19 And it was known unto all proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to the dwellers at Jerusalem; inso- say, The field of blood. much as that field is called in their

20 For it is written in the book

by the violence of his feelings; and, fall- and the explanation of that name, ing headlong or prone upon the earth, would be very unnatural in Peter, but he burst asunder, as here stated. This very natural in Luke. It should be appears more consistent with all the remembered that Peter's address to facts in the case, than the supposition his brethren was less than fifty days that he committed suicide by hanging. subsequent to the time when the events Of the reasons which induce me to pre- occurred. Possibly the field had then fer this exposition, I shall mention only been named; yet Peter could scarcely one. The falling headlong would be a be expected to refer to that fact as a natural consequence of suffocation or corroboration of his assertion. Besides, strangling, but an unnatural result of the name given was in the language hanging. In mentioning his death, the commonly used by the Jews; and there historian might very properly record is no evidence that any except Jews the result, without distinctly specifying were then present with Peter. The the cause; and, by the expression here explanation of that name was given in used, he sufficiently denotes the fact Greek, a language not in common use that Judas perished by a remarkable among the Jews. It is highly improbable and miserable death. But, on the sup- that Peter should mention a name which position that he died by his own hand, his hearers well understood, being a it is very remarkable that the historian word in their own proper tongue, and should not mention the fact. He does then give its explanation in a foreign not even allude to it; for the circum- tongue. But with Luke the case was difstance mentioned by him is so far from ferent. He wrote several years after the intimating suicide by hanging, that it is occurrence of the events narrated; and altogether an unnatural result of such it was natural that he should refer to this an action. Apart from other inform-name, as a standing monument of the ation, no one would suspect, from this fact, corroborating his history. He allusion, that Judas hung himself. It night be supposed that he fell by accident or in a convulsion, or apoplexy, or fainting fit; but suspension by a rope would be among the last possible suspected causes of falling headlong. If, then, as is reasonable, the historian be supposed to allude to the manner of the traitor's death, we need not hesitate to conclude that it was occasioned by suffocation, rather than hanging. That the account given by Matthew is susceptible of this interpretation has been shown in the note on that passage.

19. It was known, &c. That is, the treachery and death of Judas, and the purchase of the field with the wages of iniquity. Proper tongue. That is, the language then in common use among the Jews, which was not the proper Hebrew, but the Syro-chaldaic. Aceldama. This word is composed of two others, and literally signifies, as here stated, the field of blood. This verse and the preceding are generally considered parenthetical. And there are good reasons for regarding them as the language of Luke, not of Peter. The reference to the name of the field,

particularly addressed a Greek, as the name seems to imply, and designed his narration for the use of those who were not acquainted with the proper tongue of the Jews; and it was natural that he should explain the words of that language, when he had occasion to use them. This he did frequently. See Acts iv. 36; ix. 36; xiii. 8. And such was the custom of the evangelists, when writing for the information of those who were not familiarly acquainted with the language of the Jews.

20. It is written, &c. The passages here referred to, but not literally quoted, are supposed to be Ps. Ixix. 25; cix. 8. Whether either of these Psalms had primary reference to the Messiah, or whether they are so applied by accommodation, is a question not easily determined. It is certain that several passages in Ps. lxix. are quoted by the evangelists in reference to Jesus, and it is remarkable that no portion of it appears to be necessarily limited to David. See John ii. 17; xix. 29; compared with Ps. lxix. 9, 21. And it has been said concerning the quotation from Ps. cix. 8, "If it primarily relate

of Psalms, Let his habitation be which have companied with us, all desolate, and let no man dwell the time that the Lord Jesus went therein: and, His bishoprick let in and out among us,

another take.

