Waldenstrom's Commentary

translated by Tommy Carlson

Dr. Paul Peter Waldenström based his comments on a Greek New Testament text that he translated into Swedish. Tommy Carlson has translated both the Biblical text and Waldenström’s comments from the Swedish text of Waldenström’s 2nd Edition, 1892.

Verse 44 — But¹ he said to them: “These are the words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything must be accomplished which is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.² (Luke 9:22; 18:33)

1. Verses 44-49 are peculiar to Luke. To verse 49, compare Acts 1:4. The following words show how concentrated the summaries of the Evangelists are in recounting the stories. For if we had nothing more than Luke’s Gospel, we could not imagine anything other than that the Lord both spoke the following and ascended into heaven on resurrection day itself. But now Luke himself informs us in Acts 1:3 that it was forty days between resurrection and ascension.
2. The Jews divide their Bible into the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. To the Law they count the five books of Moses; to the Prophets they count Joshua, Judges, Samuel’s two books, the two books of Kings, and the actual prophets except, Daniel, which with all the other books is counted with the Psalms.

Verse 45 — Then, he opened their hearts so that they should understand the Scriptures,¹

1. Compare, in verse 32, the same meaning expressed with other words. It is actually not Scriptures, but the eyes of the heart that need to be opened.

Verse 46 — and he said to them: “So¹ it is written that Christ should suffer and rise up from the dead on the third day,

1. As I have told you.

Verse 47 — and preach in his name¹ repentance for the forgiveness of sin to all people, beginning in Jerusalem.² (Acts 13:33; I John 2:12)

1. That is to say, because of my name; because of that, I am what I am. Not only in Jesus’s name or on his behalf, but BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDATION OF HIS NAME shall repentance be preached. That Jesus is sent by God and the only Savior from sins, that is the foundation on which all preaching about repentance for the forgiveness of sin shall be built. Compare Acts 4:12. All preaching that is not built on this is in vain.
2. Jerusalem was the Holy City, and Jerusalem should soon vanish. Note the Godly love of the Savior, which allows the preaching of the Gospel in the city that was more criminal than all others.

Verse 48 — You¹ are witnesses to this (John 15:27)

1. There is in the original text a strong emphasis on the word YOU.

Verse 49 — and I¹ will send out² my father’s promise³ over you. But I send you down⁴ to the city⁵ until you have been clothed with the power from on high.⁶ (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7; Acts 1:4, 2:1, ff.)

1. In the original text, there is a strong emphasis on the word “I.”
2. From the father (John 15:26). That he says: I SEND, instead of I SHALL send, compare Matthew 3:10, 26:45; Mark 9:31; Luke 13:32.
3. By the father’s promised spirit. For the promise, see Joel 2:28, ff.; Ezekiel 36:27, 39:29. Compare, also, Acts 2:16, ff.; Galatians 3:14.
4. We have the same expression in Swedish when we say “sets down” (satter sig ned) or “puts down” (slar sig ned) in this or that city.
5. That is to say, Jerusalem.
6. The power should be given to them through the Holy Spirit. Compare Ephesians 4:8. As to the picture of being clothed, compare Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:12.

Verse 50 — But¹ he led them out² almost as far as³ Bethany, and he raised his hands and blessed them.

1. For verses 50-53, compare Acts 1:4-12.
2. From Jerusalem. This happened forty days after the resurrection (Acts 1:3).
3. Not all the way, but close.

Verse 51 — And it happened that, when he had blessed them, he was separated from them.¹ (Acts 1:9)

1. In some old manuscripts of the New Testament, “and was taken up to heaven” is added here. However, these words are of questionable authenticity. With the assumption that it is not authentic, some Bible scholars have thought that Luke is not talking about Christ’s ascension to heaven but, rather, the conclusion of the resurrection stories. The Lord’s disappearance here is similar to his disappearance in verse 31. In that case, Luke would have saved the story about the ascension into heaven for Acts 1. That this understanding is not correct is shown in Acts 1:2, where Luke himself says that he has told what Jesus did and taught, in his Gospel, “up to the day that he was taken up.” If, in other words, the words of questionable authenticity are removed, then, according to the Evangelist’s own explanation, the last few verses of his Gospel deal with what took place on ascension day.

Verse 52 — And they themselves turned back¹ to Jerusalem with great joy;

1. According to another, supported by good manuscripts, this reads: “They themselves (worshipped him and) turned around.” The authenticity of the words within the parentheses are viewed by the best Bible scholars as being questionable.

Verse 53 — and they were constantly¹ in the Temple praising² God.

1. See comments to 2:37, which read: “When we say that someone is here or there incessantly or constantly, it does not mean that the person is doing it without a break, but rather, that the person is showing an unceasing eagerness about what he does.”
2. According to another reading: “blessing.” About the meaning of the word, see comment to Matthew 25:34.