The Hand
S. Jenner, M. A. Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord. The word "hand" occurs in Scripture no fewer than 1,295 times. Man is the only being on earth that is furnished with two hands. Some other creatures have claws, but not hands. They cannot do as you can, make the thumb meet all the four fingers, so as to seize and hold all the most minute objects; nor can they perform one thousandth part of the skilful acts that man can perform with his hand. What other creature, e.g., can make a watch, or a needle? And there is power in man's hand as well as skill; he can apply force in ways which none of them can approach. I. IN RELATIONS TO GOD HIMSELF, the word "hand" is used — 1. To denote His eternal purpose and almighty power (Acts 4:28, 30). 2. To denote His mighty power to keep, defend, preserve (John 10:28, 29; Isaiah 49:2). 3. To express His rich, providential provision for the wants of all His creatures (Psalm 104:28; 1 Chronicles 29:16). 4. To signify God's right to be, as He is, the sovereign disposer of all circumstances, persons, and events (Psalm 31:15; Job 2:10). 5. When His inflictions and corrections are referred to (Judges 2:15; Psalm 32:4; Hebrews 10:31). 6. To denote His power to help (Psalm 74:11; Ezra 7:6, 9; Ezra 8:18, 22; Nehemiah 2:8, 18; Psalm 80:17; Luke 1:66). As an expression for God's Spirit, putting the spirit of power into us, as well as of love and of a sound mind (Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 3:14, 22; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 37:1). We can be strong for any high and arduous duty only in His strength; all power indeed, all energy of purpose, all special skill in any art, cometh of Him. And not only is this spoken of as God's "hand" as the mover, but the term is applied to the agent — the doer of the particular thing. The men of the world are spoken of as God's "hand"; and His hand is also to be upon all them for good who seek Him. The "right hand," as specially denoting power, is an expression that often occurs in Scripture, and is almost always applied to God (Psalm 16:11; Psalm 17:7; Psalm 20:6; Psalm 21:8; Psalm 44:3; Psalm 45:4, 9; Psalm 48:10; Psalm 60:5; Psalm 63:8; Psalm 74:11; Isaiah 48:13; Isaiah 62:8; Mark 16:19; Hebrews 1:3, etc., etc.). II. IN RELATION TO MAN the word "hand" is used — 1. To denote power in all its various applications (Proverbs 3:27; Ecclesiastes 9:10). To "give one's hand" is an expression which signifies to pledge peace, promise security, swear friendship, make an alliance. 2. To denote help (Psalm 16:8; Psalm 73:23; Psalm 142:4). 3. To indicate possession, as to rend it out of the hand of anyone denotes deprivation (1 Kings 11:11, 12). 4. For the giving of advice (2 Samuel 14:19, 5). 5. For deliverance from the power and oppression of others (Exodus 18:9, 10). 6. To denote work of any kind (Luke 1:1; Luke 9:62; Acts 20:34; Proverbs 10:4; Proverbs 12:24). (S. Jenner, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. WEB: The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.