21. Wherefore of these men

22 Beginning from the baptisin of John, unto that same day that

originally appointed. But they subsequently seem to have disregarded the precise number; for, when they were satisfied that Paul was called of the Lord to be an apostle, they gladly received him as such, increasing their number to thirteen. And we have no evidence that the survivors elected any successors to those who were removed by death. Companied with us, all the time, &c. It was thought to be an

tle, that he should have been personally acquainted with the conduct of Jesus during his whole ministry. Two obvious reasons may be assigned for this opinion: (1.) Such a one would be more fully acquainted with all the facts which he was to proclaim; and (2.) having already endured persecution and remained faithful thus long, he might the more reasonably expect and be expected to continue unmoved by the trials and persecutions afterwards to be encountered. Went in and out. A common expression to denote the usual and constant habits of life.

either to Doeg or Ahithophel, the mortal enemies of David, it might by the Holy Spirit be intended to have its full completion in the betrayer of the Son of David."-Whitby. Let his habitation be desolate, &c. This is an image of destruction from the face of the earth; and it had been fulfilled in the case of Judas. His former dwelling-place had become desolate, and he should return to it no more. His bishopric, &c. Literally, his overseer- indispensable qualification of an aposship. The word rendered bishop means simply an overseer, whether of the church, or of a civil or a military community. See 2 Kings xi. 19; Neh. xi. 9, 14, 22; Acts xx. 28. And the word here rendered bishopric bears the same relation to the other, as bishopric to bishop, or overseership to overseer. The distinction in rank or authority among the clergy, which these terms have more recently been made to indicate, was unknown in the days of the apostles. The apostles were chief rulers, but not styled bishops; they were exalted, as if on twelve thrones, to pronounce with authority concerning matters of faith and practice in the kingdom of their Lord. But there is no evidence, that any distinction in rank or authority was recognised among those whom they ordained as elders, or presbyters, or bishops, by which several names they are indifferently called. And it has been shrewdly observed, that "it is scarcely necessary to add that Peter here did not intend to affirm that Judas sustained any office corresponding to what is now commonly understood by the term bishop."

21. Wherefore, &c. In accordance with the language before quoted, it was roposed that the office which Judas had sustained, however unworthily, and from which he had been cut off, should now be filled, that the original number, twelve, might enter upon the great work assigned them. It does not appear for what special reason the apostles proceeded to elect an associate in the stead of Judas, unless it were that they then thought it expedient to preserve the same number that their Lord

22. Beginning from the baptism of John. That is, from the time when Jesus made his first public appearance, and was indicated as a divine messenger. Thus particular was Peter, that the person to be elected an apostle should have personal knowledge of the important events in our Lord's life, from the very commencement of his ministry. Unto that same day, &c. The candidate must have remained faithful even to the end. True, all the apostles forsook Jesus in his hour of extremity, and were scattered like sheep. But their courage revived when they knew he had risen from the dead, and they again attached themselves to him; and so much they required of the person whom they would present before the Lord for election and confirmation. He must have witnessed the ascension, as well as the baptism, the mighty works, and the crucifixion of our Lord. Must one be ordained. This should be regarded as a recommendation rather than a command; or rather, perhaps, as an opinion expressed by

he was taken up from us, must one | seph called Barsabas, who was surbe ordained to be a witness with named Justus, and Matthias. us of his resurrection.

23 And they appointed two, Jo

Peter, that such an election was necessary for the complete fulfilment of the scripture which he had quoted. That another might take the overseership formerly belonging to Judas, and become an authorized witness of the resurrection, it was necessary that he should be thereunto elected and appointed. This is all which is here meant by being ordained. The forms and ceremonies, to which this term is now technically applied, were then unknown; except, it would seem, the apostles were accustomed to lay their hands on the head of any one appointed as a minister of the word, and to give unto him the right hand of fellowship. Gal. ii. 9; 1 Tim. v. 22. But it does not appear that even this was done in the present case. The appeal was made for a divine decision; and this was sufficient. See note on Mark iii. 14. Witness with us of his resurrection. The great labor of the apostles was to convince men that Jesus had truly risen from the dead. This fact lies at the very foundation of Christianity. If this cannot be proved, no reliance can be placed on the testimony of Jesus as a divinely commissioned teacher. If it be proved, then is he effectually declared to be the Son of God. Rom. i. 4. Accordingly, we find the apostles uniformly laboring, first of all, to establish this fact; rightly judging that as many as were convinced would believe his testimony. Whether they were competent and credible witnesses of this fact, see note at the end of Matthew.

24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the

called Barsabas. Of this person we have no particular account in the scrip tures. Some have supposed him to be the same who is elsewhere called Barnabas. But of this there is no sufficient evidence; and Lightfoot, whose skill in Hebrew was never questioned, says that these two names are altogether different in signification, and cannot properly be supposed to have designated the same person. Matthias. We know little more of this person, upon whom the lot of apostleship fell, than of the the other. Some of the ancients supposed him to have been one of the seventy disciples; and that, after his election, he preached and died at Colchis. But we have no account in the scrip tures of his labors, success, sufferings, or death.

