Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 22, verse 30
25 but claiming the privilege of a Roman, he escapethActs of the Apostles, Chapter 23, verses 6-11
2 Ananias commandeth them to smite him, 7 Dissension among his accusers, 11 God encourageth him23
23:6 I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: for the hope of the resurrection of the dead am I called in question - So he was in effect; although not formally, or explicitly.
23:8 The Pharisees confess both - Both the resurrection, and the existence of angels and separate spirits.
23:9 And the scribes of the Pharisees' side arising - Every sect contains both learned and unlearned. The former used to be the mouth of the party. If a spirit - St. Paul in his speech from the stairs had affirmed, that Jesus, whom they knew to have been dead, was alive, and that he had spoken to him from heaven, and again in a vision. So they add nothing, only they construe it in their own way, putting an angel or spirit for Jesus.
23:11 And the night following, the Lord Jesus - What Paul had before purposed in spirit, Act 19:21, God now in due time confirms.Another declaration to the same effect is made by an angel of God, Act 27:23. And from the Act 23 the sum of this book turns on the testimony of Paul to the Romans. How would the defenders of St. Peter's supremacy triumph, could they find out half as much ascribed to him! Be of good courage, Paul - As he laboured under singular distresses and persecutions, so he was favoured with extraordinary assurances of the Divine assistance.Thou must testify - Particular promises are usually given when all things appear desperate. At Rome also - Danger is nothing in the eyes of God: all hinderances farther his work. A promise of what is afar off, implies all that necessarily lies between. Paul shall testify at Rome: therefore he shall come to Rome; therefore he shall escape the Jews, the sea, the viper.
John, Chapter 17, verses 20-26
20 to glorify them and all other believers with him in heaven17 In this chapter our Lord prays,
- For himself, Joh 17:1-5.
- For the apostles, Joh 17:6-19.
And again, Joh 17:24-26.
- For all believers, Joh 17:20-23. And
- For the world, Joh 17:21-23.
In his prayer he comprises all he had said from Joh 13:31,
and seals, as it were, all he had hitherto done, beholding things past, present, and to come. This chapter contains the easiest words, and the deepest sense of any in all the Scripture: yet is here no incoherent rhapsody, but the whole is closely and exactly connected.
17:20 For them who will believe - In all ages.
17:21 As thou art in me - This also is to be understood in a way of similitude, and not of sameness or equality. That the world may believe - Here Christ prays for the world. Observe the sum of his whole prayer,
- Receive me into thy own and my glory;
- Let my apostles share therein;
- And all other believers:
- And let all the world believe.
17:22 The glory which thou hast given me, I have given them - The glory of the only begotten shines in all the sons of God. How great is the majesty of Christians.
17:24 Here he returns to the apostles. I will - He asks, as having a right to be heard, and prays, not as a servant, but a Son: that they may behold my glory - Herein Is the happiness of heaven, Jo1 3:2.
17:25 Righteous Father - The admission of believers to God through Christ, flows even from the justice of God.
17:26 I have declared to them thy name - Thy new, best name of love; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me - That thou and thy love, and I and my love, may be in them - That they may love me with that love.
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