Acts 1:4-8 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem… There attaches a deep interest to this commandment of our Lord, from whatever point of view it is regarded. Tender associations cluster and cling about it. I. A GRAVE CHARGE. "He commanded," etc. Revised version, "charged." The gravity of the charge is seen — 1. In what it was He asked them to do. 2. In the issues of it. What was it they were to wait for? The great promise. Generally this applied to the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. It was a promise. It was the promise of the Father. All that the Church needs is embraced in this promise. If a promise be of the Father, we may be sure it is inviolable, and the thing it indicates invaluable. How differently we are inclined to think of matters from the view God takes of them. Our first thought is, probably, "Why not strike iron while it is hot,. and follow up just now, while the fame of Jesus is ringing out its praises, with the preaching of the truths for which He laid down His life?" God says "tarry" till ye be endued with power from on high. "My thoughts, not your thoughts," etc. II. AN INSPIRED ATTITUDE. "To wait." This meant three things — 1. A looking for something under a profound conviction of its necessity. 2. A pleading for the object in prayer; and this they were doing for ten whole days. Show what prayer-meetings should be, and their place in the success of the Church. 3. The attitude of patient expectation, of prospective sufficiency. They took hold of God in prayer and waited round about Him until He should satisfy their longings and fill them with the glory of His praise. III. A SPECIFIC COMMANDMENT. They were to wait at Jerusalem. This appointed place no haphazard, but a design of the infinite mind. Recall a few things of Jerusalem to see this. 1. It was the city of solemnities. Here Jews gathered — feasts and fasts held. Here stood the Temple, there it fell — there was to begin the building of a new and better temple that should stand for ever. 2. The city of sublime figure. "Thou art comely, O my have, as Jerusalem." "If I forget thee, let my right hand forget its cunning." "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion," etc. 3. It was the concentration of all prophecy. "I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication, and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced." 4. How full it was of historic associations. City of Melchizedek, place of Abraham's offering, and the metropolis of David's kingdom, etc. 5. It was the place of danger. Here met all the rage and malice, envy and hatred of the time-honoured Scribes and Pharisees. Then why tarry here? To honour the people whose ancestors were worthy soldiers of the faith; to preach mercy and forgiveness where was found the most sin. (W. Halls.) Parallel Verses KJV: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. |
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