The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 137

conclusion, the teaching of our Lord about the foolishness of the tnan who would tako up a Christian profession, and does not "sit down first and count the cost."-R. T. Ver. 20.-The prevailing power of the Word. "So mightily grew the Word of the Lord and prevniled." Compare other Scripture figures; e.g. "His Word runneth very swiftly" (Ps. cxhii. 15). "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified" (2 Thess. iii. 1). . ~- Tm: GROWING POWER OF Gon's WORD•• Reference is to the gospel message-the tidmgs brought to men concerning Jesus Christ; the message bronght by Jesus Christ, the message centering in, and gathering round, Jesus Christ. Put into all kinds of moulds and shapes and forms of language, the "Word of the LorJ" is this: The heavenly Father has himself overcome the hindrances and sepnrating difficulties dividing him from his chilJ.ren. He is become a reconciling God, and in Jesus Christ his Son he is willing to pardon; he is waiting to welcome back home every returning, repenting, believing child. The apostle thinks of this gospel messao-e as a " living thing," and so he speaks of its " growing." Wherever there is life th~re is ,?:rowth. If there be life in the seed, there will be growth of blade, breaking the soil and shooting up into the light. If growth ever ceases in our bodies, death ensues'. And so, if there be life in God's gospel, it will have the power of widening, spreadinn-, and enlarging its influence. The sign of growth noticed in connection with the text is the power which Christian truth increasingly gained over the feelings and the conduct of the Ephesian disciples, leading them to a most impressive public act of self-denial. Show that the growth takes two forms. (1) Inward growth; the gospel as the soul's new life, gaining an ever-increasing self-mastery. (2) Outward growth; ths gospel as a testimony, winning more and more adherents as it is proclaimed more fully and widely. And impress (3) that these two modes of growth are mutually related and mutually helpful Culture of inward spiritual life always should bear its fruit in <"dnrged Christian activity; and greater energy put into Christian work should always be felt to make greater demands on Christian life and feeling, Illustrate this twofold growth from the history of the early Church. IL THE PREVAILING POWER OF THE WoBD. This sets before us two points. 1. Since there is life in the Word, and that life is seen in growth, it will be sure to meet with opposition. If the apostles would only have ceased to witness for Christ, they would have suffered no persecution. If any of us will let the life in Christ fade down and die within us, the world will cease to present any opposition. The dead in trespasses and sins have no difficulties; but "they that will live godly must suffer persecution." It is a simple condition of growth, that it involves resistance; it pushes its way against opposition. And, in the case of earnest piety, this opposition becomes more than resistance-it is enmity and wilful endeavour. 2. Since there is life in the 1,ord, we may be sure that it will overcome the opposition; or, as the text says, it will " prevail "-gain the mastery. This may be illustrated from martyr-times, when Christianity has seemed to be crushed, but the life has proved stronger than all out- ward resistances. See especially, in recent years, the result of persecutions in Mada- gascar. Illustrate aL.o from missionary spheres, in which various kinds of hindrances are presented, yet the life in the Word gains gradual mastery, Illustrate by St. Paul's sublime triumphs over all forms of opposition met with in his missionary work. And show bow the prevailing power of the Word is found in individual experience; in the gradual mastery of personal habits; and in our external relations and circumstances. Im press that faith in the "growth " and "prevailing power" of Christianity needs to be kept alive in the Church and in all our hearts; and that such a faith would prove an abiding inspiration to holier living and to nobler labouring.-R. T. Vers. 24-29.-Seif-interest opposing <Jhristianity. The introduction shouldconcem the temple, statue, and worship of the goddess Diana; the reputation in which this goddess was held; the numbers of persons who visited her 11hrine; the various oppor- tunities afforded by this fact for making money; and the fears which were created by the act of self-sacrifice in burning the magical books. "'l'hc shrines were miniature models of the tewple, containing a representation of the statue of the goddess," and d,ey were chiefly made for the visitors to take away !IS memorials of their visit.  orr. XIX. 1-41.] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 111