The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 123

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-7.-EssentiaJ but insujficient; 11aluable but temporary. We have here, in connection with the Christian faith and with Christian work- L THE EBSENTIAL BUT THE INSUFFICIENT. (Vers.1-6.) At Ephesus Paul met with disciples who had been baptized "unto John's baptism" (ver. 3), but who had not learnt to exercise faith in Jesus Christ, nor even heard that there was a Holy Ghost (ver. 2). These men were well on the way to salvation by Jesus Christ, but they were far from the goal. Bepen.tance is essential, but it is n.ot sufficient of itself. 1. It is essential; for without it the heart remains estranged from God, the soul unturned from self and sin, the life unrelieved of that which is false and wrong; and without it there is no sense of that spiritual need which welcomes a Divine Saviour with humility and trust, which rejoices in a Divine Lord to whom full submission may be made. The Christian. preacher who does not enforce repentance is fatally lacking in his duty; the Christian disciple who has n.ot experienced it is fatally short of fulfilling the condition of accept- ance with God. 2. It is not sufficient; for (1) it leaves the soul without any pledge of Divine forgiveness; (2) it leaves the heart without that personal union with a Divine Redeemer in which consists the very essence of spiritual and eternal life; (3) it leaves the spirit of man without the abiding indwelling and quickening influence of the Spirit of God. Therefore let the Christian teacher make much of the distinctive doctrine of the faith he preaches, and continually testify not only "repentance towards God," but" faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (eh. xx. 21). IL THE VALU.A.BLE BUT THE TEMPOBABY. (Ver. 6.) "When Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them ; and they spake with tongues,'' etc. It was desirable, then, that the presence and power of the Divine Spirit should be manifested by " signs and wonders." It was, at that stage of the progress of the gospel, a very valuable contribution to its trilllllph; it gave assurance to those on whom he came, anc. evidence to those who" were without." Experiencv soon proved (e.g. the Corin- thian Church) that this order of evidence and influence was open to abuse, and that it was not of the kind that could be permanent in the Church. 1. We can plamly see that in these day~ it would be practically useless : it would be, to ordinary observers, i.n.distinguishable from the jugglery and affectations of the impost:>r, 2, God has OH, XIX, 1-41,) THE A( rrs OF THE APOSTLES. 125