Isa 12:2-3, Eph 1:12-13, 1Pe 1:21 | Barnes

Isaiah 12:2-3

Ephesians 1:12-13

Verse 13. In whom ye also trusted. This stands in contrast with those who had first embraced the gospel.

Heard the word of truth. The gospel; called the word or message of truth, the word of God, etc. See Rom 10:17. The phrase, "the word of truth," means "the true word or message." It was a message unmixed with Jewish traditions or Gentile philosophy.

The gospel of your salvation. The gospel bringing salvation to you.

In whom also. In the Lord Jesus. A little different translation of this verse will convey more clearly its meaning. "In whom also ye, having heard the word of truth, (the gospel of your salvation,) in whom having also believed, ye were sealed," etc. The sealing was the result of believing, and that was the result of hearing the gospel. Comp. Rom 10:14,15.

Ye were sealed. On the meaning of the word seal, Jn 3:33. Jn 6:27

With that holy Spirit of promise. With the Holy Spirit that was promised. See Jn 16:7-11,13; 15:26, 14:16,17. It is not improbable, I think, that the apostle here refers particularly to the occurrence of which we have a record in Acts 19:1-6. Paul, it is there said, having passed through the upper provinces of Asia Minor, came to Ephesus. He found certain persons who were the disciples of John, and he asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they "believed," Eph 1:2. They replied that they had not heard whether there was any Holy Ghost, and that they had been baptized unto John's baptism. Paul taught them the true nature of the baptism of John; explained to them the Christian system; and they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and "the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." They were thus sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, "after they had believed," (Eph 1:13;) they had the full evidence of the favour of God in the descent of the promised Holy Spirit, and in his miraculous influences. If this be the true interpretation, it constitutes a striking coincidence between the epistle and the Acts, of such a nature as constitute the arguments in Paley's Horae Paulinae, (though he has not referred to this,) which shows that the epistle was not forged, The circumstance is such that it would not have been alluded to in this manner by one who should forge the epistle; and the mention of it in the epistle is so slight, that no one, from the account there, would think of forging the account in the Acts. The coincidence is just such as would occur on the supposition that the transaction actually occurred, and that both the Acts and the epistle are genuine. At the same time, there is a sealing of the Holy Spirit which is common to all Christians. 2Cor 1:22.

(a) "heard the word of truth" Rom 10:17 (b) "sealed with that Holy Spirit" 2Cor 1:22 (*) "promise" "The promised Holy Spirit"

1 Peter 1:21

Verse 21. Who by him do believe in God. Faith is sometimes represented particularly as exercised in God, and sometimes in Christ. It is always a characteristic of true religion that a man has faith in God. Mk 11:22.

That raised him up from the dead. Acts 2:24; Acts 3:15, Acts 3:26; Acts 4:10; Acts 5:30; Acts 13:30; Rom 4:24; 1Cor 15:15. And gave him glory. By exalting him at his own right hand in heaven, Php 2:9, 1Timm 3:16, Eph 1:20,21. That your faith and hope might be in God. That is, by raising up the Lord Jesus, and exalting him to heaven, he has laid the foundation of confidence in his promises, and of the hope of eternal life. 1Pet 1:3. Comp. 1Cor 15; Col 1:27, 1Thes 1:3; 1Timm 1:1.