The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 270

a witness, not only of that which he had already seen, but of that which wo.s yet to be ebown to him. And so with every genuine preacher. The Lord bath yet more light and truth to break forth from the comciousness of the Christian thinker and student, from the practical experience of life as well as from his Word. Along with the com- mand there goes the blessing; with the commission the promise of protection in its discharge. And the faithful een-ant of Cl1rist may be RSsured in like manner th1\t when he is to he employed he will be defended; "the good hand of God" will be upon him (as with Nehemiah) until his work is done. (4) Sketch of his life-work. Its aim is instruction-" to open eyes ; " conversion-" t,o turn men from darkness to light,.. etc.; induction into the new covenant, or kingdom of grace-" that they m11.y receive for- giveness of sins;" glorification-" a lot among them that are sanctified." Faith in Christ the means to all. He had been following out this Divine programme. He had obc:ed without hesitation the heavenly vision, and in various places had been calling men to repentance and to the new life. In the faithful pursuit of his calling and because of it, he had encountered opposition; yet had been supported by God's help to ttie present day. His teaching wa.s but a continuation and fulfilment of the ancient teaching of the prophets. The three great points of his preaching were-the humilia- tion of Christ, his resurrection, and the gospel for all nations. So clear, straightforward, manly, and consistent was the tenor of his address. I I. EFFECT UPOK THE LISTENERS. 1. On Fest'll,S, He represents the cynic or· indiffer- entist in matters of religion, or the worldly view of the unspiritual man. Character is "spiritually discerned" only by inward and outward sympathy. The best in Paul was misunderstood. as his worst had been. Says Luther, "The world esteems others as prudent so long as they are mad, and as mad when they cease to be mad and become wise." Saul passed for a wise and able man in the days of his persecuting fury. When he " came to himself," and was clothed in a right mind, he was reckoned mad. One day the tables will be turned, and the children of this world will sa.y," We fools held his life to be senseless, and now he is numbered among the children of God" (Wisd. v. 6). Tlie deep truth is that the exaltation of the poet, the prophet, the mystic, and the bclic·,cr are hardly distinguishable to the superficial glance from madness or from sensual intoxication. So was it on the day of Pentecost. And of the Christ himself they said." He is mad, and bath a devil" (John x. 20). But Paul replies to Festus that the substance of his words is trne, and the temper in which he has spoken is rational The history of Christianity has proved the truth of this. The world in the long run is not governed by unreason, but by reason struggling against unreason. In every popular reviva.l of Christianity there may be seen a manifestation of what looks like folly and unrea.son; but to a deeper view there is a" method in this madness." 2. On ~grippa. Here is an awakened conscience. Paul recognizes in him the stirrings of faith, and boldly a.ims a blow at his conscience. " Those are the true court preachers who will not be deterred by the star on the breast from asking whether the Morning Star shines in the heart." But Agrippa. fences. What he feels he will not avow. He would lead a double life-representing one thing to the world, thinking another himself. He is the type of a numerous class, who would gladly be blessed, were it not for the strait door and the narrow path, which they will not tread (Luke :xiii. 24). How near we may be to bliss, yet how far from it I The heart ma.y be touched, the intellect illuminated, the will aroused, the hour acceptable, and yet-some deep stream of passion rUDS at onr feet, which we will not ford ; some " cunning bosom sin" keeps out the good angels of repentance and faith that would enter. The reply of Paul to Agrippa's light words again brings out a sharp contrast. Better be the " prisoner of Jesus Christ " than the prisoner of passion ! Better the regal freedom of the redeemed man's soul, in poverty and cha.ins, than the splendour of the potentatt enslaved by lust and by the fear of men I In the audience-chamber we have thus the most diverse attitudes of mind towards Christianity represented. Paul, in the full inspiration of faith and life in the Son of God ; Agrippa, convinced but not converted; Bernice, probably recalcitrant; Festus, hardened in indifferent cynicism. Some want- ing little, others much, to make them Christians. But what is the practical difference between almost saved and quite damned? And so, the sermon enderi, the audience disperses with commendations on the eioquence of the preacher and the manlines~ of Ws be11ring, ~ ii a certain tragedy in every such break-up of a congregation. Oli, :UVI. 1-32.] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 277