The Book of Acts: The Books of the New Testament, #2

By William Myers

This commentary on the Book of Acts was written by Luke the physician.  He was a traveling companion of Paul.  He was also a great narrator and one that was able to map out the various journeys of the apostles in the early ministry after the church was established in Acts 2.  The intent of this book was to give Bible class teachers insights into this wonderful manuscript.  It should aid the serious student of the word to understand and comprehend what took place in the churches established in the first century.

• Language: English
• Publisher: William Myers
• Release date: Jun 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227656384

William Myers

William has been a minister for 42 years.  He has served congregations in Virginia, Tennssee, Indiana, California, North Dakota, and Ohio.  He holds 4 undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees.  He has authored several books, and views his wife, Brenda, as his greatest supporter.

Book preview

THE BOOK OF ACTS

Traditionally, the authorship of Acts is attributed to Luke. This is supported by the book's dedication to Theophilus (also seen in the Gospel of Luke), stylistic similarities between the two works, and early Christian writings that affirm Luke's authorship. Scholars generally date the writing of Acts to around AD 62-70, although some argue for a slightly later date. The narrative concludes abruptly with Paul under house arrest in Rome, suggesting it was written before Paul's martyrdom around AD 64-65.

Purpose and Themes

The Book of Acts has several purposes and overarching themes:

1.  The Spread of Christianity: Acts chronicles the expansion of the Christian faith from Jerusalem, through Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), emphasizing the universal nature of the Christian message.

2.  The Work of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit plays a central role in empowering the apostles and early Christians to perform miracles, preach boldly, and make pivotal decisions. The Pentecost event in Acts 2 marks the dramatic arrival of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church.

3.  Unity and Diversity in the Early Church: Acts addresses the integration of Gentile (non-Jewish) believers into the predominantly Jewish Christian community, highlighting key moments such as Peter's vision and the Council of Jerusalem.

4.  Apostolic Leadership and Witness: The narrative focuses on the leadership and missionary journeys of key figures, especially Peter and Paul, showcasing their role in establishing churches and enduring hardships for the sake of the Gospel.

5.  The Church in Relation to the Roman Empire: Acts depicts various interactions between the Christian community and Roman authorities, often emphasizing the peaceable nature of Christians in the face of misunderstanding and persecution.

Structure and Content

The Book of Acts can be broadly divided into two parts: the first detailing the ministry of Peter and the spread of the Gospel in Jerusalem and surrounding regions, and the second focusing on Paul's conversion, missionary journeys, and final journey to Rome. This structure highlights the movement of Christianity from a local Jewish sect to a worldwide faith that transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries.

Significance

Acts is invaluable for understanding the early Christian church's theological, social, and historical context. It provides insights into the practices, challenges, and beliefs of the first Christians and illustrates how the Gospel message was communicated and lived out in a diverse and often hostile world. For Christians today, Acts serves as a foundational text that informs faith, evangelism, and community life, emphasizing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the importance of witness and perseverance.

Who Was Luke?

Luke had a close association with Paul:

Luke is mentioned by name in the New Testament in the following passages:

1.  Colossians 4:14: "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you."

2.  2 Timothy 4:11: "Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry."

3.  Philemon 1:24: "As do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers."

Luke's ties with Paul, his profession as a physician, and his role as a fellow worker in the early Christian community. They do not, however, detail his authorship of the Gospel of Luke or the Acts of the Apostles directly. The attribution of these works to Luke is based on early Christian tradition and the writings of church fathers, such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Eusebius, who identify Luke as the author based on internal evidence from the texts themselves and the historical tradition of the early church.

Luke, the writer of the Acts of the Apostles, is traditionally identified as the same Luke who authored the Gospel of Luke. He is considered one of the four Evangelists in Christianity. Luke's writings are addressed to a figure named Theophilus, who some speculate might have been a Roman official or a wealthy patron; others suggest Theophilus could symbolically represent all believers, as the name means friend of God or loved by God in Greek.

Luke is described in the New Testament as a companion of the Apostle Paul, which provides him with a unique perspective on the events and teachings of the early Christian community. In Colossians 4:14, Paul refers to him as the beloved physician, suggesting that Luke had a background in medicine. This medical knowledge is sometimes reflected in the precise way he describes illnesses and healings in his writings.

