had been filled with them. One proof of this appeared immediately, in their speaking various foreign languages, which they had never learnt; a thing in itself impossible, except to those who are aided by divine power. This power over foreign languages was given to them instantaneously; and they were incited to exercise it immediately, in relating the miracles and unfolding the doctrine of Jesus. They are said to speak with other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance; by which we are to understand that they spoke that foreign language which the power of God enabled them to speak. It is probable that no one individual spoke all languages, although they might have different powers in this respect.

5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

As these Jews are called devout men, it is probable that they were brought here by their devotional spirit, and were not constant but occasional residents at Jerusalem, come up to this city to celebrate some of the public festivals, and intending afterwards to return to the countries whence they came. The words "out of every nation under heaven," are not to be taken in their full extent, as if there were Jews from every nation of the earth, but as signifying that there were some of this people from most parts of the known world.

6. Now when this was noised abroad, literally, "when this sound was," the sound mentioned ver. 2, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

The sound, which first appeared to come from heaven, and afterwards from the room in which the apostles were assembled, was so remarkable as to attract the attention of the whole neighbourhood, and to bring together a great crowd of people, consisting partly of inhabitants of Judæa, and partly of foreigners, the latter of whom were astonished to find their own language spoken by some one of the company. The occasion of their speaking foreign languages was the presence of these strangers.

Because it is here said, every man heard them speak in his own language, it has been supposed by some that the apostles spoke only one language, but that every one heard them in his own, and that the miracle, therefore, was wrought, not on the speakers, but the hearers. This supposition, however, is inconsistent with the language of the historian, who says, that the speakers were filled with the Holy Spirit, and is contradicted by a circumstance mentioned below, that some of the company mocked, which could only arise from their not understanding what they heard. It is plainly inconsistent likewise with what Paul says to the Corinthians, whom he blames for the too free use of this gift, on the ground of their being unintelligible to their hearers.

7. And they were all amazed, and marvelled, say

ing one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak, Galileans?

8. And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born?

The persons speaking foreign languages upon the present occasion, with so much correctness and propriety, as to be intelligible to those to whom they were vernacular, they observed, were Galileans, in an ordinary station of life, who could have no opportunity of acquiring the knowledge which they appeared to possess ; the more especially, as the same person spoke several languages, some of which had no affinity to each other. This excited their amazement, as well it might.

9. Parthians, i. e. "We Parthians," and Medes, and Elamites, or, "Persians," and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10. Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11. Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

In this list of countries, in which foreign languages were spoken, it is observable that Judæa is mentioned, although the apostles were Jews, which some account for by supposing that the dialect spoken in Galilee was so different from that spoken in Judæa, as to be esteemed a distinct language; others, by supposing that we ought to read Mesopotamian Judæa, the Jews in that country being so numerous as to be called by Josephus a nation, and to induce Luke to call it another Judæa. The strangers of Rome are said to include both Jews and proselytes; and it is well known that there were many Jews at Rome, and that they made many proselytes.

The wonderful works of God, about which the apostles are said to discourse, were probably the divine mission, the miracles, and particularly, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

12. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying, one to another, What meaneth this?

13. Others, mocking, said, These men are full of new wine.

These were persons who did not understand their language, and supposed that the strange sounds which they heard were the effect of intoxication. Those who understood them also, and who might suppose the power with which they appeared to be endued to be miraculous, could not understand for what purpose it was bestowed; not knowing that it was designed to qualify the apostles for preaching the gospel in foreign countries.

REFLECTIONS.

THE miracle of which we have here an account, is one of the most remarkable that occur in the whole history of revelation; and it affords an illustrious proof of the power of God, and a satisfactory confirmation of the truth of the Christian religion. To understand a foreign language, so far as to enter with ease into the sentiments of a speaker or writer, is well known to be extremely difficult, and to require the patient exertion of several years but to acquire so complete a knowledge as to speak it fluently, requires long labour and much patient exertion. But here we find that knowledge acquired in an instant, without any previous study or application, and not the knowledge of one language only, but of several.

Yet, great and astonishing as this effect is, it is not too great for the power of God to accomplish. He who made man's mouth, and gave him the faculty of speech, he who taught the first man to speak without any human instructer, can, no doubt, if he so please, inspire him at once with the knowledge of all languages, without learning any. No one can say that this is more than God can perform, where there is an evident propriety and necessity for it, as there was in the present instance.

