1 The former treatise - In that important season which reached from the
resurrection of Christ to his ascension, the former treatise ends, and this
begins: this describing the Acts of the Holy Ghost, (by the apostles,) as
that does the acts of Jesus Christ. Of all things - In a summary manner:
which Jesus began to do - until the day - That is, of all things which Jesus
did from the beginning till that day.
2 After having given commandment - In the 3d verse Acts 1:3 St. Luke
expresses in general terms what Christ said to his apostles during those
forty days. But in the 4th Acts 1:4 and following verses he declares what
he said on the day of his ascension. He had brought his former account
down to that day; and from that day begins the Acts of the Apostles.
3 Being seen by them forty days - That is, many times during that space.
And speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God - Which was
the sum of all his discourses with them before his passion also.
4 Wait for the promise of the Father, which ye have heard from me -
When he was with them a little before, as it is recorded, Luke 24:49.
5 Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost - And so are all true believers
to the end of the world. But the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost
also are here promised.
6 Dost thou at this time - At the time thou now speakest of? not many
days hence? restore the kingdom to Israel? - They still seemed to dream
of an outward, temporal kingdom, in which the Jews should have dominion
over all nations. It seems they came in a body, having before concerted
the design, to ask when this kingdom would come.
7 The times or the seasons - Times, in the language of the Scriptures,
denote a longer; seasons, a shorter space. Which the Father hath put in
his own power - To be revealed when and to whom it pleaseth him.
8 But ye shall receive power - and shall be witnesses to me - That is,
ye shall be empowered to witness my Gospel, both by your preaching and
suffering.
