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 2:14a, 36-41
- v.14Then Peter standing up — All the gestures, all the words of Peter, show the utmost sobriety; lifted up his voice - With cheerfulness and boldness; and said to them - This discourse has three parts; each of which, ver. 14, 22, 29, begins with the same appellation, men: only to the last part he prefixes with more familiarity the additional word brethren. Men of Judea - That is, ye that are born in Judea. St. Peter spoke in Hebrew, which they all understood.
psalm Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
- v.3The sorrows — Dangerous and deadly calamities. Pains - Such agonies and horrors, as dying persons use to feel.
second 1 Peter 1:17-23
- v.17Who judgeth according to every man's work — According to the tenor of his life and conversation. Pass the time of your sojourning - Your short abode on earth. In humble, loving fear - The proper companion and guard of hope.
- v.18Your vain conversation — Your foolish, sinful way of life.
- v.19Without blemish — In himself. Without spot - From the world.
- v.21Who through him believe — For all our faith and hope proceed from the power of his resurrection. In God that raised Jesus, and gave him glory - At his ascension. Without Christ we should only dread God; whereas through him we believe, hope, and love.
- v.22Having purified your souls by obeying the truth through the Spirit, who bestows upon you freely, both obedience and purity of heart, and unfeigned love of the brethren, go on to still higher degrees of love. Love one another fervently — With the most strong and tender affection; and yet with a pure heart - Pure from any spot of unholy desire or inordinate passion.
- v.23Which liveth — Is full of divine virtue. And abideth the same forever.
gospel Luke 24:13-35
- v.13Mark xvi, 12.
- v.21Today is the third day — The day he should have risen again, if at all.
- v.25O foolish — Not understanding the designs and works of God: And slow of heart - Unready to believe what the prophets have so largely spoken.
- v.26Ought not Christ — If he would redeem man, and fulfil the prophecies concerning him, to have suffered these things? - These very sufferings which occasion your doubts, are the proofs of his being the Messiah. And to enter into his glory - Which could be done no other way.
- v.28He made as though he would go farther — Walking forward, as if he was going on; and he would have done it, had they not pressed him to stay.
- v.29They constrained him — By their importunate entreaties.
- v.30He took the bread, and blessed, and brake — Just in the same manner as when he instituted his last supper.
- v.31Their eyes were opened — That is, the supernatural cloud was removed: And he vanished - Went away insensibly.
- v.32Did not our heart burn within us — Did not we feel an unusual warmth of love! Was not our heart burning, &c.
- v.33The same hour — Late as it was.
- v.34The Lord hath appeared to Simon — Before he was seen of the twelve apostles, 1 Cor. xv, 5. He had, in his wonderful condescension and grace, taken an opportunity on the former part of that day (though where, or in what manner, is not recorded) to show himself to Peter, that he might early relieve his distresses and fears, on account of having so shamefully denied his Master.
- v.35In the breaking of bread — The Lord's Supper.