Until the day in which he was taken up, after he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
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Bede
AD 735
instructing the Apostles, whom he had chosen through the Holy Spirit: that is, giving His apostles the commandments which are read of either here or in the gospels.
Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up. As the Scripture was written without distinction of verses, and without any stops, or commas, which were added afterwards) the construction, and joining of the words in this verse, is ambiguous. The question is, with what part of the verse these words, by the Holy Spirit, are to be joined. The sense might be, 1. that he was taken up by the Holy Spirit: but this is generally rejected. 2. That he gave his commandments by the Holy Spirit to his apostles; that is, says St. Chrysostom, that he gave them spiritual commands, that came from the Holy Spirit, or from his holy Spirit. 3. The most probable exposition seems to be, that he gave his special commandments to his apostles, or to those whom he chose to be his apostles, by the Holy Spirit, or by his holy and divine spirit. (Witham)
The power to preach, to baptize, to remit sins, and generally the whole commission and charge...
instructing the Apostles, whom he had chosen through the Holy Spirit: Observe the order (In Matt. 28:19) of these injunctions. He bids the Apostles first to teach all nations, then to wash them with the sacrament of faith, and after faith and baptism then to teach them what things they ought to observe; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.
until the day when he was taken up: He does not say, 'ascended;' he still speaks as concerning a man. It appears then that He also taught the Disciples after His resurrection.
instructing the Apostles, whom he had chosen through the Holy Spirit : They were spiritual words that He spoke unto them, nothing human; either this is the meaning, or, that it was by the Spirit that He gave them commandments.
even until the day on which he was taken up: Yet we are not told that he was taken up by angels, or by any other power than His own power, who was really God.