24. And they prayed, &c. Not presuming, upon their own responsibility, to elect and set apart an associate, they appealed to God to indicate which of the two brethren presented before him should attain the rank of an apostle. The manner in which they sought to know the divine will, namely by the casting of lots, might be justifiable at that time, when God frequently interposed by miracle to carry forward the great work committed to his Son; but, at present, since the discontinuance of miraculous interpositions, it would be an unsafe method of decision. We may better depend on the conclusion of our own reason, guided by revelation, than trust to the chance of lots. The apostles, however, did not regard it as chance, but as the decision of 23. They appointed two, &c. This God, in answer to prayer; and so it was, appointment or selection of the two we may believe, in this particular candidates seems to have been made by instance. Many have supposed this the whole company of believers then prayer was directly addressed to Jesus present. The individuals selected were Christ, and hence have argued his of course well known, as they had fol- supreme divinity. But, if the fact lowed Jesus during his whole ministry, were so, the conclusion would not ver. 21; and they were probably emin- necessarily follow. The apostles who ent for their observance of his precepts. had so long and so recently been acIt is reasonable to suppose their quali- customed to ask favors of their Master, fications were so equal in the minds of without the slightest suspicion that the apostles, that it was difficult for he was the Supreme God, might immere human reason to decide the pre-plore him to manifest his choice of ference; and the apostles would not an apostle, without recognizing him assume the responsibility. Joseph as God, or contemplating any thing

hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from

more miraculous than they had pre- 25. That he may take part, &c. The viously witnessed. And, moreover, word here rendered part is the same whatever ideas they might have enter- which, in ver. 26, is translated lot. It tained concerning his character, it means here the portion which should should not be forgotten that they had be assigned by lot; that is, the office, not yet received the Holy Ghost, and authority, and duty, of an apostle. must be regarded simply as men; hon-¶ Of this ministry and apostleship. est men, to be sure, but men who had la- This phrase, by a Hebrew idiom, may bored under a constant mistake for years be considered equivalent to apostolical concerning their Master's true charac-ministry, or apostolical service. From ter, and who might still be mistaken, which Judas by transgression fell. The for aught that appears to the contrary. reference is manifestly to the fact, that But it is by no means probable that Judas had once been an apostle, and their prayer was addressed to Jesus. fell from that honorable station by his The principal argument, urged in proof apostacy and treason. This station he that it was thus addressed, is, that the forfeited before his death; and, even term Lord is used, by which they had had he been living, there would have been accustomed to address him. But been the same necessity to fill the vathis term is very frequently applied to cancy, if he had not repented and Father, in both the Old and New Tes- returned, like Peter, to his first love. tament. See Matt. xi. 25; Luke i. ¶ That he might go to his own place. 25, 46, 58. The applications of this Various interpretations have been given term are so various in the scriptures, - of this passage. It has long been very to God, to his Son, to the king by generally interpreted to mean, that Jua subject, to the master by a ser- das departed from this life to a state of vant, to the husband by the wife, endless misery; or, in the more comthat its use proves nothing definitely mon phrase, that he went to hell, as concerning the person addressed, ex- his own or proper place. To this intercept superiority. To say the least, the pretation, many sufficient objections term is quite as applicable to the Father have been made, which I prefer to state as to the Son; hence its use here does chiefly in the language of commentanot prove that the apostles directly tors who believed that some men must addressed Jesus. Moreover, he had endure endless misery. The objections given them an express direction in what may be comprehended in two:- (1.) If manner they should pray, or ask bless- the words were spoken concerning Juings, after his return to the Father: das, they admit an interpretation more "In that day ye shall ask me nothing. in accordance with the general testiVerily, verily, I say unto you, Whatso-mony of the Scriptures; and (2.) the ever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you." John xvi. 23. If they obeyed his command, it is clear that this prayer was not addressed to him; if they did not, it should be remembered that they had not yet received the Holy Ghost. Knowest the hearts of all men. God looketh directly on the heart, and knoweth the precise moral condition and capability or every man. To him, therefore, was the appeal made, with the utmost propriety, that he should indicate his choice of an apostle. Whether of these two. Which of these two. The apostles seem to have been satisfied that the candidates selected were the two most suitable; but they took not the responsibility of deciding between them."

