ability to carry out what he so.id. He that leaneth on himself leaneth on a reed that will too surely bend beneath his weight. "It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps," And St, Peter'e own Master thus solemnly warned both him and bis fellow- disciples: "Without me ye can do nothing." Then and now, self-confidence is only vo.in confidence. VI. 8T. PAUL18 BOASTING WAB THAT OF FULL BUBIDSSION, St. Peter thought of "dying with Christ" I\B something to do. St. Paul thought of it as something to bear. Christ did not ask St. l'cter to die with him. He pushed himself into the place. Christ did ask St, l'o.ul to suffer and to die for him, and the tender grace of his seeming boo.sting lies in its being his full acceptance of God's will for him, and his assurance that, however hard to flesh and blood, his will is love. St. Paul's spirit took his confidence altogether away from self, and made it rest altogether on Christ. St. Peter said, "I can do all things." St. Paul said, "I ca.n do all things through him that strengtheneth me." After his humiliation, St. Peter was converted to the better mind ; and illust.ration of his humble and trustful spirit may be taken from his Epistles. Especiall.v notice 1 Pet. v. 6, 7, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he ruay exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him ; for he careth for you."-R. 'l'. Ver. 16.-0ld disciples. There must have been some peculiarity in the case of Mnason for St. Luke to remark that he was an" old disciple," which may mean that he was an" old man and a disciple," or that he was one of the earliest disciples, possibly one who was led to accept Christ as the Messiah on the day of Pentecost. He was a "man of Cyprus," but he may have been visiting Jerusalem at Pentecost. Mention is made of him in connection with St. Paul's journey to explain the care which the Christian disciples took to secure the apostle's safety and comfort in the holy city. The crowd at the feast-times was so immense that the ordinary stranger might fail to find accommodation. Mnason ha(a house at Jerusalem, and there St. Paul was sheltered. There are two senses in which a man may be spoken of a.s a.n" old disciple:" (1) he may be old in years; (2) he may be old in experience. No Christian disciple could at that time have been very old in experience of Christian life. There are four possible suppositions concerning the discipleship ofMnason. (1) He may have been, like Simeon, one of those who looked for redemption in Israel, and so was prepared at once to welcome Christ. (2) He may have been one of the disciples who attached themselves to Christ while he was with men in the flesh. (3) He may have been converted at the day of Pentecost, ( 4) He may have been a firstfruit of St. Paul's missionary la.hours in Cyprus. The subject suggested by the reference to Mnason is-the mission in the <Jhu.rch of old disciples; and three points may receive full treatment and illustration. I. Old disciples may prove what Divine grace can do in keeping us unspotted from the world. II. Old disciples may illustrate "patient continua.nee in well-doing." III. Old disciples may exert a gracious influence by the tone and character of their religious experience, as corrective of the mistakes and practical errors that may prevail, and as guiding to the solution of practical difficulties in doctrine and in conduct. 'l'he Church has often good reason to rejoice in the wisdom and prudence of her "old di,ciples."-R. T.
Vers. 20-25.-The perils of over-caution. For the details of these verses, reference must be made to the exegetical portion of this Commentary. We should fully under- stand : 1. The intense enmity of the J udaizing party against St. Paul. 2. The opportunity of increasing that enmity found in the fact that many of St. Paul's enemies from Asia and Europe were present in Jerusalem at this time, attending the feast, 3. The difficulty of the Christian leaders, who had not openly brokeu with rabbinical Mosa.ism, and consequently found St, Paul's presence in the city a source of extreme anxiety. They could not openly condemn him ; and indeed this they were not prepared to do. 'l'hey could not openly approve him, for this would be sure to rouse dissension, and. it v.:ould certainly put St. Paul's life in peril. 4. 'fhe spirit and temper of the apostle himself, who was rather bold than cautious, and had on several important occasions (-aa, e.g. eh, xix:, 30, 31) to be actually held back from caUl'ses of acfon that were 1()2 THE ACTS OF TIIE APOSTLES.