The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 12

his willingness to give another chance to a young man, his reluctance to exclude from noblo service a man who had made one mistake, Each was animated by a commend- able spirit, though each may have gone too far in his own course. Often when we unsparingly condemn, it would be well to remind ourselves and others that the faults of good men are usually but the shadow of their virtues. IV. THAT GOD JUDGF.S THE GOOD BY THEIR ABIDING SPIRIT, AJID NOT BY THEIR oooASI0NAL DIBP0SITI0NS: so also should we. 'l'hese two men were not the less servants uf God, ambassadors of Jesus Christ,. because. they _w_ere be_t~ayed into temporary ill humour. God appraised them by their essential, abiding spmt of love and devotion ; he forgave their passing ebullition. In the same way we must take care to estimate men not by an occasional outburst which is not really characteristic and is no true crit;rion, but by the "spirit of their mind "-that which really shapes and colours their life and character. V, THAT THIS FAULT OF THE APOSTLES HAD, AS BE0AME THE MEN, A CHRISTIAN ENDING. Paul afterwards wrote kindly of Barnabas, and actually sent for Mark, declarina that be was" profitable for [the] ministry" (2 Tim. iv. 11). The sun should not go d°own upon our wrath. If any man bas a quarrel against any, he is to "forbear and to forgive" (Col. iii. 13).-C. Vers. 1-5.-The Judaizers at .Antioch. There must needs be heresies, that is, divisions and separations of opinion, in order that that which is approved may be made manifest. In conflicts of this kind, the chaff of falsehood is sifted from the genuine wheat of truth. I. THE POSITION OF THE JUDAlZERS. 1. It was a reactionary position. It aimed at the re-E:stablishment of circumcision as the condition of salvation. This ,,as going back from the "spirit" to the "flesh," from the principle of an internal to that of an external religion. It was substituting works for faith, doing for being, as the condition of salvation. 2. It was a revolutionary position. Such a claim convulses the very heart of the Christian Church. Wherever it has come up, a deep mark has been left in history. This was essentially the conflict of Isaiah and other prophets against the ceremonialists of the day. 'l'he question came up again at the Reformation. Law or gospel-Moses or Christ? Behind this quest.ion lies a worid. Is religion stationary and stagnant or ideal, Divine, and possessed of the power of an e;;::pansi'Ce and endless life? II. THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF THE RAISING OF THE QUESTION. 1. Private dissension. Alas I often is it so. The loving missionary comrades, Paul and Barnabas, are disunited. But we must remember, "Though Plato is my friend, truth is my friend still more." Paul felt that evangelical freedom was threatened (Gal. ii. 4). And the gospel was dearer to him than life. Truth must not be compromised in the supposed interests of friendship. Indeed, the supposition is illusory. For if it be "a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of each other," tbis cannot be at the expense of truth. 2. Public discussion. The difference between Paul and Barnabas could not be ignored. The topic must have been on the tongue of every one. See how good comes out of controversy as well as evil. Private pain is often the condition of public blessing. A cloud comes between two minds, but the truth shines presently the more brightly forth. Ill. THE AOTI0N OF THE C1rnRCH, They resolved to despatch Paul and Barnabas to consult the apostles u.ud elders at Jerusalem. Note the appropr,:ateness of this decision. 1. As to the men sent-Paul representing the Gentiles and the missionary work, Barnabas the Church at Antioch. Besides, from Gal. ii. 1, et sqq., we see that St. Paul had a special inward direction to proceed thither. 2. The destination. Jerusalem, the mother city and the mother Church, and the seat of apostolic authority. Yet Antioch was probably not second to Jerusalem in numbers and influence. \Vithout debating questions of Church government, the lesson may be drawn that no particular community should act for itself in important questions without consulting the general sense of the Christian Church. IV. 'l'IIE JOURNEY AND ARRIVAL AT JERUSALEM. 1. They had a. conduct from the Churc~ of .Antioch a.s they set forth-an expression of confidence in the men, and of deep mterest in the result. Said the electoral Prince of Brandenburg to his Anvoy,  14 TID.: ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [ea, xv.1-41,