Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 5, verses 27-32, 40-41
21 when, after their teaching accordingly in the temple, 29 and before the council, 33 they are in danger to be killed, through the advice of Gamaliel, a great councillor among the Jews, they be kept alive, 40 and are but beaten, for which they glorify God, and cease no day from preachingRevelations, Chapter 5, verses 11-14
9 which only the Lamb that was slain is worthy to open, 12 Therefore the elders praise him, and confess that he redeemed them with his blood5
5:11 And I saw - The many angels. And heard - The voice and the number of them. Round about the elders - So forming the third circle. It is remarkable, that men are represented through this whole vision as nearer to God than any of the angels. And the number of them was - At least two hundred millions, and two millions over. And yet these were but a part of the holy angels. Afterward, Rev 7:11, St. John heard them all.
5:12 Worthy is the Lamb - The elders said, Rev 5:9, "Worthy art thou." They were more nearly allied tohim than the angels. To receive the power, etc - This sevenfold applause answers the seven seals, of which the four former describe all visible, the latter all invisible, things, made subject to the Lamb. And every one of these seven words bears a resemblance to the seal which it answers.
5:13 And every creature - In the whole universe, good or bad.In the heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea - With these four regions of the world, agrees the fourfold word of praise. What is in heaven, says blessing; what is on earth, honour; what is under the earth, glory: what is on the sea, strength; is unto him. This praise from all creatures begins before the opening of the first seal; but it continues from that time to eternity, according to the capacity of each. His enemies must acknowledge his glory; but those in heaven say, Blessed be God and the Lamb.
This royal manifesto is, as it were, a proclamation, showinghow Christ fulfils all things, and "every knee bows to him," not only on earth, but also in heaven, and under the earth.This book exhausts all things, Co1 15:27-28, and is suitable to an heart enlarged as the sand of the sea. It inspires the attentive and intelligent reader with such a magnanimity, that he accounts nothing in this world great; no, not the whole frame of visible nature, compared to the immense greatness of what he is here called to behold, yea, and in part, to inherit.he has been now describing, namely, the four living creatures, the elders, the angels, and all creatures, looking together at the opening of the seven seals.
John, Chapter 21, verses 1-19
1 Christ appearing again to his disciples was known of them by the great draught of fishes, 12 He dineth with them, 15 earnestly commandeth Peter to feed his lambs and sheep, 18 foretelleth him of his death21
21:2 There were together - At home, in one house.
21:4 They knew not that it was Jesus - Probably their eyes were holden.
21:6 They were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes - This was not only a demonstration of the power of our Lord, buta kind supply for them and their families, and such as might be of service to them, when they waited afterward in Jerusalem.It was likewise an emblem of the great success which should attend them as fishers of men.
21:7 Peter girt on his upper coat (for he was stript of it before) - Reverencing the presence of his Lord: and threw himself into thesea - To swim to him immediately. The love of Christ draws men through fire and water.
21:12 Come ye and dine - Our Lord needed not food. And none presumed - To ask a needless question.
21:14 The third time - That he appeared to so many of the apostles together.
21:15 Simon, son of Jonah - The appellation Christ had given him, when be made that glorious confession, Mat 16:16, the remembrance of which might make him more deeply sensible of his late denial of him whom he had so confessed. Lovest thou me? - Thrice our Lord asks him, who had denied him thrice: more than these - Thy fellow disciples do? - Peter thought so once, Mat 26:33, but he now answers only - I love thee, without adding more than these. Thou knowest - He had now learnt by sad experience that Jesus knew his heart.My lambs - The weakest and tenderest of the flock.
21:17 Because he said the third time - As if he did not believe him.
21:18 When thou art old - He lived about thirty - six years after this: another shall gird thee - They were tied to the cross till the nails were driven in; and shall carry thee - With the cross: whither thou wouldest not - According to nature; to the place where the cross was set up.
21:19 By what death he should glorify God - It is not only by acting, but chiefly by suffering, that the saints glorify God. Follow me - Showing hereby likewise what death he should die.
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5:28 Did not we strictly command you, not to teach? - See the poor cunning of the enemies of the Gospel. They make laws and interdicts at their pleasure, which those who obey God cannot but break; and then take occasion thereby to censure and punish the innocent, as guilty. Ye would bring the blood of this man upon us - An artful and invidious word. The apostles did not desire to accuse any man. They simply declared the naked truth.
5:29 Then Peter - In the name of all the apostles, said - He does not now give them the titles of honour, which he did before, Act 4:8; but enters directly upon the subject, and justifieswhat he had done. This is, as it were, a continuation of that discourse, but with an increase of severity.
5:30 Hath raised up Jesus - Of the seed of David, according to the promises made to our fathers.
5:31 Him hath God exalted - From the grave to heaven; to give repentance - Whereby Jesus is received as a Prince; and forgiveness of sins - Whereby he is received as a Saviour.Hence some infer, that repentance and faith are as mere gifts as remission of sins. Not so: for man co - operates in the former, but not in the latter. God alone forgives sins.
5:32 And also the Holy Ghost - A much greater witness.