Although not one of the original twelve apostles, Luke's contributions to the New Testament are significant, providing a detailed account of Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection in his Gospel, and chronicling the early years of the Christian church and the spread of the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire in the Acts of the Apostles. His works are notable for their historical detail, literary quality, and emphasis on themes such as salvation, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the inclusivity of Gentiles into the Christian faith.

Luke's identity beyond his New Testament contributions is not well-documented, and much of what is known about him comes from early Christian tradition. According to Eusebius, an early Church historian, Luke was a native of Antioch, a major center of early Christianity. Despite the limited information about his life, Luke's impact on Christian theology and the canon of the New Testament is profound, making his works essential to understanding the early Christian movement and its development.

––––––––

Paul’s Four Journeys

The missionary journeys of Paul, a pivotal figure in the early Christian church, were instrumental in spreading Christianity beyond Jewish communities into the Greco-Roman world. His travels, spanning from around 46 A.D. to the late 50s A.D., are documented in the Acts of the Apostles. Paul undertook at least three major missionary journeys, followed by his journey to Rome.

Paul's First Missionary Journey Map - First Mission Itinerary

First Missionary Journey (Approximately 46-49 AD) 

Paul, along with Barnabas and John Mark, embarked on his first missionary journey from Antioch, Syria (Acts 13:1-3). They sailed to Cyprus, where they preached in synagogues across the island, including Salamis and Paphos (Acts 13:4-12). From Cyprus, they travelled to the southern region of Asia Minor, landing in Perga of Pamphylia, where John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).

Continuing their mission, Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:14-52), Iconium (Acts 14:1-5), Lystra (Acts 14:6-20), and Derbe (Acts 14:20-21), facing both conversions and persecution. They then retraced their steps, strengthening the new Christian communities, before returning to Antioch in Syria, reporting the opening of the faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:26-28).

Paul's First Missionary Journey Map - First Mission Itinerary

Second Missionary Journey (Approximately 49-52 AD)

Paul's second journey began after a disagreement with Barnabas over John Mark's participation, leading Paul to choose Silas as his companion. Departing from Antioch, they revisited the churches in Asia Minor, including Lystra, where Timothy joined them (Acts 16:1-5).

Directed by a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading for help, they traveled to Europe, landing in Philippi, where Lydia, a purple cloth dealer, converted, marking the first recorded conversion in Europe (Acts 16:9-15). After a brief imprisonment in Philippi, they visited Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9), Berea (Acts 17:10-14), Athens (Acts 17:15-34), and Corinth, where Paul stayed for 18 months (Acts 18:1-11). Paul then returned to Antioch via Ephesus, Caesarea, and Jerusalem (Acts 18:18-22).

Paul's Four Missionary Journeys: The Complete Guide – Theology For the Rest of Us

Third Missionary Journey (Approximately 53-57 AD)

Paul's third journey began with a return to the regions of Galatia and Phrygia (Acts 18:23). He spent significant time in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-41), where he faced both success and riotous opposition. Afterward, he traveled through Macedonia and Greece, staying in Corinth for three months (Acts 20:1-3).

On his return trip, Paul visited Troas, where Eutychus was miraculously revived (Acts 20:6-12), and made stops in Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, and Miletus. In Miletus, he met with the elders of the Ephesian church, giving a farewell speech (Acts 20:17-38). Paul's journey concluded with a return to Jerusalem, where he was arrested, leading to his eventual transport to Rome (Acts 21-28).

Paul's Four Missionary Journeys: The Complete Guide ...

Journey to Rome (Approximately 60-62 AD)

After his arrest in Jerusalem and subsequent trials in Caesarea, Paul invoked his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to Caesar. This led to his final recorded journey, a perilous voyage to Rome (Acts 27-28). Despite shipwreck on the island of Malta (Acts 27:27-44) and a snake bite (Acts 28:3-6), Paul arrived in Rome, where he was placed under house arrest. During this time, he continued to preach about the Kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 28:30-31).

Paul's missionary journeys were characterized by his unwavering commitment to spreading the gospel, establishing churches, and nurturing the early Christian communities amidst challenges and persecution. His travels significantly contributed to the foundational spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

––––––––

THE BOOK OF ACTS

Traditionally, the authorship of Acts is attributed to Luke. This is supported by the book's dedication to Theophilus (also seen in the Gospel of Luke), stylistic similarities between the two works, and early Christian writings that affirm Luke's authorship. Scholars generally date the writing of Acts to around AD 62-70, although some argue for a slightly later date. The narrative concludes abruptly with Paul under house arrest in Rome, suggesting it was written before Paul's martyrdom around AD 64-65.

