---
title: "John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible"
author: "John Wesley"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 319 of 398
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/319/
cite: "John Wesley, John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible, section 319. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/319/"
---

# John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible

*John Wesley*

Wesley's short, plain notes on the Old and New Testaments, verse by verse.

## 319. Acts · 7 of 15

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/319/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/319/#p-N

[¶0] Sending it to the elders - Who gave it to the deacons, to be distributed by them, as every one had need.

[¶1] About that time - So wisely did God mix rest and persecution in due time and measure succeeding each other. Herod - Agrippa; the latter was his Roman, the former his Syrian name. He was the grandson of Herod the Great, nephew to Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist; brother to Herodias, and father to that Agrippa before whom St. Paul afterward made his defence. Caligula made him king of the tetrarchy of his uncle Philip, to which he afterward added the territories of Antipas. Claudius made him also king of Judea, and added thereto the dominions of Lysanias.

[¶2] James the brother of John - So one of the brothers went to God the first, the other the last of the apostles.

[¶3] Then were the days of unleavened bread - At which the Jews came together from all parts.

[¶4] Four quaternions - Sixteen men, who watched by turns day and night.

[¶5] Continual prayer was made for him - Yet when their prayer was answered, they could scarce believe it, Ac 12:15. But why had they not prayed for St. James also? Because he was put to death as soon as apprehended.

[¶6] Peter was sleeping - Easy and void of fear; between two soldiers - Sufficiently secured to human appearance.

[¶7] His chains - With which his right arm was bound to one of the soldiers, and his left arm to the other.

[¶8] Gird thyself - Probably he had put off his girdle, sandals, and upper garment, before he lay down to sleep.

[¶9] The first and second ward - At each of which doubtless was a guard of soldiers. The gate opened of its own accord - Without either Peter or the angel touching it. And they went on through one street - That Peter might know which way to go. And the angel departed from him - Being himself sufficient for what remained to be done.

[¶10] Now I know of a truth - That this is not a vision, Acts 12:9.

[¶11] And having considered - What was best to be done. Many were gathered together - At midnight.

[¶12] The gate - At some distance from the house; to hearken - If any knocked.

[¶13] And knowing Peter's voice - Bidding her open the door.

[¶14] They said, Thou art mad - As we say, Sure you are not in your senses to talk so. It is his angel - It was a common opinion among the Jews, that every man had his particular guardian angel, who frequently assumed both his shape and voice. But this is a point on which the Scriptures are silent.

[¶15] Beckoning to them - Many of whom being amazed, were talking together. And he said, Show these things to James - The brother or kinsman of our Lord, and author of the epistle which bears his name. He appears to have been a person of considerable weight and importance, probably the chief overseer of that province, and of the Church in Jerusalem in particular. He went into another place - Where he might be better concealed till the storm was over.

[¶16] Herod commanded them to be put to death - And thus the wicked suffered in the room of the righteous. And going down from Judea - With shame, for not having brought forth Peter, according to his promise.

[¶17] Having gained Blastus - To their side, they sued for, and obtained peace - Reconciliation with Herod. And so the Christians of those parts were, by the providence of God, delivered from scarcity. Their country was nourished - Was provided with, corn, by the king's country - Thus Hiram also, king of Tyre, desired of Solomon food or corn for his household, 1Kings 5:9.

[¶18] And on a set day - Which was solemnized yearly, in honour of Claudius Cesar; Herod, arrayed in royal apparel - In a garment so wrought with silver, that the rays of the rising sun striking upon, and being reflected from it, dazzled the eyes of the beholders. The people shouted, It is the voice of a god - Such profane flattery they frequently paid to princes. But the commonness of a wicked custom rather increases than lessens the guilt of it.

[¶19] And immediately - God does not delay to vindicate his injured honour; an angel of the Lord smote him - Of this other historians say nothing: so wide a difference there is between Divine and human history! An angel of the Lord brought out Peter; an angel smote Herod. Men did not see the instruments in either case. These were only known to the people of God. Because he gave not glory to God - He willingly received it to himself, and by this sacrilege filled up the measure of his iniquities. So then vengeance tarried not. And he was eaten by worms, or vermin - How changed! And on the fifth day expired in exquisite torture. Such was the event! The persecutor perished, and the Gospel grew and multiplied.

[¶20] Saul returned - To Antioch; taking John, surnamed Mark - The son of Mary, (at whose house the disciples met, to pray for Peter,) who was sister to Barnabas.

