Charles Spurgeon Commentary Acts 2:40

Charles Spurgeon Commentary

Acts 2:40

1834–1892
Baptist
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon Commentary

Acts 2:40

1834–1892
Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation." — Acts 2:40 (ASV)

And with many other works did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Not, "save yourselves from hell;" that Christ alone can do for you, but "save yourselves from this generation" by coming boldly out from among the ungodly, taking upon you the distinctive mark of the Christian, and so separating yourselves from those upon whom the sentence of death shall fall.

And with many other words he testified and exhorted, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Peter first bore witness to the truth, and then pleaded with his hearers to receive his testimony. All true ministers will both "testify and exhort." Some are always exhorting; they cry, "Believe, believe," but they do not tell their hearers what is to be believed.

Others are always testifying; they preach good doctrine, but they do not like to exhort sinners to repent, and believe the gospel. Each of these is a one-legged ministry, but we must have two legs to our ministry and, like Peter, testify and exhort saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

"Come out from those who crucified Christ; quit the generation that is guilty of the blood of the Son of God. Put your repentance between you and them; put your public baptism between you and them. Avow that you do not belong to them, but to Him whom they crucified, and whom God has exalted."