THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES - Chapter 1 - Verse 14

Verse 14. These all continued, etc. The word continued denotes persevering and constant attention. The main business was devotion. Ac 6:4, "We will give ourselves continually—to the ministry of the word." Ro 12:12, "Continuing instant in prayer:" Ro 13:6, "Attending continually upon this very thing." It is their main and constant employment, Col 4:2.

With one accord. With one mind; unitedly; unanimously. There were no schisms, no divided interests, no discordant purposes. This is a beautiful picture of devotion, and a specimen of what social worship ought now to be, and a beautiful illustration of Ps 133. The apostles felt that they had one great object; and their deep grief at the loss of their Master, their doubts and perplexities, led them, as all afflictions ought to lead us, to the throne of grace.

In prayer and supplication. These words are nearly synonymous, and are often interchanged. They express, here, petitions to God for blessings, and prayer to avert impending evils.

With the women. The women that had followed the Lord Jesus from Galilee, Lu 8:2,3; 23:49,55; 24:10; Mt 27:55.

The women particularly mentioned are Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, the mother of Zebedee's children, Joanna the wife of Chuza, and Susanna. Besides these, there were others whose names are not mentioned. Most of them were relatives of the apostles or of our Saviour; and it is not improbable that some of them were wives of the apostles. Peter is known to have been married, (Mt 8:14,) and had his wife in attendance, (1 Co 9:5;) and the same was doubtless true of some of the other apostles, (1 Co 9:5.) Mary is here particularly mentioned, the mother of Jesus; showing that she now cast in her lot with the apostles. She had, besides, been particularly entrusted to the care of John, (Joh 19:26,27,) and had no other home. This is the last time she is mentioned in the New Testament.

And with his brethren. See Barnes "Mt 12:46".

At first they had been unbelieving about the claims of Jesus, (Joh 7:5;) but it seems that they had been subsequently converted.

{*} "accord" or, "one mind" {b} "the women" Lu 23:49,55; 24:10