The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 196

I. Tm: PO'IVEII OF PREJUDICl!I. The very word "G1lntile" exasperates Jews. Yet they were ~erarated from Gt!ntiles, not to hate them, but to save them. II. 'l'he close connection between IGNORANCE AND VIOLENOL Knowledge helps patience ; patience promotes knowledge. III. Tim CRUELTY OF POWER when it is exercised without righteo111ness. Torture was at once a confession of weakness and e. violation of the rights of man, Law can need no cruelty to support it. It must be ba.sed upon truth and benevolence or it is not righteous law. While the noisy tumult of the mob showed the corrupt state of the Jewish nation, the scene in the castle revealed the imperfection and worthlessness of mere human rule. Both facts were the cries of the world for the kingdom of God. IV. THE INFLUENCE OF TRUE RELIGION in enlighteningthemind,calmingthe feelings, strengthening the will, and preparing the man for trials. The example of Paul one of exalted self-possession and heroism, together with astonishing intelligence and discern- ment of charact.er. The thought of using his Roman citizenslµp at that moment was doubtless a suggestion of God's Spirit. V. PRovmENOE in the government of the world. The Roman state needed to prepare the way for the gospel. The two citizenships-of the earthly kingdom, of the heavenly, compared in the two men, Lysias and Paul. Little the parents of the apostle could hne anticipated how that Roman privilege would work into his history. We should give our children all we can to prepare them for future life. Grace and providence work together. The world's alarm opens the way for the gospel. VI. 'l'BE llEAL CONFLICT, not between Ch1istianity and political power, but between true and false religion. The chief priests and the council face to face with the represen- tative of Christ. A corrupted Judaism must be swept out of the way. After that is done, then Christianity will be ready for its still greater mission to evangelize the whole world, beginning with the Roman empire. The three parties represented-the Chris- tian, the rabbinical, the hea.then.-R. Ver. 1.-.A '11W<Ul self-defmce. We enter in this chapter on matter which is to some degree repetition (eh. ix.). The repetition is valuable for several reasons. It both adds a.nd omits some particu1a.rs. It gives us Paul's own version in his own words, instead of what must still have been essentially his own version, but which was probably rehearsed in the historian's words. It gives us the advantage also of comparison in those parts which exhibit slight differences, and we gain a fuller impression of Paul's experience. We may imagine that Paul had been almost tremblingly anxious the past hour or two for this opportunity; and the moment that the lashed and angry waves were hushed we.e a proud moment for him had he been merely the human orator, but much rather a prized moment as he was the Christian orator. He has heard wild and baseless accusations passionately hurled at him, and just so long as.might wer,e right, he might be supposed to hold himself answerable ~ unjust earthly judges, as well as to the one true Judge and one merciful ]!,faster. But beyond a doubt something else than pen;onal defence was in his heart, and his eye 'scried a grand opportunity. For this "defence" it may be claimed that it is- L 'l'BE DEFENCE OF A HAN. For: 1. It must be held to be the outcome of, not craven fear, but the rising spirit of a true man. Very certain it is that not one out of a hundred would have risen to the occasion. Disheartenment, despair, perhaps disdain, would have locked close the lips of most men. But Paul does not consent to "give up," or to show anything in the shape of temper answering to the intolerant spirit of the multitude. 2. It was the acknowledgment (however undeserved in the individual case) of the respect naturally due in the society of human life from one man to his follows. Such respect is all the more to be honoured in the observance by the man who, whether Paul or Galileo, may be confessedly making a" new departure" of wide significance. History shows that it has been the lot of such men, not in re!igion only, to be made sufferers. The noblest examples of martyrs have been of those who have done nothing to bring it upon themselves by any manifestation of the defia.nt spirit. 8. Every word of it was the utterance of conscious rectitude. 4. It was a noble, typical example of the ~trength "in its glory" of the ind.ividua.l conscience against the l0DBPless strength and intolerance of a mob. IL TRE DEPENOE oF A CHBIBTIAB. For: 1. This defence was through the whole  ,n, nn. 1-80,] THE AOTB 011 THE APOSTLES, 203