The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 234

L The apostle et.ood firmly on the ground of LIBERTY OF OONSOIENOE. They accused him of heresy ; he msintained that his oonecience was void of offence towards God and me.n. II. Th_e_ foundation of oonfi.dence is THB WoRD oF Goo-t)ie Law, the prophets, the troe trad1t1on of the fathera. All these things the apostle believed. ill. THE RBIIUBREOTION was the great stumbling-block to the Jewe, but the great support of the apostolic faith. The position taken in the Sanhedrim is maintained before Felix. The resurrection is the vital point of the new faith. IV. The zeal of the Christian was quite consistent with PATnIOTISJI. There was nothing revolutionary in the method of Christian teaching. The disturbance was simply due to the presence of a new element of life among old corruption. So always the world is turned upside down by earnestness, because it is already the wrong sid: upward&.-R. Ver. 16.-Pmctical riligion. ., And herein do I exercise myself," etc. Circumstances of the case justify the self-assertion. We must not be afraid to give our own example as a testimony to the truth. L Practical religion is founded on THE BEA.BTFELT ACCEPTANCE OF THEWOBD OF GOD. "Herein," i.e. in the faith just described., distinguished from: 1. The irreligion of Felix; indifference and direct opposition to God. 2. The blind bigotry of Pharisaism; mere worship of the letter of Scripture ana tradition; an excuse for conscientious life. 3. The specu.lative unbelief of Sadducees, Rationalism. Intellectual pride. Faith mad11 living in Christ. The facts of the gospel opened the secrets of the Scriptures to Paul. Jesus became to him the Word of Life. II. Practical religion demands CONSTANT EFFORT. "I exercise myself." 1. Not asceticism, but zealous endeavour to do good in proclamation of the gospel. 2. Faithful and heroic patience under the trials of life. 3. The showing forth of Christian cha- racter before the world for a testimony, both by the blameless conduct, and by the calm and bold defence of the truth when necessary. The secret of strength and courage is a conscience void of offence. Those who do not exercise themselves both give offence and :find offence. " If God be tor us, who can be against us? "-R. Vers. 22-27 (or ver. 25).-The character of Feli:c in the light of Christianity. L TRE COBBUPJ.' JUDGE. Selling justice for bribes, delaying sentence in hope of gain, either from the Jews or from Paul. The influence of Christianity in purifying courts of law. Judge Hale. Room for improvement still as Christian equality banishes all distinctions between rich and poor. Justice is still too dear. II. Tim l1A.N WITH SEARED OONBCIENCE. In contrast with him who exercises himself t.o have a conscience void of offence. The light of education, of contact with Judaism through Drusilla, of knowledge of facts at Calsa.rea, all darkened by sensuality, avarice, worldly power, constant trifling with conscience. He could tremble at truth, but even while trembling was ready to sell it for his own vicious pleasures. He felt its force, but steadfastly resisted it, and even sent again and again for Paul, in hope to make gain out of him. ill THE T.lllFLEB WITH OPPOBTmlITY. Preaching may move the feelings without changing the heart. Behind the procrastination there is generally a moral corruption hidden. 'l'he opportunities which are trilled with harden the heart and hasten the judgment. Felix knew not the time of his visitation. Judgment fell on him, and the Jews, io whose wickedness he pandered., became his accusers before C!Pi!ar. No season is more convenient than the present, when the voice of God says," Repent I "-R. Ver. 6.-The "1-dictment that wa, a .elf-indictment. The preparations for the indictment of Paul before Felix had been well considered. Somewhat formidable, eave to the strong heart, and that divinely refreshed (eh. x.x.iii. 11), most concerned in the D:Jatter, must the legal phalanx have appeared, when Ananias the high priest, and the alders, and their practised professional helper Tertullus, and others of the Jews, made their appearance. The speech containing the accusation against Paul, which began with flattery for a Felix, not Wlll&turally culminates in falsehood hurled at Paul, and D1ockery flung at the Nazarene. The portraiture of perverseness such as this is no 110velty; yet 110me peculiarity in the featuring may be found here, A new touch or cm. xnv. 1-27,] 'l'llE A<JTS OF THE APOSTLES. 241