Interpret → Preach
For the service
John Wesley’s own Explanatory Notes Upon the Old and New Testament on the day’s readings — his verse-by-verse commentary, not a summary of it. Read the full edition ↗
first Acts 16:16-34
- v.17These men are — A great truth: but St. Paul did not need, nor would accept, of such testimony.
- v.19The magistrates — The supreme magistrates of the city. In the next verse they are called by a title which often signifies pretors. These officers exercised both the military and civil authority.
- v.20Being Jews — A nation peculiarly despised by the Romans.
- v.21And teach customs which it is not lawful for us to receive — The world has received all the rules and doctrines of all the philosophers that ever were. But this is a property of Gospel truth: it has something in it peculiarly intolerable to the world.
- v.23They laid many stripes upon them — Either they did not immediately say they were Romans, or in the tumult it was not regarded. Charging the jailer - Perhaps rather to quiet the people than because they thought them criminal.
- v.24Secured their feet in the stocks — These were probably those large pieces of wood, in use among the Romans, which not only loaded the legs of the prisoner, but also kept them extended in a very painful manner.
- v.25Paul and Silas sung a hymn to God — Notwithstanding weariness, hunger stripes, and blood. And the prisoners heard - A song to which they were not accustomed.
- v.28But Paul cried — As they were all then in the dark, it is not easy to say, how Paul knew of the jailer's purpose; unless it were by some immediate notice from God, which is by no means incredible. With a loud voice - Through earnestness, and because he was at some distance. Do thyself no harm - Although the Christian faith opens the prospect into another life, yet it absolutely forbids and effectually prevents a man's discharging himself from this.
- v.30Sirs — He did not style them so the day before. What must I do to be saved? - From the guilt I feel and the vengeance I fear? Undoubtedly God then set his sins in array before him, and convinced him in the clearest and strongest manner that the wrath of God abode upon him.
- v.31Thou shalt be saved and thy household — If ye believe. They did so, and were saved.
- v.33He washed their stripes — It should not be forgot, that the apostles had not the power of working miraculous cures when they pleased, either on themselves, or their dearest friends. Nor was it expedient they should, since it would have frustrated many wise designs of God, which were answered by their sufferings.
- v.34He set a table before them and rejoiced — Faith makes a man joyful, prudent, liberal.
psalm Psalm 97
- v.1Isles — The Gentile nations, as this word, used Isaiah xlii, 4, is expounded, Matt. xii, 21.
- v.2Darkness — A dark cloud doth encompass him.
- v.6Heavens — The angels, yea God himself from heaven.
- v.7Confounded — Let them be ashamed of their folly. Gods - All you whom the Gentiles have made the objects of their worship.
- v.8Zion — Thy people dwelling in Zion or Jerusalem, to whom Christ came. Heard - The fame of thy judgments, and the setting up the kingdom of the Messiah.
- v.11Light — Joy and happiness. Sown - Is laid up for them. This psalm sets forth the glory of the Redeemer, ver. 1-3. And the joy of the redeemed, ver. 4-9. A psalm.
second Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
- v.12I — Jesus Christ. Come quickly - To judge the world. And my reward is with me - The rewards which I assign both to the righteous and the wicked are given at my coming. To give to every man according as his work - His whole inward and outward behaviour shall be.
- v.13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last — Who exist from everlasting to everlasting. How clear, incontestable a proof, does our Lord here give of his divine glory!
- v.14Happy are they that do his commandments — His, who saith, I come - He speaks of himself. That they may have right - Through his gracious covenant. To the tree of life - To all the blessings signified by it. When Adam broke his commandment, he was driven from the tree of life. They who keep his commandments "shall eat thereof."
gospel John 17:20-26
- v.20For them who will believe — In all ages.
- v.21As thou art in me — This also is to be understood in a way of similitude, and not of sameness or equality. That the world may believe - Here Christ prays for the world. Observe the sum of his whole prayer, 1. Receive me into thy own and my glory; 2. Let my apostles share therein; 3. And all other believers: 4. And let all the world believe.
- v.22The glory which thou hast given me, I have given them — The glory of the only begotten shines in all the sons of God. How great is the majesty of Christians.
- v.24Here he returns to the apostles. I will — He asks, as having a right to be heard, and prays, not as a servant, but a Son: that they may behold my glory - Herein Is the happiness of heaven, 1 John iii, 2.
- v.25Righteous Father — The admission of believers to God through Christ, flows even from the justice of God.
- v.26I have declared to them thy name — Thy new, best name of love; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me - That thou and thy love, and I and my love, may be in them - That they may love me with that love.