The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 16

(4) Incidental proofs of heavenly origin &nd &lmighty power. 2. Teaching. He begnn "both to do a,nd t«ich" (ver. 1). 'l'be teaching of Obrist covered all the ground on which we most urgently need enlightenment. He taught us all tbl\t we want to kno1v concerning (1) the nature and disposition of God, inclnding hie attitn<le toward guilty 11ouls; (2) the real natnre of man, his true heritage and the way by which he could return to God; (3) what con~titutes moral excellency in God's sight: how man can do and be that which is due to himself and to all bv whom he is surrounde<l; (4) the truth respecting the future world. 3. Endurance.· 'l'hc story of" his passion" (ver. 8) is the story of his life. In the case of all other of the children of meu, the narrative of the last hours is felt to be but the necessary closing of the chapter. In bis case alone the relation of the Passion is felt by us all to bu the supremo and culminating point, the one indispen&&ble feature of his whole career; that to which everything led up, for which everything prepared, compared with which everything else was unimportant. Never, at any perioo of his ministry, did the Son of God so truly and so largely fulfil the mission on which he came, as when he was "putting away sin by the sac1·ifice oj himself," as when he was betrayed and smitten and reviled, as when he was "lifted up" on the cross and "poured out his soul unto death." 4. Life. He came to be the holy, loving, patient, truthful, reverent One he was. The historian does not speak here of this his exemplary life before his Passion, but we may have it in our mind as a complementary thought; he does, however, refer to his life after the Passion (ver. 3). This is divisible into two parts. (I) 'l'he forty days on earth. Then he. bore witness to the reality of his work and the genuineness of his mission: he "showed himself alive .. by many infallible proofs." (2) Everlasting life in heaven. Ho is now doing the work of administration. "Jesus began both to do and to teach" when he was below; he continues now the great work he theu began. As he arrested Paul on his way to Damascus and cbar~ed him to enter his service, as he inspired and directed his servants so that the "acts of the apostles" are his acts through them; so now he is administer- ing the affairs of his blessed kingdom by enlightening, inspiring, governing his Church by his Spirit (see ver. 2). II. Oux 11rssroN. We have here indications of the kind and method of service which it belongs to us t-0 render. We are: 1. 'l'o luok expectantly. We too are to" wait for the promise of the Father" (ver. 4); often in our Christian life, from its very beginning to its very eud., asking and waiting. v-.re are to ask, to seek, to knock-if need be, again and again; not impatient to receive, but remewberillg that God knows when as well as how to bestow. 2. To receive gratefully. We too "shall be baptizod with the Holy Ghost" (ver. 5, and see ver. 8). God will come to ue in rich effusion if only we ask earnestly and wait patiently; then we shall receive joyfully, and our hearts will fill with sacred and happy gratitude. 3. To submit cheerfully. Our Lor<l ofttiroes says to ue, "It is not for you to know " (ver. 7). Vi7e Jong to know many things not revealed, and this is his reply to our Yain curiosity. Or we long to effect impossible things, and then he says to us, "It is not for you to do." He impo,e~ limits to our action as well as to our knowledge, and within these bounds we must be content to move, rejoicing that we are permitted to know anything of him and do anything for him; rejoicing, also, to believe that soon the circle of understanding and accomplishment will be immeasurably enlarged. 4. To testify faithfully. "Ye shall be witnesses unto me" (ver. 8). It was a far higher function for the apostles to bear witness to Christ-to the greatness of his person, the beauty and tenderness of his spirit, the fulness and joy of his salvation-than to be the depositaries of heavenly secrets as to dates and places. There is nothing we should so earnestly aspire and so strenuously strive to become, as faithful witnesses of Jesns Christ. \Ve cannot conceil·e of a nobler work than to be, by life and lip, bearing testimony to him, constraiuing our fellow-men to realize his readiness to receive, his willingnesa to forgive, and his power to bless and to ennoble them.-C. Vcrs. 9-14.-Wisdom in bereavement. We learn from these verses- !. 'THAT THE CULMINATION OF HOPE IN 01''E MAY PROVE THE DEPTH OF PRIVATION TO ANOTHER. For the joy that was set before him Jesus" endured the cross, despising tho shame" (Heb. xii. 2). Into that joy he now entered. As the "cloud received him out of their sight" (ver. 9), and he returned unto the Father, he took possession of the OH, I, 1-26,] THE AO'l'S OF THE APOSTLES. 11