The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 129

Vere. 21, 22.-Tlie purpose of a .fJreat heart. I. An exa.mple of INTENSE DEVOTED- NESS, 1. Ca.re of the Ohurches. Ba.d news from Corinth. Apostolic supervision required. Help for the poor saints at Jerusa.lem. 2. Love of souls. 'l'he message must be preached everywhere, even at Rome. 3. Self-sacrifice. 'fhe labours a.t EphesWI grea.t. TLo woa.kness of the apostle a constaut temptation to lessen his toil. The prospect both at Jerusalem and at Rome ono of <111.rk suffering, persecution, and probable death. Il. THE PUilPOSE OF GOD BLENDING WITH THE PURPOSE OF MAN. 1. No self-assertion, but simply absorbing desire to be employed for God. 2. Although the course of event8 unforeseen, yet the issue worked out gave the apostle "the desire of his heart." 3. 'l'he separation from Ephesus, which might have been :painful and injurious to the Church there, prepared for by the occurrences in the city. It was necessary that Paul Bhould go for his own personal safety. The disciples willingly parted with him.-R. Vers. 23-41.-.A popular riot. A glimpse into the darkness of the heathen world. Passions pent up let loose. The deep foundation of heathen superstition in the selfist,, immoral practices of those who ministered to it. The widespreading effects of trnc religion in revolutionizing the habits and customs. Society must be reformed by tlw action of spiritual ]Jrinciples from within, not by merely external changes. Ignorance is the mother of disorder. The conflicts of the world are the result of line :mtagonism of good and evil. All wars proceed from religious roots. The trne and abiding peace is the fruit of no other tree than that which God has planted. Notice- I. ALL FALSE RELIGION RESORTS TO VIOLENCE TO PROTECT ITSELF. Idolatry was afraid of the truth. The corrupt Church has condemned itself by the use of such methods. A.11 departure from tho peaceful spirit of Christ has wrought evil results. !I. A.LL BUSINESS WHICH PROFITS BY THE IGNORANCE, SUPERSTITION, AND EVIL PASSIONS OF MEN IS INCO:SSISTENT WITH THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIA::S'ITY. The immoral traffic by which men satisfy their !(reed of wealth cannot be too strenuously denounced. True religion remodels society in all respects. The working men should be taught that Christianity is their best friend; not any form of it, but the pure gospel. III. EVEN IN THE HEATHEN WORLD Gon HAD WITNESSES TO HUISELF. In RO'flll1,n law and discipline; in common sense; in that natural rel-igion, which doubtless prompted the more cultivated men of the time to doubt the extravagances of idolatry; in tl!::, moral instincts of conscience, which could appreciate the law-abiding and peaceful efforts of the new teachers and protect them from mob violence. IY. Comparing this scene and its revelations with the Epistle to the Ephesians, we learn how the TRUTHS OF CHRIST WERE ADAI'TED TO LIFT UP MIND, HEART, AND LIFE in the heathen world, substituting a better worship, a purer theology, a. more stable society, a grander future, for all that then held mankind in bondage. "Silver shrines to Artemis" being abolished, the handicraft of men is turned to build up the earthly state, that it may bless those who live in it and the God to whose Name it is consecrated. V. Face to face with the disorderly violence of the ignorant and misguided, the rule of all Christian enterprise is to withdraw as much as possible from contention; not to meet violence with violence, but to trust implicitly to THE ABSOLUTE SUPERIORITY OF MORAL OVER PHYSIOAL FORCE. "Force is no remedy." Let the potsherd strive with the potsherd. Religion should regulate politics and social life by indirect means. As far as opportunity permits, the regulation of earthly matters should be left in the hands of the secular powers. Let the town-clerk dismiss the assembly. Let not Paul mix. himself up in the strife. "Cast not your pearls before swine." Jesus did not strive, nor cry, nor make his voice heard in the streets.-R. Vers. 2-7.-Baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus,and its sequel. The exceeding economy of Scripture will prevent our supposing that these verses lie on the page of Scripture for no end, aud will equally prevent our supposing they are present for no distinct and important end. Startiug from quite the opposite creed, we are led to notice- !. TH.AT THE STRESS OF THE PASSAGE BELONGS, NOT TO THE SUBJECT OJ.I' BAPTISM, Bu·r TO THE BUDJEOT OF THE HOLY SPmIT. The point of departure of Paul. is from the question," Did ye receive the Holy Ghost when ye believed?" His first inquiry ill noj rnspccting the baptis~ of thos~ whom he ww,i addressing.  