The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 156

twelve." L,·t ns assume that the number ie part of the ordering (see eh. uil. 20, 30). Aud recollect also the 11ignificnnce attached to twelve-as the complete number of the Church-in the Book of Revelation. Do not exaggerate, but do not underrate the significance of the numbers found in Scripture. The naturalist who would learn the dif- forence~, truths, nnd natures of t~ings m';'-st take into. account the curious parallels, th~ typical fonn~, the numbers :which h~ discovers running through genera and species. It 1s tbe pt•rcept1on of these mmute evidences of method, of purpose in details whioh is part of the scientific man's paradise. Aud it is \he same kin,i of perception the "searching r&pt.urous glanc.e" into the hidden truth of Scripture, which carries the de~out mind through the mere outer boundaries of the garden into tht:> enjoyment of its delicacies and delighta. Observe the statement as to the twelve. 1. The Lord chose them, "He called," it is said in St. Mark, "whom he would." This is the foundation of the apostolate for each and all. The choice Is In his own hands, determined, not by any plan or rule of mere prudential wisdom, but because of that which, the niabt before he had seen and heard of his Father, And to this same royalty all selection fo; spiritual office ie evermore the witness. The action of the Church, tbron~h its officers is only a supplementary or declarative action. The originating and efficient action i~ what we style the call of the Hdy Ghost-an inWBrd aptitude or anoiutina of Divine love and grace in the character eo manifest that we can read the seuten~e, "Called because the Lord has willed." 2. The Lord ordained. '!'his is expressly stated by St. Mark. It is included in St. Luke's" he named." Probably there was an outward act or symbol-that laying on of hands, which carried out well-known Hebrew associa- tions, and, for designation to office, has been appropriated by the Christian Church frum the earliest period of its history. Be this as it may, the ordination was also a disjunction; it was ihe final severance from the former calling; they were henceforth to give themselves wholly to the \Vord of God, the Master's meat their meat, the Master himself their all in all. Immediately before he suffered, Christ reminded the eleven of that transaction on the mountain-side, "I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit." Aud, again, on the Resurrection morning, the fuller truth of tho ordination symbol was realized when he said," As the Father sent me, so have I ecnt you," and having so said, he breathed on them, and added," Receive ye the Holy GhosL" 3. What were the functions of the twelve 1 Folluwing the guidance of St. Ua.rk, we reply: First, to be with Christ, bis associates, sharing his temptations, eye-witnesses of his glory and majesty, depositaries of his words and of his inmost coufidencea. Second, to preach, to go forth declarh,g him and his gospel and his kingdom.. Third, to exercise awong men his own power of healing sickness and oastin~ out devils. Keep hold of this sequence-this first, second, third. The first requirement is always life with Christ, communion with the personal Saviour: there is no real preaching, no real power, without that. A man must be taught before he can teach. And where and by whom shall ho be taught? The university i8 well. Never lllOre to be desired iha.n now is a body of Christian instructors learned as well as godly. Experience of men ie well: thence comes tact, the skill by which souls are ~ttracted and won for higher things. But there is a graduation better still-one which is necessary to spiritual force-graduatiun in the school of Christ; the learning of Christ. And this can be realized ouly through day-by-day fellowship with him, beholding his beauty, and inquiring in his temple. '!'hen the second demand is, preach him, speak out what he speaks in. And so also there is the third function, to work for him, to be in this world presences of healing and blessing, in Jesus' name "casting out devils, si-,eaking witL new tongues, taking up serpents, laying hands on the sick that they may recover." Thus were tLe twelve named apostles-the sont of the Lord . .And, having been named, they were made ready by Christ himself for the day when they should do greater works than any which they had witnessed, becaUBe he had gone to the Father, and shed forth the prumise of the Huly Ghost. A strange kingdum, illdeed! The King, that lowly Man seated on Olle of the horns of Mount Hattin, alld his princes and companions these poor, uncouth-looking, unlearned men I Never, it might be tho~ht, was such a burlesque of ruyalty seen. But that was, that is, the nwr.archy wboae sceptre shall streLch from pole to pole, that at the name of Jesus every knee may bow. lJ Ha c.01.x uowN WITH THE TWELVE, it io added, and stood on thA plain-~h& OD, VI. 1-40.] TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 1153