The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 130

is here that it le found. And when we look a moment beneath the surface we discover ample justification for the epithet applied to these miracles. Let us observe- I. IN WHAT TIIE SPECIALTY OJI' THESE MIRACLES OONSI8TS. We are taucrht the answer in one verse. 1. They are wrought without the laying on of the hande of Paul, without his presence, without his voice, without (so far as appears) even any knowledge on his part of the persons or the needs of the persons who received healin". These four cir- cumstancee do incontestably entitle them to the description of "speiuu;" the nearest approach to them being miracles of the kind that were wrought when one touched "the hem of the garment" of Jesus. But Jesus did then perceive and know that" virtue was gone out of him." 2. They are wrought with intervening signs of most unusual kind; the connecting visible links being handkerchiefs and aprons that have been in some contact with the body of the apostle, and are now carried to the sick and possessed by any one-presumably any one of their friends. The nearest approach to anythinii so "special" as this may, perhaps, be considered to occur in the conduct of those who brought their sick on their couches into the streets, that haply the mere "shadow of Peter might overshadow some of them" (eh. v. 15). But in these cases there was fa, nearer and closer connection between the miracles wrought (if such were wrought) and Peter than the connection of handkerchiefs fitfully carried by any one. II. THE OBJECTS OF THIS BPEOULTY OF MIRACLE. 1. To arrest a lively attention. 2, 'l'o suggest really far deeper thoughtfulness in all those who had thought to think. 3. To spread far and wide blessiugs themselves, each one of which had a hundred tongues to speak the praise of some one. 4. To attract attention to the miracle itself and the blessing wrapt in it and to the real Worker of it, rather than to suffer atten- tion to be distracted by an apparently too close relation of the miracle to Paul per- sonally. It is true that many in their blindness might still think and speak of all the wonderfulness of Paul, and even of the body of Paul But yet others would be helped to see (what with time all the world would be sure to see) that it was no more due to Paul than to the handkerchief, that the miracle was wrought, but all due to God, and all to his praise and glory. Ill. THE MORE GENERAL A.ND PERMANENT LESSONS OJI' THIS SPECIALTY OJI' MIRACLE. For the "special miracle" helps to reveal only the more definitely and distinctly the meaning of any miracle. 1. It is for the attainment of a great moral end; to givll sufficient and just ground, for instance, to believe, to trust, and to act the things which, without it, might be only believed and trusted by credulity, or not at all. 2. It is to attain this moral end, without overriding the exercise of men's own reason and heart and conscience. The just suggestions of a miracle, forcible as they ought to prove, are still only moral helps and guides. 3. The miracle is so far forth for darker days ancl for the more backward stages of humanity. The foundation work for much to be built upon as time should travel on; the time fittest for the miracle is the earlier time, the more childish time of the world. Then the besetting sna,re of the m-iracle would, at all events, count for less harm, and the moral good of it would be enshrined a "possession for ever." 4. 'l'he miracle is useless if permanent. Evidently the day of miracle wa,, drawing near its end when Pater's shadow was waited for. But very near indeed to its end was it when even Scripture says, "God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul." If their end had not been now near, one of two things must have followed. Either they must have taken their place as grateful resources for the healing of the diseased and the dispossessing of the possessed, or, in order to keep their moral virt.ue and effect, they must have been becoming in long vista yet more and more "special."-B. Vers. 13-17.-The prompt exposure and punishment of human iniquity by an wil spirit. Of the character of these exorcists there can be no doubt. Their deceiving and iniquitous profession was one for gain, and gain only was in their hearts. With less hesitation even than Simon Magus (eh. viii. 18, 19), they propose to themselves to take their chance at least in using and abusing the "glorious and fearful Name." And they suffer for their blasphemous and profane attempt. Notice- l. 'l'HE PRE~UMPTION INVOLVED. 1. They dare to try the use of the name of Jesus without any authority, No doubt Paul was cognizo.nt of the aprons and handkerchief, taken from his body, and willingly nuthol'ized the proceeding. Nothing analogous, how-  THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [cu. ux. 1--4.1,