The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 2 — Section 335

tho terms which Luke uses. The apostle is said to have bean eng~ged in .. pre&ching the ki11gdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus, with all confidenco," Illustration may be given of St. Paul's restless act;vity and consuming zeal in preaching Christ. He could say," Woe is unto me if I prea:::h not the gospel!" He must have held and cherished the holiest convictions; he is the first and noblest instance of absorbing, inspiring enthusiasm for Christ. He was now a prisoner, but he wou Id preach Christ with the guard beside him. He could not preach Uhrist in temple, church, or large room, so he would preach Christ in his own hoUBe. He could not gather the many, so he would preach Christ to the few who came to see him. Compare Adolphe Monod, who lay for months on a sick-bed, and could conduct no public ser- vices, so spoke of Christ from his bed every Sunday afternoon to the friends that gathered round him, as long as he was able. Two things are especially noted by Luke in these his closing words. I. ST. PAUL PBEAOHED THE xmoooM OF Goo. Under the figure of a Divine kingdom Measiali's times had been prophesied by Daniel (ii. 44; vii. 14, 27). John the Bap- tist stood forth as a prophet to proclaim, " The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Our Lord gave the same words to his apostles when he sent them forth upon their trial mis- sion; it was the message which they were everywhere to deliver. The figure was not a new one. It was not a fresh thing for God to claim the rule of souls. The govern- ment of ancient Israel had been a theocracy, or direct rule of Jehovah. The new thing was for God to set up this government on earth in the person of his Son, the Son of man and Son of God. He came to help us more clearly and more folly to see that the kingdom of God is the rule of his loving, holy, and fatherly will; and that will may be made known in two ways. 1. By definite and express commands. In this way it had been made known to Israel. 2. By the immediate and living authority of Jesus Christ, who gives us God's will directly, putting it into close relation with all our circumstance and need. To be in the kingdom of God now is to be directly dependent, day by day, upon the guiding, teaching, leading, of the living Lord Jesus Christ. ll ST. PAUL PBEACIIED THE THINGS CONCERNING JESus CHRIST. Those things include: 1. Trying to make the history and teachings of the Lord Jesus known, so that men might have a solid foundation whereon to rest their eternal hopes. 2. Trying to make Christ himself known, because his will is the reflection and expression of himself. 3. Trying to make the fulness and freeness of Christ's grace known, so that men's con- fidence might be won to him. 4. Trying to make Christ's offices and relations known ; because he is (1) the Dispenser of pardon; (2) he bas the bestowmeiit of the Spirit; (3) he stands in the place of our High Priest; and (4) he is to be our final Judge. The kingdom of God is come for all hearts that are fully consecrated to Christ. It will have come for the world when "every knee shall bow to him, and every tongue confess to him." God will reigu when Jesus shall bo ack.uowledged" King of kmgs, awi Loid of lords."-lL T. - • •  VOLUME II. TBJaB P.&08 OHAPTER XV. Five Truths from Philippi 38 m11n11 God in the Earthquake 39 The Controversy ... Christian Remonstrance 39 'fhe Paroxysm Paul e.nd Timothy 40 A Grave Crisis in the Kingdom of The Journey to Macedonia. : the God : Lessons ... 9 Happy Beginning 41,44 A Grove Crisis in the l{ingdom of The Witness of Evil to the Good 42 God : more Lessons 10 Joy in Tribulation 42 Self-Sacrifice for Christ 11 Unexpected Deliverance u Apostles at Fault... 12 Paul's Second Missionary Journey The Judaizers at Antioch .. . 18 commenced 44 The Council at Jer11Salem .. . H A True Epoch in the History of the Deoision of the Council at J eru- Gospel: Advance from Asia. to salem ... 15 Europe H Effects of the Mission from the Church 15 The Cry of II Perishing World after Beginning of the Second Missionary Christ ... 45 Journey 15 The Kingdom of Light revealing The First Council : Spiritual Liberty itself ... 45 established 16 The First European Persecution 46 The Spirituality of the Go~pel 16 Light in the Darkness 46 Spiritual Heroism 17 A Remarkable Conversion ... 46 Contention amongst Brethren 17 Household SaJ.vation 47 A Great Dissension on the Threshold Apostolic Devotion owned... 47 of the Gentile Church, and the The Spirit'a Couxse 47 Apostolic Management of it 17 The Day that looked like the Day of Symptoms more Startling ... 19 Small Things 48 Ciroumcision and Salvation 21 An lli11Strious Triple Triumph of The Jerusalem Ohuroh 22 Christianity 49 Salvation by Grace for all ... 22 'l'he Character of Timothy 51 The Highest Christian Commendation 23 The Leadings of the Holy Ghost 51 Reasonable e.nd Unreasonable Burdens 24 The Witness of Evil Spirits to Christ 53 Contentions and Sepe.rations 25 Christian Triumph over Circumstances 54 The Jailor's Question 55 The Faith that saves 56 CHAPTER XVL The Ohoioe of a Fit Person 'l'he Call ... 82 SS CHAPTER xvn. Truth and Falsehood 84 The Strange Alliance 63 The Church's Duty and Reward 85 The Cross of Christ in the Metropolis The Oo.Jl of God and the Appeal of of Art o.nd Philosophy ... 64 Man : a Missiono.ry Sermon 36 A Flllfil\e,i and an Unfulfilled Pro- The Opened Hee.rt; or, the Power of phecy ... ' 65 Divine Gentleness 87, 45, 52 The Duty of ludividual Research ... 65 ii INDI~X.