The Arrests and Trials of the Apostles

Peter and John (Acts 4:1-20)

The priests and Sadducees are incensed at the apostles' teaching, and put them in prison (1-3). The number of people who heard God's Word from Peter and John, and believed, were about 5,000 (4). The rulers, elders, and scribes call the apostles before them, and question them concerning their authority to teach (5-7). Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, answers, and proclaims Jesus (8-12). They are confounded at his discourse and the miracle wrought on the lame man, yet command them not to preach in the name of Jesus (13-18). Peter and John refuse to obey (19-20). They are farther threatened and dismissed (21-22).

Peter and apostles (Acts 5:17-42)

The high priest and the Sadducees, being incensed against the apostles, seize and put them in prison (17-18). The angel of God opens the prison doors, and commands them to go to the temple, and proclaim the Gospel (19-20). The high priest, having gathered the council together in the morning, sends to the prison to have the apostles brought before him (21). The offers return, and report that they found the prison shut, and the watch set, but that the men had got out (22-23). A messenger arrives in the meanwhile, and says that the apostles are preaching in the temple (24-25). The captain and officers go and bring them before the council, who expostulate with them (26-28). The apostles defend themselves, and charge the council with the murder of Christ; and assert his resurrection from the dead and ascension to the right hand of God (29-32). The council are confounded, and purpose to slay the apostles (33). Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, gives them seasonable and prudent advice, and says, “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (34-39). The council agree to it, but, before they discharge the apostles, they beat them, and command them not to teach in the name of Jesus (40). They depart rejoicing in their persecution, and continue to preach Jesus Christ (41-42).

Stephen (Acts 6:6 – 7:60)

Stephen was a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost (6-7). Stephen, one of the deacons, becomes very eminent, and confounds various Jews of the synagogues of the Libertines, etc., (8-10). They suborn false witnesses against him, which stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes (11-14). He appears before the council with an angelic countenance (15).

(Chapter 7) Stephen, being permitted to answer for himself relative to the charge of blasphemy brought against him by his accusers, gives a circumstantial relation of the call of Abraham, when he dwelt in Mesopotamia, in Charran, etc. (1-8). The history of Jacob and Joseph (9-17). The persecution of their fathers in Egypt (18-19). The history of Moses and his acts till the exodus from Egypt (20-37). The rebellion and idolatry of the Israelites in the wilderness (38-43). The erection of the tabernacle of witness, which continued till the time of David (44-46). Of the temple built by Solomon for that God who cannot be confined to temples built by hands (47-50). Being probably interrupted in the prosecution of his discourse, he urges home the charge of rebellion against God, persecution of his prophets, the murder of Christ, and neglect of their own law against them (51-53). They are filled with indignation, and proceed to violence (54). He sees the glory of God, and Christ at the right hand of the Father; and declares the glorious vision (55-56). They rush upon him, drag him out of the city, and stone him (57-58). He involves the Lord Jesus, prays for his murderers, and dies (59-60).

Paul and Silas (Acts 16:16-40)

There was a young woman, possessed with a spirit of divination. Paul commanded the spirit to come out of her, and he came out (16-18). Her masters, finding their gain by her soothsaying gone, make an attack upon Paul and Silas, drag them before the magistrates, who command them to be beaten, thrust into the closest prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks (19-24). Paul and Silas singing praises at midnight, the prison doors are miraculously opened, and all the bonds of the prisoners loosed (25-26). The keeper of the prison being alarmed, supposing that the prisoners were fled, is about to kill himself, but is prevented by Paul (27-28). He inquires the way of salvation, believes, and he and his whole family are baptized (29-34). The next morning the magistrates order the apostles to be dismissed (35-36). Paul pleads that he is a Roman, and accuses the magistrates of injustice, who, being alarmed, come themselves to the prison, deliver them, and beg them to depart from the city (37-39). They leave the prison, enter into the house of Lydia, comfort the brethren, and depart (40).

Paul (Acts 18:12-17)

When Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection against Paul, and brought him before the judgment seat (12-13). Gallio dismisses the cause, saying if it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness he would prosecute Paul. But if it be a question of words and names, and of God's law, he would be no judge of such matters (14-16). Whereupon the Greeks commit a variety of outrages (17).

Paul and his companions (Acts 19:24-41)

Demetrius, a silversmith of Ephesus, which made silver shrines for the pagan goddess Diana, raises an uproar against Paul, because Paul's preaching was making him lose his gain and wealth, and he claimed his craft was in danger and the temple of the goddess Diana would be despised (24-27). The people were full of wrath, and dragged Paul and his companions into a theatre (28-29). After some tumultuous proceedings, the town clerk said there was no cause against Paul, and released him (30-41).

