It is not the church (or the people of God) that determines which books are inspired by God and are thereby Scripture. The writings themselves are vested with the authority of God on the basis of divine inspiration. They are the Word of God because they were written under the Spirit’s inspiration. The people of God (the church for the New Testament, Israel for the Old Testament) merely recognize the authority present within those writings. Canonicity is based on the fact of inspiration, not the process or agency that did the collecting.
John MacArthur

Spurgeon PS1812

Spurgeon PS1812

EXPOSITION.

Suddenly the terrible artillery of heaven was discharged; the _brightness_ of lightning lit up the clouds as with a glory proceeding from him who was concealed within the cloudy pavilion; and volleys of hailstones and coals of fire were hurled forth upon the enemy. The lightnings seemed to cleave the clouds and kindle them into a blaze, and then hailstones and flakes of fire with flashes of terrific grandeur terrified the sons of men.

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS.

Verse 12.–“_Coals of fire_.” The word signifies, living, _burning coals_. Where the lightning fell, it devoured all before it, and burned whatever it touched into burning embers.–^Samuel Chandler.