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."
- v.16I Jesus have sent my angel to testify these things — Primarily. To you - The seven angels of the churches; then to those churches - and afterwards to all other churches in succeeding ages. I - as God. Am the root - And source of David's family and kingdom; as man, an descended from his loins. "I am the star out of Jacob," Num. xxiv, 17; like the bright morning star, who put an end to the night of ignorance, sin, and sorrow, and usher in an eternal day of light, purity, and joy.
- v.17The Spirit and the bride — The Spirit of adoption in the bride, in the heart of every true believer. Say - With earnest desire and expectation. Come - And accomplish all the words of this prophecy. And let him that thirsteth, come - Here they also who are farther off are invited. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life - He may partake of my spiritual and unspeakable blessings, as freely as he makes use of the most common refreshments; as freely as he drinks of the running stream.
- v.20He that testifieth these things — Even all that is contained in this book. Saith - For the encouragement of the church in all her afflictions. Yea - Answering the call of the Spirit and the bride. I come quickly - To destroy all her enemies, and establish her in a state of perfect and everlasting happiness. The apostle expresses his earnest desire and hope of this, by answering, Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
- v.21The grace — The free love. Of the Lord Jesus - And all its fruits. Be with all - Who thus long for his appearing! It may be proper to subjoin here a short view of the whole contents of this book. In the year of the world, 3940. Jesus Christ is born, three years before the common computation. In that which is vulgarly called, the thirtieth year of our Lord, Jesus Christ dies; rises; ascends. Year (A.D.) Event As Described In Revelation Chapter/Verse 96 The Revelation is given; the coming of our Lord is declared to the seven churches in Asia, and their angels, Rev i., ii., iii. 97, 98 The seven seals are opened, and under the fifth the chronos is declared, iv.-vi. Seven trumpets are given to the seven angels, vii. viii. Century, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, the trumpet of the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th angel, viii. 510-589 The first woe, \............... 589-634 The interval after the first woe} ix...... 634-840 The second woe, /............... 800 The beginning of the non-chronos \............... many kings, } ix., x. 840-947 The interval after the second woe, /............... 847-1521 The twelve hundred and sixty days of the woman, after she hath brought forth the man child, C xii. 6 947-1836 The third woe, 12 1058-1836 The time, times, and half a time, and \................... within that period, the beast, his forty}to xiii. 5 two months, his number 666, /................... 1209 War with the saints: the end of the chronos, 7 1614 An everlasting gospel promulged, xiv. 6 1810 The end of the forty-two months of the beast; after which, and the pouring out of the phials, he is not, and Babylon reigns queen, xv., xvi. 1832 The beast ascends from the bottomless pit, xvii., xviii. 1836 The end of the non-chronos, and of the many kings; the fulfilling of the word, and of the mystery of God; the repentance of the survivors in the great city; the end of the "little time," and of the three times and a half; the destruction of the east; the imprisonment of Satan, xix., xx. Afterward The loosing of Satan for a small time; the beginning of the thousand years' reign of the saints; the end of the small time, xx. The end of the world; all things new, xx., xxii. The several ages, from the time of St. John's being in Patmos, down to the present time, may, according to the chief incidents mentioned in the Revelation, be distinguished thus: Age Event As Described In Revelation Chapter/Verse II. The destruction of the Jews by Adrian, C viii. 7 III. The inroads of the barbarous nations, 8 IV. The Arian bitterness, 10 V. The end of the western empire. 12 VI. The Jews tormented in Persia, ix. 1 VII. The Saracen cavalry. 13 VIII. Many kings, x. 11 IX. The ruler of the nations born, xii. 5 X. The third woe, 12 XI. The ascent of the beast out of the pen, xiii. 1 XII. Power given to the beast, 5 XIII. War with the saints, 7 XIV. The middle of the third woe, XV. The beast in the midst of his strength, XVI. The Reformation; the woman better fed, 9 XVII. An everlasting gospel promulged, xiv. 6 XVIII. The worship of the beast and of his image, 9 O God, whatsoever stands or falls, stands or falls by thy judgment. Defend thy own truth!Have mercy on me and my readers! To thee be glory forever! JOHN WESLEYS NOTES ON THE WHOLE BIBLE THE OLD TESTAMENT by John Wesley
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.