The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 51

their Old Testitment I\Ssociations. The Spirit of God in the prophets mnst have been to them the model nnd the foreshadowing of their larger gift. And this must hnve heen their chief thnught. All Christ's p,1nple are prophets; the Spirit of God dwells in them nll, anrl is the Inspiration of nil they say and the Gnide of 111\ they do. 'l'heir ii!0a of the old pmpbets is well expressed by :St. Peter (1 Pet. i. 21), " lloly men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost;" and his words precisely convey the idea which is to be entertained concerning the apostles and first missionaries. In t.he passage before ue the Holy Ghost as the actual present Guide of the apostles, direct.ing them where they may go and where they may not go, is presented to us, Lives that are truly and fully consecrated to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ are taken out of men's own control and committed to the charge of the Holy Spirit; and those who realize mch a full consecration find no practical difficulty in following the Di\•ine lead. Reviewing the incidents narrated in these verses, it will be seen that St. Paul expected no external revelations and no miraculous guidances. In whatever way be realized the presence and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it was a way in which we may realize it too; and we may set forth two of the ways which are common features of Divine leading in all generations. I. THE HoLY GHOST LEADS BY D!>""WARD IMPULSES. Men's actions are decided upon more subtle motives and considerations than they usually imagine. Perhaps it would be found that very few of them depended upon decisions of the intellect. Some result from careful jndgment; some from self-will or passion ; some from emotion ; and into many men are led by the passing influences of the hour. Men are acted upon by many influences, which reach the mind, the heart, or the v,,ill, But the supreme inward influence is that of the Divine Spirit. He has access to every part of our inward being. He can (1) suggest thought for consideration; (2) direct the judgment to wise deci- sion.s; (3) move the will to fitting resolves; (4) tone the feelings to right harmonies; (5) and preside over the plans which are formed. It is by missing this relation of the Holy Ghost to the very springs of action within us, that men-Christian men-so often doubtinaly ask, "But how can we know that we are doing what God would have us do?" Openness to God's inward lead is surely followed by God's response in an inward leading; and when we are set right towards God we may feel sure that the decisions of our jud~ment and the resolves of our will are divinely controlled and ordered. St. Paul followed the inward feeling that he must not go into Mysia, etc. lL THE HOLY GHOST LEADS THROUGH PROVIDENTIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. These will always be found to match the inward leadings, and they help to give us assurance that we are following in the way that we should go. Nothing is more surprising in our lives than the opening of providential doors. 1f we will but (1) wait, (2) watch, and (3) pray, the path will surely clear before us, and the Divine finger point us, and the Divine voice in circumstances say," 'l'his is the way, walk ye in it." ·we may, on this matter, fe.11 into errors which may seriously depress us. 1. We may mistake providences for accidents, and so fail to see God in them. 2, We may cherish the unbelieving notion that God does not work by things. 3. We may take up notions of natural, law which deprive us of faith in God's living working. 4 . .And we may fail to wait for God's providential openings, and try to force our own way; so grieving that Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us.-R. T, Ver. 14.-71.e opened lieart. "Whose heart the Lord opened." Describe the joy that St. Paul must have felt in this first sign of the Divine blessing attending hie labours in a new sphere, If God was with him, opening the hearts of the people, then his labour could not be in vain. Review the circumstances under which the apostle l1ad been brouuht to Philippi-the night vision at Macedonia, etc. Explain that. Philippi wa.s th; first city, regarded geographically, not politicall~'• Show the distinction between a syuagorue and a proseu,cha. Commend St. Pauls sabbath habits; and describe the scene ~t the river's side. It is interesting to note that the first Christian convert made in Europe was a woman, and a most important part of the work of Christianity in Europe has been the elevation of woman. Fixing attention on the Eentence taken for a text, we notice- ! . THE BRING1:i.o oF A SOUL TO CHRIST IS THB WORK OF THE SrmrT. The Lord, tuc S11irit, is the OpeQer of hearts. Such openivg is the neccss~ry beginning of ti,o CH. 1Vl. 1-'0.] 'l Ill~ AOTS OF TllE APOSTLES.