A Popular Commentary on the New Testament, vol. 3: The Epistles of Paul

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880 Excerpt: ... others in richness of material and in decoration. It was made of Corinthian brass, overlaid with plates of gold and silver, and was fifty cubits high. Ver. 3. Asked an alms. Meyer, quoting from Vajikra Rabbi, f. xx. 3, 4, gives us some Jewish forms of begging: 'Merere in ine,' ' In me benefac. tibi,' etc. Ver. 4. And Peter, fastening his eyea on him with John, said. Look on us. Calvin, commenting on this miracle about to be worked by Peter and John, asks whether they had the power of working such miracles when they pleased, and replies they were so exclusively ministers of the Divine power that they attempted nothing of their own will, and the Lord worked through them whenever it was expedient. Hence it happened they healed one sufferer--not all sufferers promiscuously, for the Holy Spirit guided them here just as in other matters. So Peter, in answer to the poor cripple's prayer for alms, moved by the Holy Ghost, fixes his earnest gaze on him, to discover if he were worthy of the glorious gift of health he had to liestow. Ver. 5. And he gave heed unto them. The sufferer, perhaps surprised at this unusual notice from a passer-by, gazed up at Peter and John with rapt attention (the Greek word is far stronger than the English equivalent), kntnuing he was about to receivesome kindness, he knew not what, from these holy men, whom doubtless he knew well by sight, having often seen them go up to the Temple. Ver. 6. Then Peter said. Recognising from something he could read in that face, marked by years of suffering and want, that here was true faith. Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee. Centuries after, Cornelius a Lapidc beautifully relates how Thomas Aquinas once came to Pope Innocent IV, at a moment when the pontiff had before him a gre...