THE ACTS OF 'l'HE APOSTLES. [OH, XIX, 1-41. ~------------------------------- TI. THAT THE DISPENSATION OF CHRISTIANITY TA TO DE EMPHATIOALLY APPRAISED AB 'l'HE DISPENSATION OF THE HoLY SPIRIT. Too little stress is ever laid upon this gre.nd fact. Too much stress cannot possibly be laid upon it. And whatever the causes of the former of these things, it may be said that the apostle, from the very first, did what in him lay to 1irovide against a defect so disastr.:rns in its certain tendency and work. 111. THAT BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF THE Lonn JESUS, WHATEVER REFERENOE IT MAY OBVIOUSLY AND FOR OBVIOUS REASONS CARRY TO HIM, IS EQUIVALENT TO THE SIGN '•I' AD]l[JSSION TO ALL THE PRIVILEGES OF THE SrmIT, AND TO IMPLICIT BUDMISSION ON TIIE PART OF THOSE OF MATURE YEARS TO THE FOLL RULE OF THI!: SPIRIT. IV. THAT TO Th'VEST THIS FACT WITH TllE GREATEST POSSIBLE PLAINlIESS AND EMPHA~IS, EVEN THE SPECIAL GIFTS OF THE liOLY SPIRIT IN APOSTOLIC TIMES WERE lJESTOWED AS THE SEQUEL OF BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF TUB LoRD JEsus.-B. Vera. 9, 10.-The shelter awhil,e of young converts. We must be conscious, in reading this passage, of something approaching a new point of departure on the part of PanL He was not the man hitherto to shrink from either the ma.lice of the synagogue or the uproar of the market-hall. But there were reasons why, with so long a stay at Ephesus, the company of the disciples should be" separated," and some foreshadowing he now given, under the continued supervision of Paul, of what should come to be the form of an individual Christian Church. And we have here the nucleus of this. We are reminded of the Church of Christ, as existing in any individual place, that it should lie answerable to find- I. A HOME OF SOME SAFETY FOB DISCIPLE& Such a home should be able to show : 1. Shelter from the" hardened" world; the world that does not believe, and resolutely will not believe; the world that, being thus disposed as to itself, is also manifestly dis- posed to disturb the belief and peace of those who do believe, seeking to enter in to ravage" the flock" (eh. xx. 29). This it was abundantly easy to do in the synagoguo by every kind of dishonest quibble and disputatious debate. It should not be by any means so possible within the fold of the Church. 2. Teaching of the truth. The truth should be certain of being obtained here, and the teacher should be competent. He will reach, not by force of authority, but by persuasion of the truth. He will be listened to and esteemed because he shall prove his word, and prove it to be a word of power. 3. Sympathizing companionship. It is needed (1) for prayer and the exercises of religion ; (2) for daily social life; (3) for the stimulating of religious purpose and work. 11 AN OPEN DOOR OF ENTRANCE A~'D A WELCOME FOR THE WORLD. 1. Nothing more dishonours the place of the Church of Christ, or disowns all that is most characteristic of his Spirit, than e.a:dusivenen. 2. The door of entrance is to be large enough to admit not only the honest seekers, not only those who already show the signs of penitence, not only those by nature humble and meek, but all who will enter-the worst, the most unpromising. 'l'hese cannot, indeed, enter into the Church itself of Christ; but even to them welcome may be given to the place of the Church, that "haply they may be bom" again therein. If, indeed, they enter and stay to show themselves the disturbers of disciples and the resolutely" hardened," we have here our authority how to proceed. But otherwise let them be free to enter within the walls of Zion. Let them there hear the Word and, if needs be, debate it. Let them be free to hear the prayers and join the song11 of disciples; for "much people" for Christ may be amongst them. This is at least one of the ways by which the world is to be gained for Christ. It does not, indeed, exempt the Church from missionary and "aggressive" work-work which pro- bably, in the more settled ecclesiastical state of our own country, has been lamentably overlooked. But it appears that it was the method by which, during "the space of two y~ars, all they which dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." When the world's turbulent streams dash by that river, full and deep and peaceful, of the city of God, the very contrast will arrest attontion and arouse reflection in not a few.-B. Vers.11, 12.-" Special mirocla.• Under ordinary circumstances this desciiption of the miracles wrought by God by the hands of Paul might be liable to the supposition of being mere surplusage of words, a miracle in itself being a thing sufficiently" special." 'J'h" 11Upposition, however, cannot attach to the description as found here, just because, it tJlI, XIX, 1-41,] THE AC'l'S OF THE APOSTLES.