The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 194

just) in his sight; and we yielcl ourselves to him and his service that his righteousness me.y be reproduoecl in us e.nd in our human liTeB. Thus we come to do-- III. THAT WORK o• JIAN WHICH IS TBll wn.L o• Goo. Paul wu to" know his will" sver. 14). and was to do that will by the accomplishment of hia life-work, viz. by ' being hie witness unto all men." '1:his, too, in our we.y and measure is to be our life- work, even ae it was our Lord's (John xvili. 37). We are to bear witness of Christian truth by (1) exl)mpla.ry behaviour ; (2) a devout and generous spirit; (3) the word of testimony and j!xhortation,-this latter is to be ea;perimental, such as is suggested by our own actual experience. Every Christian life is a failure if it be not an epistle read and known of all who are there to read it.--0. Vere. 23--30.-The earthly an<l the heavenly citizenship. The most intereating and the most distinctively Christian truth contained in this passage is that which we gain by contrasting the citizenship of ancient Rome with that of the kingdom of Christ. But we ma.y a!so let these verses remind us of- I. THE INBUMANITY OF BEATHENISlll. "The chief captain ... bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he mig)it know," etc. (ver. 24). What an inhuman and brutal procedure to extra.et evidence or ·confession by scourging-by cruel, relentless lace- ration of the body I It is painful to think how, in this as in many another respect, departure from God mea.nt distance from all justice and benignity. It is, indeed, all too true that pagan law passed on many of its usages to Christian legislature, and that down to even recent times harsh and stem things have dishonoured the statute-books of Christian lands; but these have been (1) diametrically opposed to the spirit of Jesus Christ, (2) implicitly condemned by hie words, and (3) haft been (or are being) disowned and disestablished by his followers. II. THE EXCELLENCY OF HUllliN LAW AND DISCIPLINE. Utterly defective as Roman law was, it shone in brilliant contrast with Jewish frenzy. How pitiable, not to say contemptible, the crowd crying out, rending their clothes, flinging dust in the a.ir, in their uncontrollable passion (ver. 23)1 Excellent, indeed, as compared with this, the safe custody of the Roman soldiery (var. 24), the immediate regard paid to his claim of citizenship (vers. 26-29), the determination of the chief captain to bring Paul before the council in a legitimate and orderly way (ver. 30). With all defects and severities, law and discipline are immeasurably superior to the violent excitements of an incensate and ungovemabl~ mob. III. THE RECTITUDE OF OLADIIING INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. The ma.n who is perpetually asserting his rights is a man as far, in spirit, from the likeness of Jesus Obrist as he is far, in fact, from the enjoyment of the esteem of man. God blesses him as little as man loves him. But obviously there are times when it is not only our right but our duty to usert our claims. Paul did so here (var. 25), and most justifiably; there wa.s no reason why he should suffer and be weakened by suffering when he could escape by making a lawful claim. We do well to be self-assertive so long as we do not acquire the spirit of selfishness and do not give the impression of being self-centred. We do well, when we act thus with a distinct view to the benefit of others, to our own spiritual well-being, or to the extension of the kingdom of Christ. IV. THE EARTHLY .AND HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP. (Vers. 27, 28.) Paul acceded to the citizenship in virtue of his birth; he "-11S free bom. The chief captain obtained it by purchase. Others gained it by valuable military or civil service, or by favour of some illustri9us man. Entrance into the kingdom of God cannot be gained thus. (1) Not by birth (John i. 13), (2) nor by purchase (eh. viii. 20), (3) nor by the favour of ma.n (John i. 13), (4) nor by meritorious behaviour (Eph. ii. 9), do we become citizens of the spiritual kingdom and heirs of eternal life. It is rather by the influence of the Spirit of God upon and within us (John iii. 5), and by our appropriate and correspond- ing action in response-by penitence of spirit and humble faith in a Divine Saviour (eh. xx. 21), that we become true subjects of the great King, and have our names entered on that blessed roll which is the Book of Life:-C. Ven. 1-21.-PiiuZ'e self-defence before the J~s. "Brothers and fathers!" These words fell from his lips in the Hebrew tongue, and a hush fell upon them. If we desire to be listened to with attention, we must speak to the people" in their own tongue." 