32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
32 And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail."
32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him."
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
5 he predestined us
5 Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!)
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
(Read Ephesians 1:3-8)
Spiritual and heavenly blessings are the best blessings; with which we cannot be miserable, and without which we cannot but be so. This was from the choice of them in Christ, before the foundation of the world, that they should be made holy by separation from sin, being set apart to God, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, in consequence of their election in Christ. All who are chosen to happiness as the end, are chosen to holiness as the means. In love they were predestinated, or fore-ordained, to be adopted as children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, and to be openly admitted to the privileges of that high relation to himself. The reconciled and adopted believer, the pardoned sinner, gives all the praise of his salvation to his gracious Father. His love appointed this method of redemption, spared not his own Son, and brought believers to hear and embrace this salvation. It was rich grace to provide such a surety as his own Son, and freely to deliver him up. This method of grace gives no encouragement to evil, but shows sin in all its hatefulness, and how it deserves vengeance. The believer's actions, as well as his words, declare the praises of Divine mercy.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 5:32
Commentary on Acts 5:26-33
(Read Acts 5:26-33)
Many will do an evil thing with daring, yet cannot bear to hear of it afterward, or to have it charged upon them. We cannot expect to be redeemed and healed by Christ, unless we give up ourselves to be ruled by him. Faith takes the Saviour in all his offices, who came, not to save us in our sins, but to save us from our sins. Had Christ been exalted to give dominion to Israel, the chief priests would have welcomed him. But repentance and remission of sins are blessings they neither valued nor saw their need of; therefore they, by no means, admitted his doctrine. Wherever repentance is wrought, remission is granted without fail. None are freed from the guilt and punishment of sin, but those who are freed from the power and dominion of sin; who are turned from it, and turned against it. Christ gives repentance, by his Spirit working with the word, to awaken the conscience, to work sorrow for sin, and an effectual change in the heart and life. The giving of the Holy Ghost, is plain evidence that it is the will of God that Christ should be obeyed. And He will surely destroy those who will not have Him to reign over them.