or others, and found that they were of mean extraction, born in Galilee, that they were bred fishermen, and had no learned education, had never been at any university, were not brought up at the feet of any of the Rabbins, had never been conversant in courts, camps, or colleges; nay, perhaps talk to them at this time upon any point in natural philosophy, mathematics, or politics, and you will find they know nothing of the matter; and yet speak to them of the Messiah and his kingdom, and they speak with so much clearness, evidence, and assurance, so pertinently, and so fluently, and are so ready in the scriptures of the Old Testament relating to it, that the learnedest judge upon the bench is not able to answer them, or to enter the lists with them. They were ignorant men—ἰδιῶται, private men, men that had not any public character or employment; and therefore they wondered they should have such high pretensions. They were idiots; (so the word signifies;) they looked upon them with as much contempt as if they had been mere naturals, and expected no more from them, which made them wonder to see what freedom they took.
(2.) We are told what made their wonder in a great measure to cease; they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus; they themselves, it is probable, had seen them with him in the temple, and now recollected that they had seen them, or some of their servants or those about them informed them of it, for they would not be thought themselves to have taken notice of such inferior people. But when they understood that they had been with Jesus, had been conversant with him, attendant on him, and trained up under him, they knew what to impute their boldness to; nay, their boldness in divine things was enough to shew with whom they had had their education. Note, Those that have been with Jesus, in converse and communion with him, have been attending on his word, praying in his name, and celebrating the memorials of his death and resurrection, should conduct themselves, in every thing, so that those who converse with them, may take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus. And that makes them so holy, and heavenly, and spiritual, and cheerful; that has raised them so much above this world, and filled them with another. One may know that they have been in the mount by the shining of their faces.
15. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 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. 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. 18. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
We have here the issue of the trial of Peter and John before the council; they came off now with flying colours, because they must be trained up to sufferings by degrees; and by lesser trials be prepared for greater; they now but run with the footmen, hereafter we shall have them contending with horses, Jer. 12. 5.
I. Here is the consultation and resolution of the court about this matter, and their proceeding thereupon.
1. The prisoners were ordered to withdraw; (v. 15.) They commanded them to go aside out of the council; willing enough to get clear of them, (they spake so home to their consciences,) and not willing they should hear the acknowledgments that were extorted from them: but though they might not hear them, we have them here upon record. The designs of Christ's enemies are carried on in close cabals, and they dig deep, as if they would hide their councils from the Lord.
2. A debate arose upon this matter; they conferred among themselves; every one is desired to speak his mind freely, and to give advice upon this important affair. Now the scripture was fulfilled, that the rulers would take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed, Ps. 2. 2. The question proposed, was, What shall we do to these men? v. 16. If they would have yielded to the convincing commanding power of truth, it had been easy to say what they should do to these men. They should have placed them at the head of their council, and receive their doctrine, and been baptized by them in the name of the Lord Jesus, and joined in fellowship with them. But when men will not be persuaded to do what they should do, it is no marvel that they are ever and anon at a loss what to do. The truths of Christ, if men would but entertain them as they should, would give them no manner of trouble or uneasiness; but if they hold them or imprison them in unrighteousness, (Rom. 1. 18.) they will find them a burthensome stone that they will not know what to do with, Zech. 12. 3.
3. They came at last to a resolution, in two things.
(1.) That it was not safe to punish the apostles for what they had done; very willingly they would have done it, but they had not courage to do it, because the people espoused their cause, and cried up the miracle; and they stood now in as much awe of them as they had done formerly, when they durst not lay hands on Christ for fear of the people. By which it appears that the outcry of the mob against our Saviour, was a forced or managed thing, the stream soon returned to its former channel. Now they could not find how they might punish Peter and John, what colour they might have for it, because of the people. They knew it would be an unrighteous thing to punish them, and therefore should have been restrained from it by the fear of God; but they considered it only as a dangerous thing, and therefore were held in from it only by the fear of the people. For,
[1.] The people were convinced of the truth of the miracle; it was a notable miracle, γνωστὸν σημεῖον—a known miracle; it was known that they did it in Christ's name, and that Christ himself had often done the like before; this was a known instance of the power of Christ and a proof of his doctrine; that it was a great miracle, and wrought for the confirmation of the doctrine they preached, (for it was a sign,) was manifest to all that dwelt in Jerusalem; it was an opinion universally received, and the miracle being wrought at the gate of the temple, universal notice was taken of it; and they themselves, with