[¶21] Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod - His foster brother, now freed from the temptations of a court.

[¶22] Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them - This was not ordaining them. St. Paul was ordained long before, and that not of men, neither by man: it was only inducting him to the province for which our Lord had appointed him from the beginning, and which was now revealed to the prophets and teachers. In consequence of this they fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them, a rite which was used not in ordination only, but in blessing, and on many other occasions.

[¶23] Then having fasted - Again. Thus they did also, Acts 14:23.

[¶24] In the synagogues - Using all opportunities that offered.

[¶25] Paphos was on the western, Salamis on the eastern part of the island.

[¶26] The proconsul - The Roman governor of Cyprus, a prudent man - And therefore not overswayed by Elymas, but desirous to inquire farther.

[¶27] Then Saul, who was also called Paul - It is not improbable, that coming now among the Romans, they would naturally adapt his name to their own language, and so called him Paul instead of Saul. Perhaps the family of the proconsul might be the first who addressed to or spoke of him by this name. And from this time, being the apostle of the Gentiles, he himself used the name which was more familiar to them.

[¶28] O full of all guile - As a false prophet, and all mischief - As a magician. Thou son of the devil - A title well suited to a magician; and one who not only was himself unrighteous, but laboured to keep others from all goodness. Wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? - Even now thou hast heard the truth of the Gospel.

[¶29] And immediately a mist - Or dimness within, and darkness without, fell upon him.

[¶30] Being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord - Confirmed by such a miracle.

[¶31] John withdrawing from them returned - Tired with the fatigue, or shrinking from danger.

[¶32] Antioch in Pisidia - Different from the Antioch mentioned Acts 13:1.

[¶33] And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the chief of the synagogue sent to them - The law was read over once every year, a portion of it every Sabbath: to which was added a lesson taken out of the prophets. After this was over, any one might speak to the people, on any subject he thought convenient. Yet it was a circumstance of decency which Paul and Barnabas would hardly omit, to acquaint the rulers with their desire of doing it: probably by some message before the service began.

[¶34] Ye that fear God - Whether proselytes or heathens.

[¶35] The God - By such a commemoration of God's favours to their fathers, at once their minds were conciliated to the speaker, they were convinced of their duty to God, and invited to believe his promise, and the accomplishment of it. The six verses, Acts 13:17 - 22, contain the whole sum of the Old Testament. Of this people - Paul here chiefly addresses himself to those whom he styles, Ye that fear God: he speaks of Israel first; and Acts 13:26, speaks more directly to the Israelites themselves. Chose - And this exalted the people; not any merit or goodness of their own, Ezek 20:5. Our fathers - Abraham and his posterity. Isaiah 1:2.

[¶36] Deut 1:31.

[¶37] Seven nations - Enumerated Deut 7:1; about four hundred and fifty years - That is, from the choice of the fathers to the dividing of the land; it was about four hundred and fifty years.

[¶38] He gave them Saul forty years - Including the time wherein Samuel judged Israel.

[¶39] Having removed him - Hence they might understand that the dispensations of God admit of various changes. I have found David, a man after my own heart - This expression is to be taken in a limited sense. David was such at that time, but not at all times. And he was so, in that respect, as he performed all God's will, in the particulars there mentioned: But he was not a man after God's own heart, in other respects, wherein he performed his own will. In the matter of Uriah, for instance, he was as far from being a man after God's own heart as Saul himself was. It is therefore a very gross, as well as dangerous mistake, to suppose this is the character of David in every part of his behaviour. We must beware of this, unless we would recommend adultery and murder as things after God's own heart. 1Sam 16:12,13.

[¶40] John having first preached - He mentions this, as a thing already known to them. And so doubtless it was. For it gave so loud an alarm to the whole Jewish nation, as could not but be heard of in foreign countries, at least as remote as Pisidia.

[¶41] His course - His work was quickly finished, and might therefore well be termed a course or race. Luke 3:16.

[¶42] For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers - He here anticipates a strong objection, "Why did not they at Jerusalem, and especially their rulers, believe?" They know not him, because they understood not those very prophets whom they read or heard continually. Their very condemning him, innocent as he was, proves that they understood not the prophecies concerning him.

[¶43] They fulfilled all things that were written of him - So far could they go, but no farther.

[¶44] He was seen many days by them who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem - This last journey both presupposes all the rest, and was the most important of all.