Twelve Lectures On The Acts Of The Apostles
delivered on the Wednesdays during Lent in the years 1827, 1828 ; to which is added a new edition of five lectures on the Gospel of St. John as bearing testimony to the divinity of Jesus Christ
by Charles James Blomfield
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Table of Contents
CONTENTS.
LECTURE I.
Acts i. 8. — YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.
Office of the Apostles, and their qualifications for it. 2
Why St. Paul was made the principal subject of this history. 3
Spiritual kingdom of Christ 6
Fulfilment of our Saviour's promise of a Comforter 7
Ascension 8
Decision of a question by prayer 10
Descent of the Holy Ghost 11
Propriety of the miraculous gift of tongues 13
Natural and spiritual kingdom of God ibid.
Object of the gift of tongues 14
Process of conversion 16
LECTURE II.
Acts ii. 36. — LET ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL KNOW ASSUREDLY, THAT GOD HATH MADE THAT SAME JESUS, WHOM YE CRUCIFIED, BOTH LORD AND CHRIST.
Methods pursued by the first preachers of the Gospel in persuading Jews and Gentiles 18
St. Peter's discourse on the day of Pentecost 20
The discourses of the Apostles not complete summaries of Christianity 22
Preaching of John the Baptist, of Christ, and of the Apostles 23
A heart hardened against the truth 24
Claims of the Gospel to respect and forbearance from unbelievers 25
Causes of unbelief 26
Ministers of the Gospel to hearken not unto men but unto God 27
Community of goods 28
Christian charity 29
Sincerity in giving 30
Ananias and Sapphira 31
The effect of their punishment ibid.
Prejudice of the Jewish rulers 32
The Christian believer still called upon to suffer 34
Abjuration of Romish errors ibid.
LECTURE III.
Acts vii. 59. — AND THEY STONED STEPHEN, CALLING UPON GOD, AND SAYING, LORD JESUS, RECEIVE MY SPIRIT.
Different descriptions of believers 36
Deacons 37
Bishops and presbyters 38
Character of Stephen ibid.
Libertines 39
Stephen's defence before the Council 40
Stephen's vision 41
Influence of the Spirit on the dying Christian 42
Sleep in Jesus 44
Army of martyrs ibid.
Persecution still to be apprehended 45
Example of the martyrs a condemnation of careless
Christians 46
Prayer to Jesus Christ 47
Testimony of Stephen to the divinity of Christ 48
Conversion of the Samaritans 52
The faith requisite for baptism, not necessarily a saving faith: Simon Magus 58
Joy of the first converts 54
Christians ought to be different from the rest of the world 55
LECTURE IV.
Rom. i. 1. — PAUL, A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST, CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE, SEPARATED UNTO THE GOSPEL OF GOD.
Character of St. Paul 57
The Gospel of Paul, and the Gospel of Jesus, one and the same 58
Parentage and name of St. Paul 59
Insufficiency of conscience 61
Question of St. Paul's sinfulness ibid.
Conversion of St. Paid 68
Ambition of St. Paul 66
St. Paul not an enthusiast 68
Nor a dupe 69
His appeal to the Corinthians 70
Recapitulation of the argument 71
Contrast between St. Paul and the unbeliever 73
St. Paul a type of the Jewish nation 74
The conversion of St. Paul a special case 76
Necessity of greater diligence in using the ordinary means of conversion and renewal 77
LECTURE V.
Rom i. 5. — BY WHOM WE HAVE RECEIVED GRACE AND APOSTLESHIP, FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH AMONG ALL NATIONS, FOR HIS NAME.
St. Paul at Damascus 78
St. Paul at Jerusalem 79
St. Paul at Tarsus 80
Peculiarities in the history of St. Peter 81
A tender and zealous heart more acceptable to the Lord than intellectual superiority 88
Christ's promise to Peter 84
The literal interpretation is the true one 85
Peter laid the foundations of Christ's Church ibid.