language probably does not refer to Judas, but to the apostle about to be designated. "Some suppose that the words, that he might go to his own place, are spoken of Judas, and his punishment in hell, which they say must be the own place of such a person as Judas. Others refer them to the purchase of the field, made by the thirty pieces of silver, for which he had sold our Lord. So he abandoned the ministry and apostolate, that he might go to his own place, namely, that which he had purchased. Others, with more seeming propriety, state that his own place means his own house, or former occupation: he left this ministry and apostleship, that he might resume his former employment,

which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their

lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

was elected to such a kleros, or portion, to go, or that he might go to it. To this accords Theophylact: He calls that his own place, which Matthias

in conjunction with his family, &c. and was not to proceed to judge or This is primarily the meaning of it in affirm aught of God's secrets, such as Numb. xxiv. 25; and Balaam returned his going into hell. And it is St. Chry to his own place, that is, to his own sostom's observation on ver. 16, Becountry, friends, and employment. hold the wisdom of St. Luke, how he Others think it simply means the state doth not reproach or insult on Judas, of the dead in general, independently but simply sets down the matter of of either rewards or punishments, as is fact,' without any descant on it; and probably meant by Eccl. iii. 20: All go what he adds, "He discourses of the unto one place; all are of the dust, present vengeance,' belongs evidently and all turn to dust again.' But some to what befell him in this present of the best critics assert, that the words world, and so excludes all enlarging to (as before hinted) belong to Matthias; his future damnation. (3.) There is his own place being the office to which no propriety in saying of the one, that he was about to be elected."- Clarke. he sinned to go to hell; but of the "His own place: What is here meant other it is most proper to say, that he by ho topos ho idios (ó Tóños ó idios), may be best collected from the kleros diaLonias kai apostoles (Khйpos diakovías xaì úñоσтоhiç), lot or portion of minisshould obtain.' So Ecumenius: It try and apostleship, that is, of apostolical ministry, in the beginning of the Judas being fallen, he should have his may be interpreted of Matthias, that, verse, the taking of which is prepara- place for his own, receiving his bishoptive here to his going to this. That ric;' making place and bishopric certainly signifies, in Phavorinus, a part or portion, that falls to any, par- topos, among many things, signifies, synonymous. So Didymus: the word ticularly a province that belongs to any saith he, an order, as the place of a governor, and (if that be a bishop or bishop or an elder. So the ordinary governor of the church, then) such a province, styled, ver. 20, out of the gloss, that he should go to his own Psalmist, episkope (Eлtoкопn), bishop-place, that is, the apostolical lot,' makric, which he that succeeds in is saiding place and lot all one, just as I have interpreted it." Hammond. To this to take, there, as here to take the portion very full note of a standard writer of of ministry, &c.; and then that which the English Church, supported as it is is thus become any man's assigned by several writers of an earlier date, it province cannot be more fitly expressed may not be improper to add a single than by the place or province proper to remark. The language in question that man, assigned to him. This, purports to have been uttered in a soltherefore, regularly belonging to Judas, emn prayer to God. It is surely more if he had not, by his treason against reasonable to suppose the apostles imhis Master, forfeited it (which here plored God to indicate his choice of a said as in a parenthesis), Matthias now person to take or go to a portion, or succeeds him in it, takes his lot or por-place, or station, which Judas had fortion, and so is now to go to this as his own place, or province, which had else belonged to another. Many prejudices there are against understanding this place of hell, as some have understood it, as the place whither Judas was to go. For (1.) that was not the proper place or assignation of Judas, but common to all other damned spirits. (2.) It was not St. Luke's office to pass sentence on Judas, any further than by setting down the heinousness of his crime, which he had done, ver. 16-19,

feited, than that they informed him where Judas had gone, as his own place, - a matter which he most certainly understood much more fully and accurately than they did. See note on Matt. xxvi. 24.

26. And they gave forth their lots. That is, the lots of Joseph and Matthias, or the lots which were to determine whether one or the other should succeed to the apostleship forfeited by Judas. See note on ver. 24. Some have