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Erasmus of Rotterdam

Reformation and later · AD 1500 onward · 19 passages across 1 books

Commentary

19 passages
Acts 1:7

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

And yet, even in the meantime a spiritual kingdom will thrust itself forth. In vindicating and protecting this kingdom, God demands their service, as for the rewards, let them be his concern. So they are to give up their desiree to know what they should not know; prepare themselves for events that lie at hand.

Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Until now, the Law has held sway among the Jews. It is the Father's will that the reign of the Gospel extend as widely as the world extends.

Acts 1:12

Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

That is nearly two miles.

Acts 3:1

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Peter and John, with others, used to go together to the temple towards the ninth hour as the day began to decline. This is a time when other people, already drunk, usually play or sleep; it had become the custom of the apostles, however, to be free for holy prayers, fasting until evening. The two princes of the apostolic order went forth without horse or mule, but attend the apostolic procession.

Acts 3:2

And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

His misfortunes, as it happens, provided support for many, since it was for gain that they let him out at the gate of the temple which the people call 'Beautiful' to ask alms from those entering (for this gate was the most crowded). Begging has its own talent; it knows that those who go into a temple are so disposed that they give alms quite freely, or wish to seem so disposed.

Acts 3:5

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

He had asked for a donation; he expected a donation. He did not dare to beg that his legs be made whole, since he had no hope that they could do this. And yet he had a feeling that something good was about to happen.

Acts 3:8

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

And leaping and praising God:
To conceal the kind deeds of God is a matter of ingratitude; to attribute them to human endeavor is impiety.

Acts 3:11

And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

Now when they were at the portico of Solomon in which Jesus, that true Solomon, used to walk and where sometimes he disputed with the Pharaisees. The novelty of the event had struck the minds of all.

Acts 3:19

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Pardon is ready and easy: only repent of evil deeds, not only what they just did, but all of them, and turn to the new life. Confess Jesus, whom they formerly denied, as king and ruler of the universe.

Acts 4:6

And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

John and Alexander, then foremost among the priests, and finally all who belonged to the priestly class, in which at that time the higher each member was in authority, the more wicked he was. Such anxious diligence on the part of the chief men itself clearly proves that this was no ordinary affair they were concerned to restrain.

Acts 4:11

This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

The stone means Christ Himself; the builders are the teachers of the Jews who rejected Him as if He were useless.

But when He rose from the dead, He was set in place as the head of the corner, that is, He became the head of the Church, joining Jews and Gentiles in one faith. For as the stone which forms the corner of a building makes continuous the walls leading to it and from it, so Christ has bound all together in one faith.

Acts 4:18

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

They were not able to keep the dead Jesus in the tomb- and they try to entomb a name, though a name is something that invariably becomes better known after death.

Acts 4:22

For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

He had been born lame, and he had displayed his debility for so many years as a beggar that no one could say in slander that this deformity was simulated or insignificant.

Acts 4:35

And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Moreover, the candor of those who brought the profit from the sale of their possessions was matched by the honesty of those who distributed it. Trustworthiness in money-managers is rare. Here distribution was made without respect of persons according to the need of each.

Acts 4:36

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the surname Barnabas, which in Aramaic means 'son of consolation

Acts 4:37

Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

He was an example to many to imitate evangelical generosity, for since he had an estate in Cyprus, he sold it, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet as though it were a trifle, to be treated with disdain.

Acts 5:1

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

Ananais corresponded all to little to his name, because he himself responded all to little to the grace of God. He had a wife Sapphira, a woman like her husband.

Acts 5:2

And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

His intent was to divide the money and with one portion to purchase praise and the impression of piety, but to save the other portion for himself in case some need should arise.

Acts 5:3

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

so that you would lie to the Holy Spirit:
Now if he believed that God can be deceived, he would think of Him irreverently, but if he believe that nothing is concealed from Him, either he despised His justice or he suppose that He looks with favor on deceit.

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