(a)    Purpose and Themes

The Book of Acts has several purposes and overarching themes:

6.  The Spread of Christianity: Acts chronicles the expansion of the Christian faith from Jerusalem, through Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), emphasizing the universal nature of the Christian message.

7.  The Work of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit plays a central role in empowering the apostles and early Christians to perform miracles, preach boldly, and make pivotal decisions. The Pentecost event in Acts 2 marks the dramatic arrival of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church.

8.  Unity and Diversity in the Early Church: Acts addresses the integration of Gentile (non-Jewish) believers into the predominantly Jewish Christian community, highlighting key moments such as Peter's vision and the Council of Jerusalem.

9.  Apostolic Leadership and Witness: The narrative focuses on the leadership and missionary journeys of key figures, especially Peter and Paul, showcasing their role in establishing churches and enduring hardships for the sake of the Gospel.

10.  The Church in Relation to the Roman Empire: Acts depicts various interactions between the Christian community and Roman authorities, often emphasizing the peaceable nature of Christians in the face of misunderstanding and persecution.

(b)    Structure and Content

The Book of Acts can be broadly divided into two parts: the first detailing the ministry of Peter and the spread of the Gospel in Jerusalem and surrounding regions, and the second focusing on Paul's conversion, missionary journeys, and final journey to Rome. This structure highlights the movement of Christianity from a local Jewish sect to a worldwide faith that transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries.

(c)    Significance

Acts is invaluable for understanding the early Christian church's theological, social, and historical context. It provides insights into the practices, challenges, and beliefs of the first Christians and illustrates how the Gospel message was communicated and lived out in a diverse and often hostile world. For Christians today, Acts serves as a foundational text that informs faith, evangelism, and community life, emphasizing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the importance of witness and perseverance.

Who Was Luke?

Luke had a close association with Paul:

Luke is mentioned by name in the New Testament in the following passages:

4.  Colossians 4:14: "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you."

5.  2 Timothy 4:11: "Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry."

6.  Philemon 1:24: "As do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers."

Luke's ties with Paul, his profession as a physician, and his role as a fellow worker in the early Christian community. They do not, however, detail his authorship of the Gospel of Luke or the Acts of the Apostles directly. The attribution of these works to Luke is based on early Christian tradition and the writings of church fathers, such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Eusebius, who identify Luke as the author based on internal evidence from the texts themselves and the historical tradition of the early church.

Luke, the writer of the Acts of the Apostles, is traditionally identified as the same Luke who authored the Gospel of Luke. He is considered one of the four Evangelists in Christianity. Luke's writings are addressed to a figure named Theophilus, who some speculate might have been a Roman official or a wealthy patron; others suggest Theophilus could symbolically represent all believers, as the name means friend of God or loved by God in Greek.

Luke is described in the New Testament as a companion of the Apostle Paul, which provides him with a unique perspective on the events and teachings of the early Christian community. In Colossians 4:14, Paul refers to him as the beloved physician, suggesting that Luke had a background in medicine. This medical knowledge is sometimes reflected in the precise way he describes illnesses and healings in his writings.

Although not one of the original twelve apostles, Luke's contributions to the New Testament are significant, providing a detailed account of Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection in his Gospel, and chronicling the early years of the Christian church and the spread of the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire in the Acts of the Apostles. His works are notable for their historical detail, literary quality, and emphasis on themes such as salvation, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the inclusivity of Gentiles into the Christian faith.

Luke's identity beyond his New Testament contributions is not well-documented, and much of what is known about him comes from early Christian tradition. According to Eusebius, an early Church historian, Luke was a native of Antioch, a major center of early Christianity. Despite the limited information about his life, Luke's impact on Christian theology and the canon of the New Testament is profound, making his works essential to understanding the early Christian movement and its development.

