ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, INTENDED FOR THE USE OF Teachers in Parish Schools, and other BY. HENRY DOWNING, M.A., INCUMBENT OF ST. MARY'S, KINGSWINFORD. Oxford and London: J. H. AND JAS. PARKER. 1860. PREFACE. THESE "Short Notes on the Acts of the Apostles" originated in a want felt by the author in his own parish school. He was asked by the teachers to recommend a commentary which would help them while preparing to give instruction in this book, then being read by the first class; but he did not know any which would meet their wants. Having in view the requirements of schoolteachers especially, he determined to make an effort to supply a commentary which might be useful to the large and increasing body of fairly-educated but unlearned readers. These notes are meant to be simply exegetical. This is not a devotional commentary, nor even a practical one in the ordinary sense of the word: it aims only at being explanatory. Moreover, although the compiler has given his own best efforts, he has used throughout, to a great extent, the labours of others, especially modern German commentators, adapting their explanations to the English Version, and to the use of English readers. He is under the greatest obligation to Meyer, Olshausen, Von Gerlach, Baumgarten, and Neander, but especially the first-named. The view put forth of the teaching of the Acts is (it is hoped) in entire accordance with the doctrines of that branch of Christ's Church of which it is the writer's privilege to be a member. And he trusts that, in its small measure, the present explanation of this portion of Holy Scripture may be permitted to help teachers of schools and others, who have not the opportunity of studying more full and erudite commentaries, to the better understanding of this Book of God's written word. KINGSWINFORD, INTRODUCTION. THE writer of this book, the acts or doings of the Apostles, was St. Luke the Evangelist. It was addressed to the same person as his Gospel, (Acts i. 1; St. Luke i. 3,) viz. Theophilus, who is thought to have been an Italian of some distinction. The place where St. Luke composed this narrative is uncertain. And the time of its composition can only be conjectured; most likely it was written soon after the Gospel which bears his name, probably after the first captivity of St. Paul in Rome, about A.D. 64. It is evident that St. Luke was an eye-witness of much which he relates; and it is supposed that he joined St. Paul on his first journey into Europe, (Acts xvi. 10,) and was his companion at least until his release from prison. The Acts of the Apostles supplies to the Church of Christ an invaluable history; it tells us of the beginning and first struggles of the early Church, of the spread of the Gospel, of its general rejection by the Jews, of its offer to the Gentiles. The character of the mis |
