Acts 4

2. One in affection. They should have one heart (Acts 4:32): The multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul. As in music, though there be several strings of a viol, yet all make one sweet harmony, so though there are several Christians, yet there should b…

He shall save his people from their sins. There is no other savior (Acts 4:12). 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, neither is there salvation in any other.

He saves from sin (Matthew 1:21), from wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10). To save is a flower that belongs only to his crown (Acts 4:12). [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], Neither is there salvation in any other.

While the wicked resist the will of God's precept, they fulfil the will of his permissive decree. Judas betrays Christ, Pilate condemns him, the soldiers crucify him; while they resisted the will of God's precept, they fulfilled the will of his permissive decree (Acts 4:28). Suc…

The fire by an Antiperistasis burns hottest in the coldest season. Peter's courage increased by the opposition of the High Priest and the Rulers (Acts 4:8, 11). The martyrs' zeal was increased by persecution: here was grace of the first magnitude.

He puts down one, and sets up another: Nothing stirs in the world, but God has a hand in it; He sets every wheel a working; He humbles the proud, and raises the poor out of the dust, to set them among princes (1 Samuel 2:8). The kingdom of God's providence rules over all; kings…

Luke 12:8: Whoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God. Peter openly confessed Christ crucified (Acts 4:10). Cyprian, a man of a brave spirit, was like a rock, whom no waves could shake; like an adamant, whom no sword could…

Answer. Because faith looks at Christ in every duty, it touches the hem of his garment, and through Christ both the person and the offering are accepted (Ephesians 1:6). 2. We do God's will acceptably when we prefer his will before all other; if God wills one thing, and man will…

But now all those things are openly, and fully witnessed to in the testimonies before produced; as may be observed by suiting some of them to the several particulars here asserted. As 1. What was done in this matter, was from the will, purpose, and love of God the Father (Psalm…

And this he further describes, v. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him. The world that was made, has an usual distribution in the Scripture, into the heavens and the earth, and all things contained in them; as Acts 4:24. Lord you are God which has made Heaven a…

And after the defilement of all the ordinances of the Gospel, under the Anti-Christian apostacy, yet the Temple and the Altar are to be measured again (Revelation 11:1), and the Tabernacle of God was again to be raised among men (Revelation 21:3). No opposition, no persecution,…

Fourthly, To this end that they may be enabled so to do, it is ordained, that every first day the members of the Church do contribute according as God enables them of their substance, for the supply of the wants of the poor (1 Corinthians 16:2), and also occasionally, as necessi…

Q. What is the true way and means of deliverance? A. Only the Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 3:15; Acts 4:12; 1 John 5:12).

Q. What are the things that are created? A. All things without exception, that have a being, except God only who did create them (Acts 4:24; Acts 17:24; Acts 14:15; Genesis 2:1; Revelation 4:11). Q. Do you mean that the third heaven was also created by God?

Acts 2:23: Him I say being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, after you had taken, with wicked hands you have crucified and slain. Acts 4:27–28: They gathered themselves together, to do whatever your hand and your counsel had determined before to be d…

Here then first we may learn, how far forth we must obey superiors and magistrates; we must obey them, not simply, but in the Lord: Ephesians 6.1. that is, in all their lawful commands: but when they command things evil and unlawful, then we must stay ourselves, lest obeying the…

First, as it was necessary for them that should be saved in the flood, to be in the Ark; and out of the Ark no possibility to escape: So is it for them that will have their souls saved, to be in Christ, and of his Church; they must be mystical members of Christ, and visible memb…

Seeing other foundation no man can lay, save that is laid, Jesus the Christ (1 Peter 2:4). For there is salvation in none other (Acts 4:12). 2. The spiritual materials are such as are born of water and of the Spirit (John 3:5).

If there be any gracious conditions, or qualifications wrought in us before union with Christ, then we may be in a state of grace and salvation, before we be in Christ: But that cannot be (Acts 4:12): "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under h…

And it is usual with men of corrupt minds to prefer such peculiar errors above all other concerns of religion whatever, and to have their lusts inflamed by them into the utmost intemperance. They therefore were the first stirrers up and fiercest pursuers of the primitive persecu…

And this the whole Scripture testifies to be no otherwise but by Jesus Christ. For there is no salvation in any other; neither is there any other name under heaven given among men whereby they must be saved (Acts 4:12). When their thoughts are thus limited to Christ alone, their…

To all these evil habits of the mind is this confidence opposed. This was that grace, that exercise of faith, which was once admired in Peter and John (Acts 4:13). And there can be no better account given of it, than what is evident in the behavior of those two Apostles in that…

They seem as nothing in his eye. It was a sign the Primitive Christians did love God, their money did not lie near their heart, but they laid down their money at the Apostles' feet, Acts 4.35. Try by this your love to God.