Peter and Paul preached the same Gospel 87
Inspiration of the Apostles, how consistent with their partial ignorance 87
The Apostles wrought miracles in the name of Jesus 90
Humility of the Apostles 91
Proselytes. — Cornelius 92
Sincerity of Cornelius 98
His example as head of a family 94
Cleaving unto the Lord with purpose of heart 95
Origin of the name of Christian ibid.
LECTURE VI.
Acts xvi. 5. — AND SO WERE THE CHURCHES ESTABLISHED IN THE FAITH, AND INCREASED IN NUMBER DAILY.
Recapitulation of points already noticed 98
Jesus Christ promised not temporal rewards, but hardships 100
Foundation and end of the Apostles' preaching Christ crucified 101
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God ibid.
St. Paul's human learning 102
The simple preaching of the Gospel 103
The order in. which the Gospel was preached 104
Churches planted by the Apostles 105
Bishops-Presbyters : their commission 106
St. Peter not the universal bishop 107
Sketch of the primitive Church ibid.
Different orders and gifts 108
The pastoral office 110
The practice of the first believers 111
Faithfulness of the first teachers 112
Connexion between a Christian pastor and his flock 114
Christian ministers to copy the example of the first pastors of the Church 115
Ministerial labours blessed by the Spirit 116
LECTURE VII.
Ephet. iii. 8. — UNTO ME, WHO AM LESS THAN THE LEAST OF ALL SAINTS, IS THIS GRACE GIVEN THAT I SHOULD PREACH AMONG THE GENTILES THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST.
Credibility] of St. Luke 122
The particularity of his narrative 123
His object 125
Why St. Luke dwells chiefly on the transactions of St. Paul ibid.
The afflictions of the Church promoted its growth 127
Ordination of Saul and Barnabas 128
Necessity of a public and formal calling to the ministry ibid.
The right of calling to the ministry exercised by bishops 130
Offence and punishment of Barjesus 131
The Gospel first solemnly preached to the Gentiles 133
Two kinds of hearers of the word 134
The outward forms of religion apt to be regarded as the substance 135
Effects of the word upon an awakened sinner 136
Incredulity of the Jews only partial 137
The Jews not judicially excluded from the Gospel covenant 138
Warning to be taken from their fate 139
Necessity of continued instruction to Christians 141
LECTURE VIII.
Acts xv. 8, 9. — GOD, WHICH KNOWETH THE HEARTS, BARE THEM WITNESS, GIVING THEM THE HOLY GHOST, EVEN AS HE DID UNTO US : AND PUT NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND THEM, PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH.
The admission of the Gentiles into the Gospel covenant is a great mystery 142
Epiphany of Christ 143
The Gospel mercies designed for all mankind 145
Precedence of the Jews ibid.
Motives to thankfulness on the part of Gentile Christians 147
None deserved redemption ibid.
Comprehensiveness of redemption 148
We should be thankful for the Christianity of our own country, and zealous in imparting it to others 149
Question as to the necessity of circumcision to Gentile converts 150
Its great importance 151
Decision of the Apostolic council 152
Meaning of the words, It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us 154
Dissension between Paul and Barnabas 156
Its effect upon Mark 157
Did not dissolve the friendship of Paul and Barnabas 158
The Apostles not exempt from human weakness 159
Distinction between intellectual gifts and moral graces, ibid.
Imperfections not incompatible with spiritual excellence, 160
Christian ministers need the prayers of their brethren ibid.
LECTURE IX.
Acts xvii. 11. — THESE WERE MORE NOBLE THAN THOSE IN THESSALONICA, IN THAT THEY RECEIVED THE WORD WITH ALL READINESS OF MIND, AND SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY, WHETHER THOSE THINGS WERE SO.
St. Luke a companion of St. Paul 162
St. Luke a native of Antioch 168
His name, and description - ibid.
The same as Lucius 164
Timotheus; his parentage and education 165
His circumcision 166
Prudence of St. Paul's conduct in not offending the prejudices of his countrymen 168
Conversion of Lydia 169
She was disposed to inquiry; not constrained to belief 171
The Jews at Beroea 173
Not only Lydia, but her household, was baptised ibid.
