The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 304

comfort and of courage, and the confident prophet of hope and safety, but tell~ the bad also with the good (ver. 26). 6. He is the genuine religious man, not "ashamed of Christ," e.nd plainly tells the source of hie own confidence and of the firm language he holds to hie congregation of the boat, for all that he may be called or thought fanatical. III. THl!l Gon WHO MADE THAT MAN OP THE HOUR. Let alone all which that God had done in the remoter past, and the earlier heretofore of hie life, what had he done lately? 1. '!'hat God did not forget his child, his servant, his anxious sufferer. He had long so served Paul that nothing was more precious to him than to think he was the acknowledged and sure possession of God-" whose I am ; " and no livery con- ceivable so honourable as his-'' whom I serve." And now with gentle witness he makes him know that he does not forget him, has not taken his eye off from him, but is following him with that watchful, careful, lovin!!'. eye. And "he sends his holy angel" to him. 2. Tha~ God strengthened and refreshed the confidence of his child and servant in a very noteworthy manner. For he condescends to repeat himself. .Again he sends his angel, again the visit is the visit of the night, when "deep sleep b.Jeth upon men" generally, but when little now visited the eyes of Paul or of others in that boat. Again the angel ''stands by" Paul, ready for march, for work, for conflict, for victory. He does not over-hover nor seem in the attitude that would sug'.:;est the upward flight for Paul. Firmly on earth that angel of God condescends to plant his feet. Again the former words are repeated (eh. xxiii. 11 ). Was it not enough that " God had spoken once," saying that the eyes of Paul should see Rome, and that he should preach in Home? Again, however, the assurance is given him, and again the word of direct encouragement is addressed to the heart of Paul, " Be of good cheer " ( eh. xxiii. 11); "Fear not, Paul." 3. That God sets double and very high honour on his despised child and suffering servant. He "gives" to Paul "all them that sail with him." And it is not a secret covered gift, it is such a one as Paul can quote, and quoted, no doubt, not without Divine warrant, though this is not asserted. Thus the God who made Paul the man of the hour made him such in the strength of his kindly memory of him, in the comforting and assuring language he addressed to him, and in the practical honour, a very boon of honour, he bestowed upon him. It may have required some courage for Paul to have made this last announcement, except for one fact, significant enough, that by far the more part of "them that sailed with Paul" bad none at all. had lost heart, and hope, and the tongue to jeer, and lip to mock, and countenance to laugh unbelievingly, with all which it is highly likely his announcement would at any other time have been received. IV. THE ]l[EANB BY WHICH THAT Hill GOT ms BOLD ON Gon. The declaration of these means stands on the page of the book and shines on the life of the man in sim- plicity, brevity, grandeur, unique. "For I believe God," says Paul. What a. word is this I What a thing it is I How few say it firmly! How few who say it and even firmly, do it I How fewer still by far who consistently and persistently do it I Yet is it the secret of peace, of strength, of influence, of the only kind worth having and enduring, and of heavenly wealth. What does the man possess who can say this with simple, full truth, " For I believe God "? And what can he want? Of him this ma.y be said, a.nd it is enough, "He has all things and abounds." How mournful, pitiful, ~info!, the instability of the man who cannot say this from the heart I How strong and safe from" shipwreck" the man who can 1-B. Vere. 30-32.-.A glimpse at human nature ancl its behaviour in three varieties at ona ancl tl,e same conjuncture. The episode comprised in these few verses is full of startling effect. It displays human nature-that which is alike so one and so manifold-in this its latter aspect, rather than in the former. It invites us to look, to wonder, and, if wise, to be warned and learn in time. Let us notice the mauifestntion of human nature as made now by three varieties of people- I. BY THE SHIPMEN, That is, by the "master and owner" of the ship (ver. 11), and evidently the officers and orew (ver. 27) of the ship. Every sentiment of honour, every plain demand of duty, called upon them to stand by their ship to the last, and to be the last to leave it. They now try to do all the reverse of this, competent to purpose it, and ta.hen in the nttempt to do it by craft," under colour" of doing som►  'I'IlE AC1'S OF THE APOSTLE:S. (on. u.vn. 1-44.