The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 324

countrymen. To point back to Moses and the prophets in evidence of this was i,, !how tbnt the doctrine of the cross and the resurrection wBB the fulfilment and con- eumm11.tion of the ancient faith of Israel. But this was no cold statement, no per- functory stntement. From morning till evening Paul laboured with his !Ountrymen's souls, Men are never wenry of speaking of that of which thbir hearts are full. It is not the argumentative aide of Christina truth on which every preacher or teacher can dwell, But whatever be the aspect of truth and life he conceives with force and which possesses hie soul, let him speak and not be weary. The result will be the samo as with Paul, and cannot be expected otherwise. Some will be persuarled, others will disbelieve, The clear expression of any positive truth will be echoed in assent and resisted in negation. Perhaps we can never be sure that we have spoken the truth until we h11.ve met opposition. IIL FINAL EFFUSION OF LOVE. He addressee them as brethren, and after telling them of the enmity and persecution he had experienced at the hands of their fathers in Palestine, he still knocks once more at the door of their hearts. The prophetic words of his close 11.re full of a solemn pathos. The audience, disunited, falls to two sections. It is not that division begins with the pre!!ching of the gospel, but the bidden disunion of the heart is brought to light. The sun does not produce difference, but only reveals difference, which could not be recognized in darkness. Hardness of heart is both a natural consequence of contempt of the troth, and a Divine judgment upon it. But the aurora of the future shines brightly against this tla.rk background of Israel's rejection. No sin, no ingratitude of man, can dim the splendour of that eternal heaven of grace. If the Jews will not come to the great supper of God, the Gentiles shall fill his house.-J. Vera. 30, 81.-Paul's preaching at Rome. L IT WAS A FULFILMENT OP A PROMISE. (Ch. ix. 15.) II. IT WAS A PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE. Long has the world been ruled from Rome; though often through corrupt forms, the Spirit of Christ has gone forth from her to heal and to civilize. Slowly the dominion of Rome must melt to give place to the idea which she has represented-the world-wide dominion of the kingdom of God. III. IT WAS THE REALIZATION OF THE PREACHER'S IDEAL. 1. There is a welcome for all. Nothing inaccessible, forbidding, hard to approach, should be in the preacher's manner. No "stand aside, for I am holier than thou I" He must make men feel that he has no reserves, no l{eeping back of anything they ought to know, no half-truths; that they are welcome fully to all the best of head and heart. He must not deal with people as sinners beneath him, but as his fellows, as man with men. 2. There is bold- ness of utterance. Parrhesia, the last word but one of the book. ·without this, the preacher is nerveless and ineffective. If he fears his audience, fears public opinion, fears himself, he is undone. The pulpit is the post for a brave man, not less than the sentinel's in w11.r-time. "The hour is regal when he mounts on guard." Cowardice may be fatal to himself and others. Self-surrender to God, like that of Paul, is the secret of the freedom of the preacher. 3. Unfettered external liberty. These were, perhaps, the happiest years of his life. "Unhindered" (akolut&}-this is the last word of the book. How shall the preacher excuse himself, if in a free country, with every encouragement to free speech, he fails to utter himself and his message, and declare, so far as he understands it, the whole counsel of God? When shall men feel that the Jesus Christ is the Friend of all men, and that his Church is their home? When, for one thing, his ministers rise to the ideal of their high calling as it is illustrated in this final scene of the book-Paul the teacher and preacher at Rome.-J. Vera. 1-6.-The instability of ignorance, and the staln1ity of the true Christian. The whole circumstance an apt illustration of the spiritual forces working in the midst of the natural. The shipwrecked company. Paul active in helping. The barbarians better than those who abused Divine blessings like the Jews, who violated Divine order like the Romans ; but, though actuated by kindness, easily led away by super- stition and ignorant prejudice. I. Tm!: INBUFFICIENOY OF NATURAL INSTINCTS. 