The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 125

II. Tm!l BUCOEBB Ol" CIIBIBTIAl!f TRUTH, NOTWITHSTANDING. By the confession of Demetrius:" 'fhis Paul bath porsuaded an~ turned a.way much people," etc. (ver. 26). Thero may have been a note of exaggeration in his speech, but it is a. sig:::ificant fact that those "shrines" were in much smaller request in consequence of Paul's preaching.. Tr~t~ will tell, _s?oner or later: A;gains~ all prejudices, material intere,ts, sucui.l habits, cml laws, m1htary forces, 1t will ult1mately prevail. lm11erccptibly at first, but in growing numbers and accelerating force, it wins its way until it is accepted, honoured, crowned. III. 'l'HE SUBTLETY OF BIN. When the silversmiths of Ephesus find their craft in danger, they sa.y so, plainly enough, while they confer together; but when they face the populace, they disguise their selfishness under the cloak of piety, and cry, "Great is Diaaa of the Ephesians" (v~r. 29). Sin sometimes fights without any mask at all ; it shows itself in its native h1deousness,-the raak, foul, sel6sh, shameful thing it is. But usually it seeks to conceal its ugliness by draping itself in something which is elegant and becoming. It affects piety, beaevolence, patriotism; it is concerned for the comfort, the temporal necessities, or even the spiritual well-being of the world. God strikes through such miserable pretences with his penetrating eye, and it is often open to our human intelligence to recognize the hateful features beneath the graceful folds. IV. THE WEAPONS OF D1vnrn WISDOM. These are three, as suggested here. 1. Prudence. 'l'his is least in virtue and value; but it is not unimportant. The town- clerk of Ephesus is a. model of the politic in behaviour and address (vers. 35-41); what he employed so admirably irl the discharge of his secular duty, we may use advantageously in the fulfilment of our high mission. The disciples of Ephesus showed a wise prudence in not suffering Paul to enter the theatre; humanly speak- ing, they saved his life (ver. 30). He himself prudently left the city after this great disturbance. We may he and should be politic and prudent when our caution is not cowardice nor faithlessaess (John xvi. 8). 2. Courage. Paul was ready to go into the midst of the excited, violent, murderous multitude (ver. 30). The same unialtering courage carried him over perilous seas, into dangerous countries, among hostile peoples,- everywhere, if only he saw the Master's pointing fiager or h<,ard the cry of spiritual distress. 3. Faithfulness. It was the preachiag of the cross, the telling of the old, old story of redeeming love, whatever the Jew might demand or the Gentile crave, which wa$ the source and secret of the apostle's power,--0. Vers. 1-7.-Paul and the Baptist's disciples. I. LESSONS FBOlll PAUL IN THIS RELATION, His care for souls is comprehensive, zealous, and wise. 1. "Have ye received the Holy Ghost?" Is your religion genuine? Is it profound? Is it a living consciousness of God within the soul? Or a dependence on forms, on creeds, on ideas merely? How many trained and taught as Christians must answer, "We know not yet the Holy Spirit" I the new birth, the love, "the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Ahba, Father" 1 2. "In whom were ye then baptized?" A question also for us. What means the name "Christian" that you bear? Is the devil and all his works daily renounced? Baptism reminds us of God the Father, and of childhood to him; of God the Son, and of redemption through his blood; of God the Holy Spirit, 11.nd of the temple we ought spiritually to ba. Let us ask ourselves the questions Paul asked of the disciples of the Baptist, II. LEBBONB FROllll THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN THE BAPrIST. 1. They are typical, as we have seen, of many among us; and thostl who resemble them among us should be treated in like manner. There are those who stand upon a lower step of faith. They know that the gospel requires them to give up sin; perhaps not yet that it calls them to the perfect trust and the lov"l that casts out fear. They confess themselves ignorant if questioned of this" higher life." 2. The testing question. A living faith, a life in conformity with the baptismal profession, a sanctified speech and life, give the only sa.tisfactory answer. 8. The unity of all disciples under one Master. "One is your Master, and all ye are brethren." Human teachers impart tlleir words, Christ his Spirit. Human teaohers lay the foundation, give the elements ; he leads on to perfec- tion, guides to the g011l. Many are the schools of philosophy, one is the Church of Jesus Cbrist.-J,  l'.'8 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [on. :ux. 1-41.