200 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [ OR. lllL 1-30, ---- ----------------------------- !. THE PERIOD BE'FORE OONVBBSION. (Vers. 3-5.) He speaks throughout of him- self; but in the background of his thought is the providence and the grace of Him who had called him out from darkness into his marvellous light. He was a Jew, strictly educated in the Lsw, and a zealot for God. And yet 11, persecutor. A lesson for us 11,ll against the over-valuation of ~ing and of orthodoxy. He had tried the w&y of ze11,lotry and persecution, aa Luther had tried th&t of monkery, sincerely seeking a&lva- tion, but without success. The memory of Ms earlier timo is one mingled with thank- fulness 11,nd penitence, as indeed all our memories must be. In hie good education and in his unhappy errors he could trace the hand of God. Boasting is in every case excludod. II. RIB CONVEBSION. (Vers. 6-15.) 1. The great light from heaven on the way to Damascus. It disclosed the dark ways of sin and error in which the heart had been wandering; and at the same time lighted up the ways of Divine grace by which the convinced soul was to be led, and the path of duty the new-born soul was to follow. He is led by the hand, as into a mystery, which only the Divine wisdom shall gradually unfold. Jesus, still lead on! Like led children ever we enter the kingdom of heaven. 2. The ordination by the hands of Anania.~. A pious man according to the Law. God knows all his servants, and the work for which each is best fitted. Here is a mirror for all preachers. They should bring to the office knowledge and experience of the working of God's grace upon the heart. They must in their office be :like St. Paul- witnesses before all men, by word and conversation, of that which they have seen and heard. And their comfort may in like manner be that he who has called will strengthen, edify, and support them in their calling. ill. llIB OOMllISSION. (Vers. 17-21.) He is praying in the temple, his soul over- whelmed by the weight of those Divine communications. The voice says," Hasten, and go quickly out ol Jerusalem I" Paul meets the call with reluctance. This struggle is among the incidents of the strife of the Spirit of God with our spirit. We would stay when he bids to go. "Lord, I will follow thee, but-" Sometimes it is fear, as in J ona.h's case; sometimes it is modesty, as with Moses and Jeremiah; or conscientious- ness, as with Peter (eh. x.. 14); or compassion, as with Abraham at Sodom, and Paul with Israel. Over against all our buts stands the firm command of God, "Go hence I " Only he who overcomes his hesitation in full trust in the perfect right and wisdom ol that command will be enabled by-and-by to say, "He has done all things well."-J. Vera. 22-29.-Danger and deliverance. At length the latent envy of the Jewish audience breaks forth. "Away with such a man from the earth I" L DANGEB mCURBED m WITNESB FOB THE TBUTR. (Vers. 22-27.) The wild force of fanaticism has to be encountered again and again. These scenes are a warning against wstering it. It dishonours God, under the pretext of jealousy for his honour ; ill treats the innocent; disgraces itself, turning men into wild beasts. Il. DIVINE DELIVERANCE OF THE SERVANT OF GoD. 1. It is brought about by the right feeling of the Roman captain, together with the civil privileges of the apostle. Aud he obtains a new opportunity for self-justification. 2. It tends to illustrate hie character. 'lbe violence offered to him elicits a gentle and lowly reply (ver. 25; John niii. 23). Outwardly ill treated, he remains inwardly unhurt. Momentarily trodden iD tLe dust, he rises to eternal honours. IIL TBE NOBILITY OF THE C.lllILDREN OF GoD. It is acquired by the new birth. It is sealed by the Spirit of God. It is proved by trial, conflict, and affliction. It appears in full glory in the heavenly state. Their privileges are-exemption from fear in the presence of the powers of this world ; inviolate safety from the violence of evil men ; independence of the judgment of the world. "Now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be."-J. Ver. 30-ch. uili. 11.-Paul 'before the high council. L THE &Illl'LIOITY AND em-· OEBITY oF A oooD coNBCIENCE. 1. Thie gives manly courage and oonfidence. 2. It acts 1111 a touchstone upon his foes, exposing their injustice, bringing those passionate and unfair in spirit to light. Ananias's answer to Paul's dignified i;tatement is a blow on the mouth. 3. At the same time, it impanb childlike humility. Great was the provo- cation to a high spirit like that of PauL His fir11t J>llllllionate answer contrasts with that of Je11W1 on the ea.me occasion (John viii. 23). But on tho remonstrance of thE> OU, XXU, 1-30.] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 201