Slaves in ancient times 178
Paul and Silas in prison at Philippi 174
Conversion of the jailor ; its object ibid.
Its circumstances 175
What kind of belief was required of converts 176
The growth of the spiritual iDan promoted by instruction 179
The praise of the Beroean Jews 180
Inconsistent with the Romish denunciations of scriptural inquiry 181
Conduct of our own Church in this respect, contrasted with that of the Romish Church 182
Qualifications of an inquirer after revealed truth 183
LECTURE X.
Acts xvii. 32. — AND WHEN THEY HEARD OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, SOME MOCKED, AND OTHERS SAID, WE WILL HEAR THEE AGAIN OF THIS MATTER.
St. Paul's visit to Athens 185
Reputation of Athens ibid.
Mythology of the Athenians 186
Philosophical sects ibid.
Sinful ignorance of the Athenians 187
Athens crowded with temples and idols 188
Offence of Alcibiades 189
Agora at Athens. Socrates ibid.
Jews and proselytes at Athens 190
Four sects at Athens 191
Bodily resurrection unheard of ibid.
Metempsychosis ibid.
Stoics & Epicureans disqualified for receiving the Gospel, 192
Sadducees and Pharisees ibid.
Unbelievers, profligates, and rationalists 193
Areopagus ibid.
St. Pauls skill in framing his discourse 194
Altar of an unknown god 195
Epicureans and Peripatetics 196
Popular forms of religion ibid.
The Athenians autochthones 197
Strength and weakness of human reason in inquiries after God 198
St. Paul's quotation from Aratus ibid.
His opinion of human learning 199
His judgment in using it 199
St. Paul a model for missionaries 200
His sagacity in arguing with the Athenians 201
Sinfulness of die heathen world 202
A bodily resurrection scouted by the Athenians 203
Why that doctrine was rejected 204
Unbelievers by choice ibid.
Religious opportunities not to be wasted 205
LECTURE XI.
Acts xv iii. 9. — THEN SPAKE THE LORD TO PAUL IN THE NIGHT BY A VISION, BE NOT AFRAID, BUT SPEAK, AND HOLD NOT THY PEACE.
St. Paul suffered by the Spirit to leave Athens, but commanded to remain at Corinth 207
Why St. Paul baptized only a few 208
Why he needed spiritual encouragement 209
All ministers need it 210
Apollos and. the Ephesian disciples, whether they believed in Jesus, or not 211
The faith requisite for baptism not always a fruitful faith 214
Demetrius the silversmith ibid.
Why St. Paul abode two years at Ephesus 215
St. Paul's parting charge to the elders at Miletus. The Christian minister's humility and endurance 216
His fearlessness 217
St. Paul's knowledge of the evils which awaited him 218
The Christian minister must expect opposition and obloquy 219
Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, examples of faithfulness 220
The doctrines and precepts of the Gospel to be boldly declared ibid.
Duty of those who are set over the church of God 221
Self-denying charity 222
Sayings of our Lord not recorded in the Gospels ibid.
Labours of the other Apostles 223
Use of the portrait which St Luke has drawn of St. Paul, 224
LECTURE XII.
Ephes, iii. 1 — PAUL, THE PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE GENTILES.
St. Paul's qualifications as a preacher of the Gospel 225
To be imitated 226
St. Paul did not court persecution 227
Motives of the Pharisees who defended St. Paul 228
Infidel High Priests 230
Cruelty of the Sadducees 231
Sect or Heresy 232
A conscience void of offence 234
St. Paul before Felix ibid.
Felix trembling 236
Why he resisted conviction 238
False pretences of unbelievers 239
St. Paul's different modes of reasoning with Felix and Agrippa 240
St. Paul's appeal to Caesar 242
Effect of his residence at Rome 243
Divine Providence compatible with human prudence 244
Whether St. Paul visited Britain 245
We are to take warning from the example of those who rejected the Gospel ibid.
