8  The solemn reading and expounding of the law, Neh 8:1-8.
The joy of the people, Neh 8:9-12.
The keeping of the feast of tabernacles, Neh 8:13-18.

8:2 First day - This was the feast of trumpets, which is called a sabbath, and on which they were to have an holy convocation, Lev 23:24. And it was on this day, the altar was set up, aftertheir return from captivity; in remembrance of which they had probably kept it ever since, with more than ordinary solemnity.

8:7 Understand - As well the words, which being Hebrew, now needed to be translated into the Chaldee or Syriack language, now, the common language of that people, who together with their religion, had also in a great part lost their language; as also the meaning of them: they expounded the mind and will of God in what they read, and applied it to the peoples present condition. Place - That is, In their several places and stations into which the company seems to have been distributed for conveniency of hearing; it not being likely that so vast a congregation could distinctly hear one man's voice. Or, by their stations, that is, by the several stations of the Levites, and persons last named; who seem to have had several scaffolds, by comparing this with chap.Neh 9:4, upon which thy stood, as Ezra did upon his pulpit, ver.Neh 8:4.

8:8 They - Ezra and his companions successively. Sense - The meaning of the Hebrew words, which they expounded in the common language. Thy gave - So they gave them both a translation of the Hebrew words into the Chaldee, and an exposition of the things contained in them.

8:9 Wept - Out of a sense of their guilt and danger by reason of it.

8:10 Eat - Feast before the Lord. Send - For the relief of your poor brethren. Holy - Being the feast of trumpets, and the beginning of this joyful month, wherein so many days of thanksgiving were to be observed.Strength - Rejoicing in God in serving him with chearfulness, and thankfulness, which is your duty always, but now especially, will give you that strength both of mind and body, which you greatly need, both to perform all the duties required of you, and to oppose all the designs of your enemies.

12 

12:12 So is Christ - That is, the body of Christ, the church.

12:13 For by that one Spirit, which we received in baptism, we are all united in one body. Whether Jews or gentiles - Who are at the greatest distance from each other by nature.Whether slaves or freemen - Who are at the greatest distance by law and custom. We have all drank of one Spirit - In that cup, received by faith, we all imbibed one Spirit, who first inspired, and still preserves, the life of God in our souls.

12:15 The foot is elegantly introduced as speaking of the hand; the ear, of the eye; each, of a part that has some resemblance to it. So among men each is apt to compare himself with those whose gifts some way resemble his own, rather than with those who are at a distance, either above or beneath him. Is it therefore not of the body - Is the inference good? Perhaps the foot may represent private Christians; the hand, officers in the church; the eye, teachers; the ear, hearers.

12:16 The ear - A less noble part. The eye - The most noble.

12:18 As it hath pleased him - With the most exquisite wisdom and goodness.

12:20 But one body - And it is a necessary consequence of this unity, that the several members need one another.

12:21 Nor the head - The highest part of all. To the foot - The very lowest.

12:22 The members which appear to be weaker - Being of a more delicate and tender structure; perhaps the brains and bowels, or the veins, arteries, and other minute channels in the body.

12:23 We surround with more abundant honour - By so carefully covering them. More abundant comeliness - By the help of dress.

12:24 Giving more abundant honour to that which lacked - As being cared for and served by the noblest parts.

12:27 Now ye - Corinthians. Are the body and members of Christ - part of them, I mean, not the whole body.

12:28 First apostles - Who plant the gospel in the heathen nations. Secondly prophets - Who either foretel things to come, or speak by extra - ordinary inspiration, for the edification of the church. Thirdly teachers - Who precede even those that work miracles. Under prophets and teachers are comprised evangelists and pastors, Eph 4:11.Helps, governments - It does not appear that these mean distinct offices: rather, any persons might be called helps, from a peculiar dexterity in helping the distressed; and governments, from a peculiar talent for governing or presiding in assemblies.

1 

1:1 This short, weighty, artless, candid dedication, belongs to the Acts, as well as the Gospel of St. Luke. Many have undertaken - He does not mean St. Matthew or Mark; andSt. John did not write so early. For these were eye witnesses themselves and ministers of the word.

1:2 See note ... Luk 1:1

1:3 To write in order - St. Luke describes in order of time; first, The Acts of Christ; his conception, birth, childhood, baptism, miracles, preaching, passion, resurrection, ascension: then, The Acts of the Apostles. But in many smaller circumstances he does not observe the order of time. Most excellent Theophilus - This was the appellation usually given to Roman governors.Theophilus (as the ancients inform us) was a person of eminent quality at Alexandria. In Act 1:1, St. Luke does not give him that title. He was then probably a private man. After the preface St. Luke gives us the history of Christ, fromhis coming into the world to his ascension into heaven.

4 

4:14 Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit - Being more abundantly strengthened after his conflict.

4:15 Being glorified of all - So God usually gives strong cordials after strong temptations. But neither their approbation continued long, nor the outward calm which he now enjoyed.

4:16 He stood up - Showing thereby that he had a desire to read the Scripture to the congregation: on which the book was given to him.It was the Jewish custom to read standing, but to preach sitting. Mat 13:54; Mar 6:1.

4:17 He found - It seems, opening upon it, by the particular providence of God.

4:18 He hath anointed me - With the Spirit. He hath by the power of his Spirit which dwelleth in me, set me apart for these offices.To preach the Gospel to the poor - Literally and spiritually. How is the doctrine of the ever - blessed trinity interwoven, evenin those scriptures where one would least expect it? How clear a declaration of the great Three - One is there in those very words, The Spirit - of the Lord is upon me! To proclaim deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised - Here is a beautiful gradation, in comparing the spiritual state of men to the miserable state of those captives, who are not only cast into prison, but, like Zedekiah, had their eyes put out, and were laden and bruised with chains of iron. Isa 61:1.

4:19 The acceptable year - Plainly alluding to the year of jubilee, when all, both debtors and servants, were set free.

4:21 To - day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears - By what you hear me speak.