Paul (Acts 21:27 – 26:32)

Some of the Asiatic Jews, finding him in the temple, raise an insurrection against him, and they went about to kill him (27-31). The chief captain took soldiers and centurions to where Paul was being beaten, and orders him to be bound and carried into the castle (32-36). Paul requests liberty to address the people, and is permitted (37-40).

(Chapter 22) Paul, in his address to the people, gives an account of his birth and education (1-3). His prejudices against Christianity (4-5). And of his miraculous conversion, and call to the apostleship (6-21). The Jews, hearing him say that God had sent him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, become exceedingly outrageous, and demanded that he be put to death (22-23). The chief captain orders him to be examined by scourging; but Paul pleads that he is a Roman and escapes the torture (24-29). The next day the chief captain brings Paul before the chief priests and their council (30).

(Chapter 23) Paul defending himself before the high priest, he commands him to be smitten on the mouth (1-2). Paul sharply reproves him for commanding him to be smitten contrary to the law, and, being reproved for this by one of the attendants, accounts for his conduct (3-5). Seeing that the assembly was composed of Pharisees and Sadducees, and that he could expect no justice from his judges, he asserts that it was for his belief in the resurrection that he was called in question, on which the Pharisees declare in his favor (6-9). A great dissension arises, and the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be pulled to pieces, brings him into the castle (10). He is comforted by a dream (11). More than forty persons conspire his death (12-15). Paul's sister's son, hearing of it, informs the captain of the guard (16-22). He sends Paul by night, under a strong escort of horse and foot, to Caesarea, to Felix, and with him a letter, stating the circumstances of the case (23-33). They arrive at Caesarea, and Felix promises him a hearing when his accusers shall come down (34-35).

(Chapter 24) After five days, Ananias the high priest, the elders, and one Tertullus, an orator, come to Caesarea to accuse Paul, (1). Tertullus accuses Paul (2-9). Paul defends himself (10-21). Felix, having heard his defense, proposes to leave the final determination of it till Claudius Lysias should come down; and, in the mean time, orders Paul to be treated with humanity and respect (22-23). Felix, and Drusilla his wife, hear Paul concerning the faith of Christ; and Felix is greatly affected by it (24-25). On the expectation of obtaining money for his liberation, Felix keeps Paul in prison (26). Being superseded in the government of Judea by Porcius Festus, in order to please the Jews, he leaves Paul bound (27).

(Chapter 25) Porcius Festus being appointed governor of Judea, instead of Felix, the Jews beseech him to have Paul brought up to Jerusalem, that he might be tried there; they lying in wait to kill him on the way (1-3). Festus refuses, and desires those who could prove any thing against him, to go with him to Caesarea (4-5). Festus, having tarried at Jerusalem about ten days, returns to Caesarea, and the next day Paul is brought to his trial, and the Jews of Jerusalem bring many groundless charges against him, against which he defends himself (6-8). In order to please the Jews, Festus asks Paul if he be willing to go up to Jerusalem, and be tried there (9). Paul refuses, and appeals to Caesar, and Festus admits the appeal (10-13). King Agrippa, and Bernice his wife, come to Cesarea to visit Festus, and are informed by him of the accusations against Paul, his late trial, and his appeal from them to Caesar (14-21). Agrippa desires to hear Paul; and a hearing is appointed for the following day (22). Agrippa, Bernice, the principal officers and chief men of the city being assembled, Paul is brought forth (23). Festus opens the business with generally stating the accusations against Paul, his trial on these accusations, the groundless and frivolous nature of the charges, his own conviction of his innocence, and his desire that the matter might be heard by the king himself, that he might have something specifically to write to the emperor, to whom he was about to send Paul, agreeably to his appeal (24-27).

(Chapter 26) Paul answers for himself before Agrippa, to whom he pays a true compliment, in order to secure a favorable hearing (1-3). Paul gives an account of his education from his youth up (4-5). He shows that the Jews persecuted him for his maintaining the hope of the resurrection (6-8). He states his persecution of the Christians (9-11). Then he gives an account of his miraculous conversion (12-16) and of his call to the ministry (16-18). His obedience to that call, and his success in preaching the doctrine of Christ crucified (19-23). While he is thus speaking, Festus interrupts him, and declares him to be mad through his abundant learning (24), which charge he modestly refutes with inimitable address, and appeals to King Agrippa for the truth and correctness of his speech (25-27). On which, Agrippa confesses himself almost converted to Christianity (28). Paul gives him an affectionate and elegant address on this declaration (29). The council breaks up, and they all pronounce Paul innocent (30-32).