OUTLINE TO THE BOOK OF ACTS 

. Introduction

1.  The Promise of the Holy Spirit (1:1-5)

2.  The Ascension of Jesus (1:6-11)

3.  The Upper Room and Choosing of Matthias (1:12-26)

B. The Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

1.  The Day of Pentecost (2:1-13)

2.  Peter's Sermon at Pentecost (2:14-41)

3.  The Fellowship of the Believers (2:42-47)

C. The Early Christian Community

1.  Healing of the Lame Beggar (3:1-10)

2.  Peter's Speech at the Temple (3:11-26)

3.  Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin (4:1-22)

4.  The Believers' Prayer (4:23-31)

5.  Sharing Among the Believers (4:32-37)

6.  Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11)

7.  The Apostles Heal Many (5:12-16)

8.  The Apostles' Persecution and Gamaliel's Advice (5:17-42)

D. Administration in the Early Church

1.  The Choosing of the Seven (6:1-7)

2.  Stephen's Ministry and Arrest (6:8-15)

E. Stephen’s Speech and Martyrdom

1.  Stephen's Defense (7:1-53)

2.  The Stoning of Stephen (7:54-60)

F. The Church Expands Beyond Jerusalem

1.  The Persecution and Dispersion of the Church (8:1-4)

2.  Philip in Samaria (8:5-25)

3.  The Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch (8:26-40)

G. The Conversion of Saul (Paul)

1.  Saul’s Journey to Damascus (9:1-9)

2.  Saul’s Conversion and Baptism (9:10-19a)

3.  Saul Preaches in Damascus (9:19b-25)

4.  Saul in Jerusalem (9:26-31)

H. Peter’s Ministry

1.  Aeneas and Dorcas (9:32-43)

2.  Cornelius’s Vision (10:1-8)

3.  Peter’s Vision and Visit to Cornelius (10:9-48)

4.  The Church in Antioch (11:19-30)

5.  Peter’s Imprisonment and Escape (12:1-19)

I. Paul’s Missionary Journeys

1.  First Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28)

  i. Barnabas and Saul Commissioned (13:1-3)

  ii. Cyprus and Pisidian Antioch (13:4-52)

  iii. Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (14:1-20)

  iv. Return to Antioch in Syria (14:21-28)

2.  The Jerusalem Council (15:1-35)

3.  Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22)

  i. The Macedonian Call (16:6-10)

  ii. Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea (16:11-17:15)

  iii. Athens and Corinth (17:16-18:17)

  iv. Return to Antioch in Syria (18:18-22)

4.  Third Missionary Journey (18:23-21:17)

  i. Ephesus (19:1-41)

  ii. Macedonia and Greece (20:1-6)

  iii. Troas to Miletus (20:7-38)

J. Paul’s Arrest and Trials

1.  Arrest in Jerusalem (21:18-23:35)

2.  Trials Before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa (24:1-26:32)

K. Paul’s Journey to Rome

1.  Voyage to Rome (27:1-28:15)

2.  Paul in Rome (28:16-31)

––––––––

Paul’s Four Journeys:

The missionary journeys of Paul, a pivotal figure in the early Christian church, were instrumental in spreading Christianity beyond Jewish communities into the Greco-Roman world. His travels, spanning from around 46 A.D. to the late 50s A.D., are documented in the Acts of the Apostles. Paul undertook at least three major missionary journeys, followed by his journey to Rome.

First Missionary Journey (Approximately 46-49 AD) 

Paul, along with Barnabas and John Mark, embarked on his first missionary journey from Antioch, Syria (Acts 13:1-3). They sailed to Cyprus, where they preached in synagogues across the island, including Salamis and Paphos (Acts 13:4-12). From Cyprus, they travelled to the southern region of Asia Minor, landing in Perga of Pamphylia, where John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).

Continuing their mission, Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:14-52), Iconium (Acts 14:1-5), Lystra (Acts 14:6-20), and Derbe (Acts 14:20-21), facing both conversions and persecution. They then retraced their steps, strengthening the new Christian communities, before returning to Antioch in Syria, reporting the opening of the faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:26-28).

Second Missionary Journey (Approximately 49-52 AD)

Paul's second journey began after a disagreement with Barnabas over John Mark's participation, leading Paul to choose Silas as his companion. Departing from Antioch, they revisited the churches in Asia Minor, including Lystra, where Timothy joined them (Acts 16:1-5).

