But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Read Chapter 15
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
In the historical sense he is speaking of the prosperity of the house of Juda, in the reign of Ezechias, or their return from captivity. But in this respect, it is certain that the prophecy never had its entire accomplishment. The passage in the text is cited from the Septuagint. The Hebrew is, "I will raise up the house of David. That it may possess all the nations "Now it is true that the nations never were subject to the house of David, or known by the name of the people of God; but by their vocation to the gospel, as St. James explains it. (Calmet)
Mark how he ends with a fearful consideration. He does not discourse to them from the Prophets, but from things present, of which themselves were witnesses. Of course (the Prophets) also themselves anon add their testimony (infra v. 15), and make the reason stronger by what has now come to pass. And observe, he first permits the question to be moved in the Church, and then speaks. And put no difference between— he said not, them of the circumcision, but us and them, i.e. the Gentiles: for this (gradual advance) little by little is stronger. Why therefore do you tempt God? who has become (the) God of the Gentiles: for this was tempting: * * * whether He is able to save even after the Law. See what he does. He shows that they are in danger. For if, what the Law could not do, faith had power to do, we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus we shall be saved even as they comp. : but faith falling off, behold, themselves (are) in destruction. And he did not say, Why do ye disbelie...
How full of power these words! The same that Paul says at large in the Epistle to the Romans, the same says Peter here. For if Abraham, says (Paul), was justified by works, he has whereof to glory, but not before God. Romans 4:2 Do you perceive that all this is more a lesson for them than apology for the Gentiles? However, if he had spoken this without a plea for speaking, he would have been suspected: an occasion having offered, he lays hold of it, and speaks out fearlessly. See on all occasions how the designs of their foes are made to work with them. If those had not stirred the question, these things would not have been spoken, nor what follows.
