CXLIII.

Ninth and Tenth Appearances of Jesus.

(Jerusalem.)

^C Luke XXIV. 44–49; ^E Acts I. 3–8; ^F I. Cor. XV. 7.

^f 7 then he appeared to James [of this appearance also we have no details]; then to all the apostles; ^e 3 To whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God [this shows us that Jesus spoke many things at his appearances beside the brief words which are recorded] : 4 and, being assembled together with them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye heard from me [John xiv. 16, 26; xv. 26]: 5 For John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence. [This promised baptism came ten days later, at Pentecost.] ^c 44 And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me. [That is, these recent events are simply what I told you should come to pass according to the Scriptures, but ye did not understand. The phrase, “while I was yet,” etc., shows that in the mind of Jesus, he was already parted from them, and his presence was the exception and not the rule.] 45 Then opened he their mind, that they might 765understand the scriptures [some think that this illumination was of a miraculous nature, and confound it with what the Lord is said to have done at John xx. 22, but the next verse suggests that he did it by discourse, just as he had done it already to the two on the way to Emmaus—Luke xxiv. 27]; 46 and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day [Both the written prophecy and the unwritten nature of things required that Christ should do as he had done. The saying forms an important credential for the Book of Jonah; where else have we the period of three days fixed as the time between our Lord's burial and resurrection?—Matt. xii. 38–40]; 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. [See previous section.] 48 Ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high. ^e 6 They [the apostles] therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? [Despite all that they had seen and heard, the apostles were still expecting that Jesus would revive the old Jewish kingdom, and have himself enthroned in Jerusalem as the heir and successor of David.] 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority. 8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. [Jesus enlightens them as to their duty, and not as to the kingdom; Pentecost would make all clear as to the nature of Christ's rule and dominion.] 766