Godbey's Commentary - Acts - Romans - Enter His Rest

Christian religion, did their utmost to exterminate not only the existence but even the memory of
Jerusalem from the annals of the world. Hence the Emperor Adrian in the second century dropped
the very name “Jerusalem,” founded a Roman colony on the site, and named it Elia Capitolina, thus
obliterating the very memory of God’s holy city. Two hundred years rolled away with no city on the
earth called Jerusalem. When the Emperor Constantine, A.D. 325, was converted to Christianity, he
and his queenly mother Helena went to Jerusalem and undertook its restoration, restoring the name
and doing their utmost to identify the hallowed spots so dear and sacred to every Christian heart.
Mount Olivet, east of Jerusalem, across the valleys of Jehoshaphat and Kidron, is the highest in all
that region, being two hundred feet higher than Zion, Moriah, Bazenta and Akra on which Jerusalem
stands. The city is so densely built as to disqualify the explorer from seeing much of it while within
the walls. From the summit of Mount Olivet we enjoy a most capacious and satisfactory view of the
whole city. When our Savior ascended into heaven from the summit of this mountain, pursuant to
His emphatic mandate, positively prohibiting the disciples from their long cherished privilege of the
world’s evangelization till they received the Pentecostal enduement of the Holy Ghost and fire, they
returned to Jerusalem, “a Sabbath day’s journey”; i.e., three quarters of a mile. Entering through the
east wall, they travel on through the whole length of the city to that favorite upper chamber on Mt.
Zion, in the southwest corner of the city, which memories had already hallowed, because Jesus had
there so frequently edified them in His wonderful Bible-school. In this upper chamber not only the
twelve apostles, but one hundred and eight disciples, male and female, assembled. Among them, the
mother of Jesus and His brothers.
14. Our Lord’s brothers [doubtless the sons of Joseph by a former marriage], James and Judas,
the latter in E.V. called Jude to contradistinguish him from Judas Iscariot, who had brought disgrace
on the name. These brothers of our Lord are not mentioned in the catalogue of the original twelve
(Matthew 10). There are two named James in that catalogue, but neither of them the Lord’s brother.
After our Savior’s inauguration into His official Messiahship by the baptism of John, He
immediately began to astonish the world by His mighty works. All classes and nationalities are
electrified and bewildered by His miracles, spontaneously clamoring, “Surely this is none other than
Messias, the Shiloh of prophecy, the Christ of God, the Redeemer of Israel, and the Savior of the
world.” Meanwhile, His elder brothers remained somewhat reticent, soliloquizing, “This is no one
but our little brother Jesus, whom we used to rock in the cradle and entertain with flowers, while
mother got dinner. He was always the best and sweetest child we ever saw, and so good and
industrious to help us do the work, at an early day becoming quite an expert in the carpenter-shop.
We do believe that He is a mighty prophet, like Moses, Elijah, and Elisha. They wrought stupendous
miracles. But to say that He is the Christ of God, the Shiloh of prophecy, the Redeemer of Israel, and
the Savior of the world, is certainly going too far. He is just one of us, and nobody but our own dear
little brother.” Therefore His elder brothers, James and Jude, stand aloof and contemplate all the
mighty works of their brother Jesus, till He is arrested, nailed to the cross, and they see Him expire.
Then they say, “Our precious brother ventured too far; He had great power, to be sure; but He made
a mistake in venturing so far as to let His enemies get their hands on him. So now he is dead.” But
when they see Him walk out of the sepulcher and fly up to heaven, they utterly break down and fall
into line with tremendous shouts of victory, “Glory to God in the highest, the thing is settled forever;
after all, our dear brother Jesus is all that His disciples ever claimed for Him. He is none other than
the Shiloh of prophecy, the Christ of God, the Redeemer of Israel, and the Savior of the world.” The