The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 306

what a transformation H le now which showe the prisoner of the whole company, an,l the man who before hae eeemed to run the gauntlet of one continuous contradiction of men, etanrling forth, not merely the observed of all observers, which he had often been before, but the one respectfully listened to, followed obediently, and really appreciated by the witness and unanimous consent of cheered hearts (ver. 36). (A) Notice, then, the persecuted and misunderstood good man comes to be rega.rded- 1. As A FRIEND TO DE LISTENED TO. II. As A FRIEND WHOSE GOOD CONFIDENCE 18 WELCOMED AND SPREADS A GRATEFUL INFLUENCE. JII, As A FRIEND WHO IS l'E\tMITTED TO URGE SIMPLE PRACTICAL DUTY. IV. As A FRIEND NOT MOCKED WHEN HE TEACHES RELIGION. Paul did thus teach, both (1) by word and (2) by his own act. V. As ONE WHO, DY THE SIMPLE PURITY OF ms FRIENDSHIP, 18 RAISr-:D TO TTIE POSITION OF THE MASTER OF ALL, IN' A MORAL BENSE. (B) But a second series of suggestive lessons lies before us in the same passa:;e. Notice- I. WHAT RESOURCELESS FEAR THE FEAR OF THE WICKED IS! II, WHAT DISABLING FEAR THAT FEAR 18 ! III. How IT TAKES ITS VERY FIRST REVENGE ON THAT OUTER LIFE FOR wmcH THE BINNER LIVES I IV. WHAT DISCORD, DISTRUST, AND EVEN DISSERVICE ABE WROUGHT BY IT AMO~G "TilE COMPANY OF THE UNGODLY" THEMSELVES! They who were one long time to oppose the true, soon fall to opposing one another. V. To WHAT DEEP SELF-CONVICTION OF SHAME AND HUMILIATION THE FEAR OF THE WICKED, EVEN IN THIS WORLD, REDUCES THEM, WHEN THEN FOR THE FIRST TDIE THEY LEARN RESPECT FOR TUE GOOD, AND BOBROW CHEERFULNESS FROM THEM !-B. Vere. 42--44.-The means human, the power .Divine. A series of lessons are suggested here which the facts of life are proving by a constant analogy. Notice- I. A LESSON OF BUMAN MEANS AND ACTIVITY. No one of all the two hundred and seventy-six were saved by anything that looked like supernatural help. All were saved either by their own exertions in swimming, or by these together, strange to say, with the aid of the mere fragments of their broken vessel. II. TRUE GOODNESS HAB ITS IMPRESSION FOR THE MOST IGNOBA:!."T AND THE WORLDLY, ESPECIALLY IF THESE ARE HONEST. Whatever might be 'the religious ignorance or inexperience of the centurion, he evidently was impressed and attracted by the manner of Paul, or by his evident quality, or by both. He saves Paul. And probably his honesty was the real account of the impression he took. ill. THE GOOD CHARACTER OF ONE MAN WILL AVAIL TO SAVE OTBl!:RS WITH WHOM HE MAY BE CLASSED BY THE WORLD OR BY PROVIDENCE, THOUGH THEY BE NOT GOOD, Doubtless the righteous do sometimes perish with the wicked. How often a.re the wicked saved and the city spared for the sake of the few righteous! All the rest of the prisoners owed their safety (under God) to Paul and the silent influence of his integrity. IV. Goo HIMSELF VOUCHSAFES TO BET ON ONE FAITHFUL SERVANT OF ms THlS SAME MOST DISTINGUISHED KIND OF HONOUR. It is written, ay, it was divinely saiJ. by the angel that God "gave all them that sailed" in that boat to Paul. V . .ALL THINGS COME OF Goo. He it was, he only, who saves all.-B. Ver. 3.-'.l7ie good man's power to win confidence. "Jnlius CClurteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty;" and, in so doing, he did but act as almost everybody acted towards the great apostle who had anything to do with him. St. Paul had a. remarkable power of personal fascination. For instances of the impression which he produced on individuals, compare eh. xviii. 14; xix. 31, 37. For Scripture illustrations ~f the power to win confidence, recall the incidents of Joseph's early life in Egypt, and the narrative of the three Hebrew youths as given by Daniel. For illustration in modern life, recall the liberty which the jailor gave to John Bunyan. Very possibly this J uliu~ had heard Paul's address before Agrippa, and the kind consideration of the centurion muat have been very helpful to the apostle, whose two years' imprisonment must have  THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. LOR. :nvn. 1-H.