enemies.

thou fuffer thine holy One to fee corruption.

28. Thou

* TO THE WELμery Cexy-Exdolor, may be thus render'd-Him ye have taken and crucified, who was given (to you as a Saviour) by the determinate Counsel of God.

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