Had the disciples of Jesus been impostors, as some would insinuate, had they now been carrying on a system of fraud, which their Master had begun, we should have found them, at first at least, copying his example, and imitating some of the miracles which they had seen him perform, because such miracles would have been most easily believed, and might have passed without examination. But here is a miracle which bears no resemblance to any thing that has been performed before, of which no parallel can be found in the history of the country, and which, therefore, could never have occurred to Jews. Had it been an imposture, nothing would have been more easy of detection: for here are persons present from every country under heaven, who would quickly discern the falsehood of pretensions which were not well supported.

Let us then acknowledge, with gratitude and joy, the evident hand of God in this event. Let us rejoice that the same divine power which so eminently distinguished Jesus of Nazareth, continues to be conferred upon his successors, hereby qualifying them for preaching the gospel to all nations, and sealing the truth of their testimony. To suppose that God could countenance men who were engaged in propagating a falsehood, by enabling them to speak various languages which they had never learned, and to perform other miracles, is to suppose that he could act contrary to his attributes of justice and mercy, and contradict his character; which is impossible.

14. BUT Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, "raised his voice," and said unto them, Ye men of Judæa, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

Those who did not understand the languages spoken by the apostles, supposed that they were intoxicated. This charge Peter now refutes, by explaining the nature of the miracle, and showing that nothing had taken place but what had been foretold. By its being said that Peter stood up with the eleven, it seems probable that they are the only persons whom he means to vindicate from the aspersion in verse the thirteenth; and that consequently, they are the only persons who on this occasion spoke in foreign tongues. Peter addresses himself more particularly to Jews, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, because it was among them principally that this mistake prevailed; native Jews being the most likely to regard a foreign language as a jargon.

15. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day, nine o'clock in the morning.

16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel ;*

17. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh : and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams :

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18. And on my servants and on my hand-maidens, on my men-servants and my maid-servants," I will pour out in those days of my spirit, and they shall prophesy.

"In the last days." These words do not exactly correspond with the language of the prophecy, where we have, instead of them, the word "afterward." Peter, however, interpreted that word to mean the last days, which is a phrase which occurs in other prophecies, and is understood to signify the days of the Messiah ;† although some suppose that it refers to a much later period, when the Jews are to be restored to their own land.‡ Prophetic and miraculous powers had now been discontinued for the space of four hundred years, from the time of Malachi to the appearance of Christ. It is highly probable, therefore, that so remarkable a display of those powers as was exhibited on this occasion, would be the subject of prophecy. But those who imagine that this proph

ecy refers to the last period of the Jewish state, must suppose that the gift of the Spirit was entirely overlooked, which is very unlikely.

"I will pour out of my Spirit." The Spirit of God, or the Holy Spirit, signifies, as before explained, not a person, but the divine power, exerted in miraculous gifts these were to be bestowed in such variety and abundance in the present instance, that they are compared to the pouring out of water, which is expended without strict regard to quantity.

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Upon all flesh." This may signify all mankind, Gentiles as well as Jews, or all classes of persons, people of every age, sex, and condition. It is to the latter sense that the words which follow seem to restrict its meaning; for the prophet proceeds immediately to enumerate the persons included under that general term.*

"And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy." To prophesy, signifies sometimes to commuicate religious instruction, as well as to foretel future events. Both senses may be included here, as several of the first Christians of both sexes were qualified to predict as well as to teach.

"And your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." Dreams and visions were methods by which God, in ancient times, communicated notices of his will to prophets and patriarchs. In visions, objects were presented to the imagination, while the prophet was awake, but in dreams, the same thing was done while he was asleep. It is here foretold, that the same mode of divine revelation would be observed under the new dispensation; and accordingly, we have examples of both in the book of Acts. When it is said that the young men should see visions, and the old men dream dreams, we are not to suppose that only visions were to be communicated to the young, and only dreams to the old; but that visions and dreams were to be communicated to persons of all ages, to young and old.

The next thing which God promises in this prophesy, is, that this Spirit should be poured out upon men-servants and maid-servants. The words in the original denote men-servants and maidservants of the lowest condition, such as were bought or taken in war, that is, slaves. Persons in this condition were to partake of the Spirit, or of miraculous powers. It is added, "and they shall prophesy,' ," but these words are not found in Joel, neither in the Hebrew, nor in the Greek version. The want of them is, however, of little consequence; for prophesying is plainly implied in the promise of the Spirit.

19. And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke.

20. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come.

* Chandler's Dissertation, annexed to his Commentary on Joel,

p. 123.