Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2, verses 14, 36-41
14 whom, Peter disproving and showing that the apostles spake by the power of the holy Ghost, that Jesus was risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, had poured down the same holy Ghost and was the Messias, a man known to them to be approved of God by his miracles, wonders and signs, and not crucified without his determinate counsel and foreknowledge, 37 he baptizeth a great number that were converted, 41 who afterwards devoutly and charitably converse together, the apostles working many miracles, and God daily increasing his Church1 Peter, Chapter 2, verses 20-25
20 patiently suffering for well doing, after the example of Christ2
2:21 Hereunto are ye - Christians. Called - To suffer wrongfully. Leaving you an example - When he went to God.That ye might follow his steps - Of innocence and patience.
2:22 In all these instances the example of Christ is peculiarly adapted to the state of servants, who easily slide either into sin or guile, reviling their fellowservants, or threatening them, the natural result of anger without power.He committed himself to him that judgeth righteously - The only solid ground of patience in affliction. Isa 53:4, Isa 53:6, Isa 53:7, Isa 53:9.
2:23 In all these instances the example of Christ is peculiarly adapted to the state of servants, who easily slide either into sin or guile, reviling their fellowservants, or threatening them, the natural result of anger without power.He committed himself to him that judgeth righteously - The only solid ground of patience in affliction.
2:24 Who himself bore our sins - That is, the punishment due to them. In his afflicted, torn, dying body on the tree - The cross, whereon chiefly slaves or servants were wont to suffer.That we being dead to sin - Wholly delivered both from the guilt and power of it: indeed, without an atonement first made for the guilt, we could never have been delivered from the power.Might live to righteousness - Which is one only. The sins we had committed, and he bore, were manifold.
2:25 The bishop - The kind observer, inspector, or overseer of your souls.
10
10:1 He that entereth not by the door - By Christ. He is the only lawful entrance. Into the sheepfold - The Church. He is a thief and a robber - In God's account. Such were all those teachers, to whom our Lord had just been speaking.
10:3 To him the door keeper openeth - Christ is considered as the shepherd, Joh 10:11.As the door in the first and following verses. And as it is not unworthy of Christ to be styled the door, by which both the sheep and the true pastor enter, so neither is it unworthy of God the Father to be styled the door keeper.See Act 14:27; Col 4:3; Rev 3:8; Act 16:14. And the sheep hear his voice - The circumstances that follow, exactly agree with the customs of the ancient eastern shepherds.They called their sheep by name, went before them and the sheep followed them. So real Christians hear, listen to, understand, and obey the voice of the shepherd whom Christ hath sent. And he counteth them his own, dearer than any friend or brother: calleth, advises, directs each by name, and leadeth them out, in the paths of righteousness, beside the waters of comfort.
10:4 He goeth before them - In all the ways of God, teaching them in every point, by example as well as by precept; and the sheep follow him - They tread in his steps: for they know his voice - Having the witness in themselves that his words are the wisdom and the power of God. Reader, art thou a shepherd of souls? Then answer to God. Is it thus with thee and thy flock?
10:5 They will not follow a stranger - One whom Christ hath not sent, who doth not answer the preceding description. Him they will not follow - And who can constrain them to it? But will flee from him - As from the plague. For they know not the voice of strangers - They cannot relish it; it is harsh and grating to them.They find nothing of God therein.
10:6 They - The Pharisees, to whom our Lord more immediately spake, as appears from the close of the foregoing chapter.
10:7 I am the door - Christ is both the Door and the Shepherd, and all things.
10:8 Whosoever are come - Independently of me, assuming any part of my character, pretending, like your elders and rabbis, to a power over the consciences of men, attempting to make laws in the Church, and to teach their own traditions as the way of salvation: all those prophets and expounders of God's word, that enter not by the door of the sheepfold, but run before I have sent them by my Spirit. Our Lord seems in particular to speak of those that had undertaken this office since he began his ministry, are thieves - Stealing temporal profit to themselves, and robbers - Plunderingand murdering the sheep.
10:9 If any one - As a sheep, enter in by me - Through faith, he shall be safe - From the wolf, and from those murdering shepherds. And shall go in and out - Shall continually attend on the shepherds whom I have sent; and shall find pasture - Food for his soul in all circumstances.
10:10 The thief cometh not but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy - That is, nothing else can be the consequence of a shepherd's coming, who does not enter in by me.
2
2:14 Then Peter standing up - All the gestures, all the words of Peter, show the utmost sobriety; lifted up his voice - With cheerfulness and boldness; and said to them - This discourse has three parts; each of which, Act 2:14, Act 2:22, Act 2:29, begins with the same appellation, men: only to the last part he prefixes with more familiarity the additional word brethren. Men of Judea - That is, ye that are born in Judea. St. Peter spoke in Hebrew,which they all understood.