The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 266

11 lar!?e following for ourselves, we fall miserably short of our true vocntion: we <1ro called to convey Christ's message to mankind. II. THE TWOFOLD SOURCE WHENCE HE wAB TO DRA w ms MEBSA<lE. He WI\S to bear wit.ness "both of these things which he h11d seen, and of those things In the which Christ would appear unto him" (ver. 16). Not only was he to narrate what he already knew, but he was to convey and enforce the truths which were soon to be revealed to him. We are to draw continually on this double source. We are (1) to repeat the facts and trnths with which past experience and study have made us familiar; and also (2) to unfold those later and maturer views which our Lord will be revealing to our open and inquiring minds. ill. THE TWOFOLD PROTECTION OF WRTCB BE WAS ASSURED, "Delivering thee from the (Jewish) people, and from the Gentiles" (ver. 17). He was to encounter serious perils and difficulties, but he would escape the one and surmount the other, He would find himself opposed and thwarted by the Jews and the Gentiles, by those who were "nigh " and by those who were "arar off," by the children of privilege from whom he might have hoped to receive help, and by the sons of ignorance from whom he might have expected to endure hostility. By whomsoever assailed, the Divine Saviour would be his defence. We, too, may expect to be opposed by two parties-by thosi;- within and by "them that are without," hy the heirs of privilege and by the aliens and stran;rers. If we are faithful and trustful, we may safely cast ourselves on the care of our Divine Friend, who, if he does not save us from, will assuredly save us in, the disappointments and the sufferings which will threaten us as champions of his cause. IV. THE TWOFOLD ISSUE OF ms woRX. 1. Spiritual illumination. Those to whom he was to go would turn " from darkness to light," their " eyes having been opened." Having been blind to the existence, or to the nature and character, or to the claims of God ; or blind to the worth of the human soul, or to the true end s.nd aim of human life, or to the solemnity of death and judgment; or blind to the excellency of holy service, to the beauty of holiness, to the blessedness of consecration and self-denial ; they were to perceive, to 11nderstand, to rejoice in the truth, to walk in the light. Their experience in the spiritual realm would answer to his iu the material world who should awake from blackest night to brightest day. 2. Deliverance. "From the power of Satan unto God" (ver. 18). In ignorance and sin men are the bondmen of the evil one, held in his cords, snbject to his sway. Delivered from the power of sin, they become the freedmen of Christ; they walk in " the glorious liberty of the children of God." From a degrading bondage they are rescued, that they may rejoice in a holy, elevating freedom. v. Tim TWOFOLD BLESSING BE WAS TO PROHIBE, 1. Forgiveness of sine. 2. Sancti- fication-" that they may receive," etc. (ver. 18). Immediately on the exercise of :fa.ith they were to receive the abounding mercy of God, that" forgiveness" which means not only the not holding them under condemnation, but also the positive reception of them into Divine favour, the admission of them to the Father's table, the reinstatement of them into all the privileges of sonship. And gradually they were to rise into a state of sanctification, leaving old and evil things behind, and reaching forth to that which is before; attaining to the stature of Christian manhood, becoming holy even as God is holy (1 Pet. i. 16). VL THE ONE CONDITION ON WHICH BE MUST INSIST. "By faith that is in me.n Every blessing promised was and is to be attained by faith in J = Christ himself. Not the acceptance of a creed, nor admission to a Church, nor submission to a ceremony, but a living faith in a living Saviour; the cordial acc~ptanc~ of Jesus Christ himself as the Divine Saviour, the rightful Lord, the all-sufficient Fnend of the human heart.-0. Ver. 19.-" The heavenly vision : " a wrmon to the young. When Paul was "' appre- hended of Christ Jesus" on hie way to Damascus, he was yet a young man. He was still at the outset of his career; hie life was still before him. When that heavenly vision came, and he saw the Lord, he himself and his whole life were absolutely changed. The current which had surged so swiftly in one line then turned and flowed steadily and uninterruptedly in the opposite direction. That vision from God revolu- tionized, transformed his whole self and all his plans and hopes. What visions have we now, and what influence have they on our heart.a and lives? We reply- OD, llXVI, 1-32.] • THE ACTS OF TllJ'.tj APOSTLES. 2 ~o Iu