The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 162

II, ST. PAUL WAS AS TRULY lll0VED TO 00 FORWARD TO BUFFERING AB HE HAD BEEN TO oo FORWARD TO W0RJC, Recall the previous scene at 'froas (eh. xvi.), when the man of Macorlonia called the apostle to begin missionary labours in Europe. He had no doubt then that he was following the Divine lead; 0.nd he had no more doubt now that he was called to Jerusalem to suffer. We might think that God gave him notice of coming troubles only to warn him ancl guard him against them; but we must under- stand that God may in this way test faithfulness. A plain path of duty may be before us, but we may come to know t!1at suffering lies that way ; then we are tested whether we will do the duty or shnnk back on account of the suffering. The apostle clearly knew hie duty, so matters of personal suffering could be no serious concern to him. Ill. RIB LOYALTY AND LOVE TO CHRIST MADE HIM WILLING TO BERTE HIM IN WHAT• BOEVER WAY HE WILLED. Service to Christ, under the inspiration of his love, was St. Paul's simple and sublime idea, "To him to live was Obrist." The place, or time, or way of service it was for his Master to settle; and what had to be borne in rendering the service he was willing to let his Master wholly arrange. He set before himself this aim that he "might finish his course with joy." "It is required of stewards that they be found faithful." Apply to some of the suffering lots now given to God's people. They are spheres of service for Christ, and they lose all their " hardness" when they can be thus regarded. IV. His CHEERFUL OBEDIENCE MADE TRIUMPH OVER ms AFFLICTIONS AN EABY TID~G. • So much depends on the spirit in which our lot in life is taken up. The apostle is a beautiful example of cheerfulness and hopefulness. He will not let circumstances crush him, or opposition and adversity overwhelm him. He will not lose heart or hope. He sings in his own soul the song with which he has cheered thousands of the saints through the long Christian ages. "All things work together for good to them that love God." So the trials cannot hurt him. He is more than conqueror. He even finds how to look upon a " hard lot" as an opportunity for rendering fuller and heartier witness for the Lord whom he serves.-R. T. Ver. 21.-God's whole counsel. St. Paul is stating a fact which (1) was to the honour of'the Ephesian elders, for they must have been receptive and willing hearers if the apostle found that he might even teach them the mysteries of the gospel; and which (2) waa to the honour of St. Paul as a teacher, who was so ski.Uul in dividing the \V ord of truth that he could make the very mysteries plain. Compare his language in Eph. iii. 4, where he speaks of their being "able to unJerstand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ," It is right to declare the whole counsel of God; but it is wise only to declare it to those who are prepared to receive it. Compare St. Pater's counsel and reference to St. Paul in 2 Pet. iii. 15, 16. The "whole counsel of God " may be regarded as including- !. 'l'HE COMPLETE CIROLE OF REVEALED TRUTH. This embraces (1) the Divine revela- tions made in different ages; (2) in different forms; (3) to different individuals. While the complete circle may be regarded as contained iu the Old and New Testament Scriptures, we may not absolutely limit Divine revelation to the written \Vord. 'l'he Spirit of God has full and free access to the minds and hearts of men, and can reveal his will directly to them if it shall please him so to do. To this circle there is a centre, but the repetition of this cannot be the Divine idea of "preaching the gospel.n Every truth within the circle must -be held by, and filled with the spirit of, the central truth. Evetything within the circle is the gospel. Ministers may not, and they need not, shun to declare to men the very "mysteries" of revelation, since by the consideration of such the higher culture of the soul is gained. Infants take the milk of first prin- ciples; strong men need to feed upon strong meat of difficult and advanced truth. II. THE TRUTH IN ITS ANTAGO?il'ISTI0 PHASES, This side of the truth may not be left untouched by any teacher, but its treatment calls for much care and wisdom. There are times when we are required to show how truth opposes error; but usually H is far better to preach the positive truth, and let it by its own force gradually root out and destroy error. Three points may here be illustrated. 1. Christ's truth seemed opposed to Judaism. It was not really opposed to the system as given by God to Moses. It was the natural l\nrl necesl!ary outgrowth and completion of it. It w~  168 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. (on. x.x. 1-:l~.