LECTURES ON ST. JOHN'S GOSPEL.
LECTURE I.
John xx. 81 — AND MANY OTHER SIGNS TRULY DID JESUS IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK. BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN, THAT YE MIGHT BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD ; AND THAT BELIEVING, YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE THROUGH HIS NAME.
The Scriptures may be read with different objects in view 250
St. John's Gospel "the spiritual Gospel" 251
Why peculiarly interesting ibid.
His object in writing it ibid.
In the beginning was the Word 254
The Word was God 255
All things were made by Him 256
Himself being uncreate 257
Heb. i. 6. explained ibid.
The Word is the giver of life 258
And the light of men 259
Not received as such by the world 260
Our duty, as walking in the light 261
St. John's description of the Word 262
Explanation of John i. 9. ibid.
Explanation of John i. 11, 12 263
Belief required for regeneration 264
The Word was made flesh 265
Revelation to be received with meekness 266
LECTURE II.
John i. 18. — NO MAN HATH SEEN GOD AT ANY TIME. THE ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON, WHICH IS IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER, HE HATH DECLARED HIM.
Christ the Son of God : in what sense 268
The only-begotten Son 269
No man can know God, but by his Son 270
Explanation of John i. 18 ; iii. 13 ibid.
St. John's expressions unambiguous and positive 271
Pre-existence of the Messiah a Jewish notion 272
Inferiority of John the Baptist to Christ 273
Christ came down from heaven 274
Christ the Lamb of God 275
The death of Christ, a sacrifice 276
The Son of God : The Son of Man ; of David 277
Notions entertained by the Jews of their Messiah 278
Angels entrusted with the guardianship of righteous men 279
Expulsion of the money-changers from the temple 280
Our Saviour raised up his own body 281
Performed miracles in his own name 282
Not so the Apostles ibid.
Why many rejected Christ 284
LECTURE III.
John iii. 13. — NO MAN HATH ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN, BUT HE THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, EVEN THE SON OF MAN WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.
The conference with Nicodemus 284
The ordinance of baptism not temporary 287
In what sense Jesus came down from heaven 288
The Messiah to be lifted up 280
The death of Christ dm condition of man's salvation 294
Its efficacy 291
Christ crucified the object of our faith 293
John the Baptist's testimony to the exalted nature of Christ 294
The Samaritans' reception of Christ 295
Jesus made himself equal with God 296
And is to be worshipped equally with the Father 298
Christ the Son of God, and the Son of Man ibid.
His discourse to the Jews in John v. 299
LECTURE IV.
John viii. 58. — VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM.
Of the expression my Father, used by Christ 301
Pre-existence of the Messiah 302
What was the blasphemy of which the Jews accused our Saviour 304
Where the Messiah was to be born 306
The Son of Man humbled and glorified 307
ThC worthiness of his obedience 309
The Son of God, and the Son of Man 310
The dominion of Christ 311
His humility 312
His equality with the Father ibid.
The Holy Ghost conferred on the Apostles 314
The union of the two natures in Christ a certain but mysterious doctrine 315
How far the nature of God may be known 316
LECTURE V.
John xvii. 3. — AND THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL; THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE, THE ONLY TRUE GOD ; AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM THOU HAST SENT.
The economy of the Gospel covenant revealed by degrees 318
Our Saviour's prayer for the Apostles 319
John xvi. 1. explained 321
No contradistinction, as to nature, between God and Christ 322
Christ the true God 323
Our Saviour speaks of himself in language unsuited to a mere man 324
The intimate love and union between God and Christ 325
The glory of Christ with the Father 326
The exclamation of Thomas 327
Unitarian interpretation refuted 328
The intention of the Evangelist to exhibit Jesus as the true Messiah 329
Recapitulation of the doctrines asserted in this Gospel 330
Why rejected by some. heretics 331
The same doctrine enforced by St. John in his Epistles, 333
Notes on the Acts of the Apostles 335
A view of the difficulties attending the Trinitarian, Arian, and Socinian systems 359
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