Directed by a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading for help, they traveled to Europe, landing in Philippi, where Lydia, a purple cloth dealer, converted, marking the first recorded conversion in Europe (Acts 16:9-15). After a brief imprisonment in Philippi, they visited Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9), Berea (Acts 17:10-14), Athens (Acts 17:15-34), and Corinth, where Paul stayed for 18 months (Acts 18:1-11). Paul then returned to Antioch via Ephesus, Caesarea, and Jerusalem (Acts 18:18-22).

(d)    Third Missionary Journey (Approximately 53-57 AD)

Paul's third journey began with a return to the regions of Galatia and Phrygia (Acts 18:23). He spent significant time in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-41), where he faced both success and riotous opposition. Afterward, he traveled through Macedonia and Greece, staying in Corinth for three months (Acts 20:1-3).

On his return trip, Paul visited Troas, where Eutychus was miraculously revived (Acts 20:6-12), and made stops in Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, and Miletus. In Miletus, he met with the elders of the Ephesian church, giving a farewell speech (Acts 20:17-38). Paul's journey concluded with a return to Jerusalem, where he was arrested, leading to his eventual transport to Rome (Acts 21-28).

Journey to Rome (Approximately 60-62 AD)

After his arrest in Jerusalem and subsequent trials in Caesarea, Paul invoked his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to Caesar. This led to his final recorded journey, a perilous voyage to Rome (Acts 27-28). Despite shipwreck on the island of Malta (Acts 27:27-44) and a snake bite (Acts 28:3-6), Paul arrived in Rome, where he was placed under house arrest. During this time, he continued to preach about the Kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 28:30-31).

Paul's missionary journeys were characterized by his unwavering commitment to spreading the gospel, establishing churches, and nurturing the early Christian communities amidst challenges and persecution. His travels significantly contributed to the foundational spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence (Acts 1:1-5).

In the narrative of early Christian history, the promise of the Holy Spirit to the apostles stands as a pivotal moment that bridges the ministry of Jesus Christ with the burgeoning movement that would become the Church. This narrative, steeped in the anticipation of divine empowerment, unfolds in the aftermath of Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, a series of events meticulously documented in the canonical texts of the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.

The Promise Foretold

The promise of the Holy Spirit was not an abrupt revelation but rather a fulfillment of Jesus’ teachings during his earthly ministry. The Gospel of John, for instance, offers an intimate portrayal of Jesus preparing his disciples for his departure. In John 14:16-17, Jesus assures them, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (KJV).  This Advocate, the Holy Spirit, was promised to teach the disciples all things and remind them of everything Jesus had said to them (John 14:26).

The Ascension and the Command to Wait

The narrative progresses to the moments captured in the opening chapter of Acts, were Luke, the author, recounts Jesus' final instructions to his apostles. After his resurrection, Jesus presented himself to them and "To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs" (Acts 1:3, KJV). Over forty days, he spoke about the kingdom of God, preparing them for the transition from his physical presence to his spiritual legacy.

It was during this period that Jesus commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the gift the Father had promised, which he had previously discussed with them: "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence"  (Acts 1:4-5, KJV). This instruction to wait in Jerusalem was not merely for a temporal gift but for the empowerment that would enable them to begin their mission to be witnesses "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The Fulfilment at Pentecost

The story reaches a crescendo with the fulfilment of this promise at Pentecost, a festival occurring fifty days after Passover, celebrated in Jerusalem. Acts 2 vividly describes how the apostles, gathered together, experienced the dramatic arrival of the Holy Spirit. They heard what sounded like a violent wind, saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them, and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:2-4).

This event marked the birth of the Church, as Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, stood and addressed the bewildered crowd, citing the prophet Joel to explain the phenomenon: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams" (Acts 2:17, KJV). The promise of the Holy Spirit, thus fulfilled, empowered the apostles to preach the Gospel with boldness, perform miracles, and lay the foundation for the Christian faith.

Sources and Reflections

The narrative of the promise and arrival of the Holy Spirit, as recounted in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospel of John and the Acts of the Apostles, provides not only a theological cornerstone for Christianity but also a dynamic account of the transition from Jesus’ earthly ministry to the establishment of the Church through the empowerment of the apostles. This story, transcending its historical and religious context, speaks to themes of promise, anticipation, and fulfilment, reflecting the enduring human quest for divine connection and purpose.

Ascension

"When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also