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(see Acts 3:26): — The term translated in the Authorised Version here, and in ver. 21, "child" is more correctly rendered in ver. 25, in regard to David, "servant." The word is so given in Matthew 12:18, where Isaiah 13:1 — part of the great prophecy of the Servant of the Lord — is applied to Christ. This prophecy and its fulfilment in Jesus was evidently running in the minds of the apostles throughout these discourses. The term "holy" in conjunction with "servant" suggests that God has servants who are —

I. WITHOUT HOLINESS — creatures whom God has not endowed with a moral being, and can therefore render neither a holy nor an unholy service. This applies to the laws, forces, substances of nature to sun, moon, stars, the earth, and all its inhabitants except man. These perform an unconscious service.

II. UNHOLY — creatures in antagonism to the Divine will; devils and evil men. These are servants by right, for God made them for service, equipped them for service, placed them in spheres for service, and gave them a work to do. But their powers and opportunities are occupied in endeavouring to thwart the Divine purpose. Do they succeed? Nay, they are servants in fact as well as by right. Let the conduct of the rulers, fitting types of their class, show this, and Judas also and his confederates in the Crucifixion. Their service is an unwilling service.

III. IMPERFECTLY HOLY. Such are true Christians, whose lifelong experience is gradual separation from sin and growing approximation to complete consecration to God. In both sides of this experience the Divine and human co-operate. The blood of Jesus Christ is cleansing them from sin, and they are cleansing themselves "from all filthiness of flesh and spirit," thus "perfecting holiness in the fear of God." The Holy Spirit sanctifies, sets them apart for God. They "present themselves living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God." Their service is a conscious and glad service.

IV. HOLY. Such was Adam; such are the angels. But the holiness was not inherent in the first, for he fell; nor in the second, for some of their order fell. Angelic purity is Divinely imparted, and for their Divine work they are Divinely sustained.

V. DIVINELY HOLY. Such and such only is Jesus.

1. He is holy by nature — essentially, eternally.

2. His work is perfectly holy without a flaw, and such as God can accept without the least reservation.

3. His merits make the holiest holy.

(J. W. Burn.)

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KJV: And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

WEB: Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,