1. Justice easily perverted, because misapplied. 2. 'l'he wonrlers of the material world both misunderstood and mis- 834 THE AOTS OF THE APOSTLES. rou. xxvm. 1-31. employed. 3. Reactions, both intellectual and moral, the onne of the world, Irrational depreciation and irrational homage side by aide. The world's hero-worship a sad comment on its fiokleness and blindness. .Aut Dew aut diabolua. We want some true guiding principlea which religion alone furnishes. II. THE STRENGTH WHIOB BEB'nl ON Goo. 1. Oalm in danger, because confident of Divine approval and mission. The reoords of missionary heroism supply many such facts. As much as possible we should cherish the e&mh spirit in oommon life. True presence of mind the growth of moral strength. 2. He that is full of the Spirit of God will shake off vipers into the fire. The viper of detraction and calumny. The viper of pen;onal animosity. The viper of worldly solicitation. The viper of devouring anxieties and oa.res. If we are doing God's work, he will preserve us. And the world \\'hich at first has misunderstood and injured ns will sweep round in its thoughts, nnd do us honour as God's servants.-R. Vers. 7-10.-" The healing of the nations." Ths 111ission of Christianity to heal both body and soul. The ~werful appeal which can be made through gratitude. 'l'he necessity of a prayerfnl spirit in the exercise of the gifts bestowed. I. LESSONS ON THE WORK OF THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER. 1. Personal character a great power in the ministration of truth. " They said he was a god." We must make a way for ourselves to men's hearts. 2. BeJnevolent works an introduction for the gospil. " The rest came." 3. The <:Aiej men should be won-not merely the lower classes. The uncon vert.ed rulers and rich have sorrows in iheir homes. We may reach them through their family rofections. II. THE sPmITUAL HEALING OF THE WORLD 18 THE HOPE OF ITS FUTURE. 1. A retrospect of the beneficent influence of Christianity on the life of man. 2. A contrast between the method of the gospel and the pretentious but powerless schemes of socialists and political and scientific enthusiasts. 3. The works of Christ affect the mass through the individuaL Multitud.inism is delusion. But the mass of the Christian Church must be aggressive on the mass of the world.-R. -Ver. 15.-.71ie 'breaJe in the clouds. "He thanked God, and took courage." Review of the apostolic history. The word of God fulfilled. The varied emotions of the ambassador's heart, perllonal in view of his work, in anticipation of the results of the future in Rome. The gospel &t the ge.t.es of the empire. Spiritual power before worldly power. L THE STUDY OF PBOVmENOE a help to the development of Christian character and life. 1. It promotes thankfulness. 2. It confirms faith. 3. It draws Christians nearer to one another, as they rejoice together. 4. It prepares for work and suffering. Paul needed all the courage he could take. II. THE USE WE BIIOULD lilKE OF OUR OPPOBTUNlTIEII. 1. Not to "rest and be thankful," but to yreu on for the prize. The prosperous times of the Church, as of the individual, often precede great trials. Paul is outside Rome, but he is not out of danger. 2. The opportunity of renewed intercourse with brethren and revived life in the Church, for higher testimony. Help each other to be strong.-R. Ver. 22.-.The reproach which 'lll/U,St be bo,'7Ul, "As concerning this sect," etc, The disciples of Jesus supported by his example. "Despised and rejected of men." 'I'he tendency of human thought and life to stagnate. The strength of vested interests. To be spoken against tries faith, but strengthens principle. Individually, socially, the reproach of Christ must be borne. • I. THE JUDGMENT OF THE WORLD by the manifestation of the truth. 1. The doctrine of Christ unwelcome. 2. The prejudices of party an obstacle to the spread of truth, 3. The victories of the gospel obtained by the grace of God. JL TRE DISCIPLINE OF DISCIPLESHIP. 1. Healthy. 2. Temporary. Reactions to oo reckoned for. Hold on, and the world speaks as much for, as once against. 3. The life which survives the oppositions of pride and the 1nisrepresentations of enmity is trained to a larger sphere. The sect spoken against became the orthodoxy of the future. The first enemies of Christianity were the Jews, but the opposition of unbelief w&6 overruled to the greater victories of truth. So now the tune of tra~itioo is eevere CIT, XXVIII, 1-31.] nm AC'fS OF THf 1: APOSTLES. 335