The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 148

doubtloss some of the most saintly sufferings have been endured unseen by mortal or, nnd no pen hae described the scene. 11 If singing breath or echoing chord 'fo every hidden pang wero gi vcn, What endless melodies ,vcro poured, As sad as eo.rth, as sweet as heaven!" Le~ it be enough that one ey~ sees ~nd,,one heart enters into our strug;;les and our sorrows, o.nd that "our record 1a on high. II. THE PRICELEBSNEBS 01" CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP. "After the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciple.~, and embraced them" (ver. 1). After the storm was over, it was an intense relief to pour out their agitated hearts in mutual sympathy, con- gratulation, devotion. We know (2 Cor. ii. 13) that Paul found no rest in his spirit because he found not Titus his brother at Troas, and accordingly went on to Ma.cerlonic. to seek him, and that he was greatly comforted by finding him there (2 Cor. vii. 6, 7 ). \Ve read of the friends who" accompanied him into Asia" (ver. 4), and thro11ghout """ feel how precious beyond all reckoning was the sympathy and succour which came tu tho wearied and buffeted apostle from true human hearts. Loyal Christian fellowshi!' is one of those beneficent gifts from God which we should count among our chicr' treasures, for which we should render heartiest thanksgiving; it is also one of those way,; in wh:ch we can render invaluable service to faithful men, and thus an appreciatcJ. service to Christ, the Lord, III. 'rHE PENALTY OF UNFLINCHING FAITHFULNESS. When Paul was about to return to Syria, he found the enmity of his countrymen ready to waylay him. "The Jews laid wait for him" (ver. 3). He could not but speak as Christ, by his Spirit, taught him; and his preaching became more clear and llistinct as to the non-necessity of the Law of Moses; his doctrine became less exclusive, more liberal, i.e. increasingly repugnam to the narrow-minded Jews; and the fierceness of their hostility found vent in plots against his life. Whoso will follow Christ in "bearing witness to the truth" must \Je ready to " take up his cross and follow him" along the path of the persecuted. To be quite true to our convictions, to be fearlessly faithful to the Lord who reveals to us his will, is to bear th<l penalty of the dislike, the hatred, the intri!!;ues of men. IV. THE OVERRULING '.PROVIDENCE OF GoD. His enemies schemed, but God thwarted their schemes; h<l "turned aside," and their murderous designs were defeated. Christ haJ. more work for him to do, and the uplifted hand of the enemy must be arrested. "'.l'hough destruction walk around UB, Though the arrows past us fly, Anl!:cl-guards from thee surround ne, We are safe, if thou art nigh." V. THE OVERFLOW OF SACRED ZEAL, Paul dosired to use his opportllllity at Troas, and " on the first day of the week " he preached, "ready to depart on the morrow " (vei·. 7). In the" multitude of his thoughts within him," or conscious that he was soon to leave and feeling that he might never return to them, disregarding the lateness of th'" hour nnd the cor:.dition of the chamber, he still preached on. He" continued his speech until midnight." 'l'hat whioh would be unwise as a rule is allowable as an e::.ception. If "anger bath a privilege," much more so has zeal. We admire the man whose fulness of soul makes him oblivious of all attendant circumstances. It is well to have a c:i.pacity for dovotcJness which will sometimes lift us far above the level of ordinary moods, ancl make us forget everything but our subject and our cause, or rather everything but tho truth of God nnd the cause and kingdom of Jesus Christ.-C. Vere. 17, 20, 27, 31, 33-35.-Paul at J,filetus: the revidw which gratifies. It has been truly said that our whole life is divisible into the past and the future. The present is a mere point which separates the two. And there is a certain time which must come, if it have not already arrived, when, instead of finding our s:i.tisfaction in lookiu~ forward to the earthly good which we nre to partake of, wo shall seek our comfort and ot::· J \J in looking back on the path we have trodden and the results wo have ,1chicvcd. Ill indeed will it be for those who will then have bo future for which to hop<', and no past  152 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [oa. :u. 1-88.