Thus prayed David against Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:31): Lord I pray you bring the counsel of Ahithophel to foolishness. And thus did the apostles pray against their persecutors (Acts 4:29): O Lord behold their threatenings, and grant to your servants with all boldness to speak yo…

Now that came to pass not only by the foreknowledge of God, but also by his determinate counsel. And therefore as the church of Jerusalem says, Herod and Pontius Pilate with the gentiles and the people of Israel gathered themselves together to do whatever your hand and your coun…

There may be a difference in the creature, John and Andrew may be otherwise tempered and disposed than Paul and Peter: but God's motives to choose both the one and the other are still the same. 2. They have the same Christ; there is no other name under heaven (Acts 4:12). And Je…

God and Nature has made Magistrates, and given them great authority: But from Christ as Mediator they have it not. I finde in Scripture, that Church-Officers have their power from Christ as Mediator, and they are to manage their office under and for Christ, and in the Name of th…

Joseph's brothers sold him to gratify their revenge, and God ordered it for their preservation in a time of famine. Pharaoh's hardness is ordered by God for his own glory, and that king's destruction: God decrees the delivering up Christ to death, and Herod, Pilate, the Pharisee…

[By his providence to live together] else they cannot partake in the Lord's ordinances together as churches ought to do (1 Corinthians 14:23; Acts 14:27). The whole church comes together in one place [cleaving together in faith and love] so (Acts 4:32). If they differ, namely, i…

We read (2 Chronicles 19:8) that with the Priests were joined some of the chief of the fathers of Israel, to judge ecclesiastical causes and controversies. And however many things among the Jews in the latter times, after the captivity, did wear to confusion and misorder, yet we…

This great number, neither did, nor could usually assemble into one place for the worship of God, but they met house by house (Acts 2:46). And whereas objection is made to the contrary from Acts 2:44 and 5:12 and 6:2, we have before answered to the first of these places, for it…

Thus prayed David against Achitophel (2 Samuel 15:31): Lord, I pray you, bring the counsel of Achitophel to foolishness. And thus did the Apostles pray against their persecutors (Acts 4:29): O Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant to your servants with all boldness to speak…

4. "This is eternal life, that they (men) may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3). "And there is salvation in no one else" (Acts 4:12). But since the promise of Christ was made only after the fall — in which God's mercy toward the human…

The remedy in Christ accused as a blasphemer, yet sought the glory of his Father, not his (John 2:17-18). This mercy makes us come to this duty (Acts 4:18-19). Here we must often mark, how by stealth we shall be drawn to the over-loving, over-fearing, etc. of men, and in time re…

When we make him to be the only Savior, we exclude all that men can do with their penance, prayers, good works, and all that angels can do. Neither man nor angel could satisfy divine justice, and make our peace with God, and therefore it's said (Acts 4:12): Neither is there salv…

2. From these words. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he has put him to grief; Observe, That the Lord Jehovah had the main and principal hand, in all the sufferings of this innocent Mediator: It was not the Jews, nor the Scribes and Pharisees, nor Pilate; but it pleased th…

The second and next thing implied here is that, though men be naturally under sin, and obnoxious to the wrath and curse of God by reason of sin, yet there is nothing that can take away that sin and free them from wrath but Christ Jesus — his offering up of himself a sacrifice fo…

If we would enumerate all things imaginable, and invent ways and means without number to remove sin, or to make a sinner's peace with God; there is no other means but this, that will do it. As we have it in Hebrews 10, Christ Jesus by his once offering up of himself, perfects fo…

5. All within the visible Church, have means sufficient in their kind, in genere mediorum externorum, to save them. 6. As none can be saved by the light of nature, nor ever any used, or could use it so far forth, as to improve it for their sufficient preparation, to receive the…

As their knowledge grows, so grows their zeal; so that if you have that life in Christ which accompanies salvation, your eyes are like a flame of fire, full of burning light, as well as bright knowledge. Is your knowledge such as suffers you to sit down barren, and though you kn…

Act 3. Thirdly, a man asks in humility, when he puts up his petitions with submission to God's will, he desires not that God would satisfy him in any lust, but only grant him the things that are expedient for him, so far as may stand with the good pleasure of his heavenly Father…

3. Though we owe this religious friendship to all that fear God, yet some few may be chosen for our intimacy and spiritual solace. We owe it in some respects to all that fear God and must dispense the general acts of friendship to them (Acts 4:32): The multitude of them that bel…

While Peter went up to the house top to pray, then he had the heavenly vision; so when Paul was in prayer Ananias was sent to him (Acts 9:11). Behold he prays, and then God takes care of him, so (Acts 4:31). When they had prayed, the house was shaken, and they were all filled wi…

1. His mediatorial duty, with a respect to God's ordination, and decree declared in the prophecies of the Old Testament, which when they are fulfilled are said to be accomplished. Whatever Christ did in the work of redemption was with respect to God's will and eternal decree (Ac…

Two things persuade this dependence. That nothing can be done without Christ (Acts 4:12): neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Nothing can be done without Christ, that may be effectual to our…

Rom 3:25. Ioh. 3. 14. and Act 4:12. In this giving there are fiue things to be cōsidered.

Christ was delivered by the will and foreknowledge of God, Act 2:23. and the Iewes for their parts did nothing in the crucifying of Christ, but that which the hand, and counsell of God had determined to be done. Act 4:28. Neither is God by this doctrine made the author of sinne.

Againe, that all the workes of mediation stand alone by themselues, and admit nothing to be added and adioyned to them, There is no other name whereby we can be saved beside the name of Christ. Act 4:12. Christ saues them perfectly that come to him, Heb 7:25.

If those of the kingdom of darkness combine themselves together, as it is (Psalm 2:2): The kings of the earth band themselves, and the princes are assembled together, against the Lord, and against his Christ. (Acts 4:27) Doubtless against your holy son Jesus, whom you have anoin…

For where Matthew and Mark quote Scripture, Luke leads us direct to the heavenly decree, saying, according to what was determined; as also in the Acts of the Apostles, he shows that Christ was delivered not only by the foreknowledge, but likewise by the fixed purpose of God, (Ac…