The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 25

Into hen.van 'l" 1. A~riinst the misuse or signs 11nd appe11rance&. Get at the auhetance of the fo.ct, o.nd wo.ste no time and strength on the mere form. 2. Against pryina into forbi,lden secrets. Indulgence of fancy in religion. Following the track of"senqe beyond its reo.ch. 3. Spiritual depre~sion nnd reaction. Christ is still the same. Ee not rifraid or perplexed, but sot to work and prepare for his return. II. AN ANNOUN0EMENT. "This Jesus shafl so come." 1. A personal advent, but not necessarily pro-rnillenniol. 'l'he chief moanin:; of the promise is that this world is to be prepared for the return of Christ, therefore is to be made his kingdom, so the expcctntion is practical. 2. 'l'he similarity of circumstances is helpful to faith. " Out of sight," "a cloud," "tal,en up,"-such terms remind us that we must not look for mere sensible indications of the Saviour's descent from heaven; but in like manner as he went away, so mysteriously that his disciples scarcely knew whether he was gone and still gazed after him, so he will appear again "with clouds," and only imperfectly seen, until his presence shall be hailed with tho shout of the archangel and the trump of God. 3. 'l'he assurance of the second advent of the Lord should be the summons to work, and the comfort of all that feel their loneliness and want in this scene of separation from their Saviour's visible presence. "Till Jesus comes." The promise speaks peace to us.-Il. Vers. 12-14.-The first roll-call of the ahurch. Notice- 'l'RE GATREIUN0·PLACE. 1. Jerusalem, with Olivet in the background. Hence- forth a t~w Jerusalem. '!'he descent from the Mount of the Saviour's glory, a sa.bba.th day's journey off; return to the duties of life, to new :esponsibilities, but with a. vivid remembrance of the parting interview with Jesus. 2. Upper chamber. The grain of mustard seed must be sown in the common ground of humanity. Yet the commence- ment of Church life must recognize separation from the world as the law of the new kingdom,fellowship a.s the condition of union, subordination and order a.s helpful to activity. 3. 'l'he society composed of mingled elements-men and women, apostles and disciples, old and young; those attached to Jesus by spiritual bonds alone, and those who were his fleshly kindred, able to minister with special familiarity of persona.I knowledge. "Mary "and "his brethren." 4. Their first mutual occupation. " \Vith one accord they continued steadfastly in prayer." Not a.s excluding exhortation and other forms of fellowship, but as indicating the pre-eminently devout a.nu believing attitude of their minds.-R. Ver.14.-The Ohurch'sfirstprayer-meeting. I. THE PLACE IT OCCUPIES. 1. Under the cloud of a great trial. 'fhe separation from .Jesus; the attitude of the Jews of the metropolis; the dependence of a company of poor and persecuted people; the sense of ignorance and feebleness. What could they do but pray, especially as they felt that the power had not a.s yet come? 2, At the threshold of tho Churcb's history. We know what grew out of that first meeting. All great religious;movements have commenced in prayer. Little the actors have foreseen of the future. Luther nailing up his theses. Early meetings of the W csleys. Morlern revivals. The ".Acts" a. commentary upon that spiritual germination of a. new life at Jerusalem. Developments of the individual characters represented by the names. Providence works with grace. They that put themselves by prayer into the hands of God are led on by his hand. 3. In the history of the world, a new social fact which is destined to enlarge nntil it embraces all human interests and associations within itsc!C A missionary prayer- meeting it was, though as yet the herald-spirit had not t ..keu full possession of the brethren. They knew that they were sent by Jesus to the uttermost parts of the earth. It was a prayer for the baptism which should make all alike messcn;ers of the new life. The success of nil evangelistic efforts depends on their following this example of prayerfulness. II. THE LESSONS IT 'rEACRES. 1. The spirituality or the kingdom of Chri~t. 2. The equality of Christians in the Church. a. '!'he dependence of Divine gifts on our preparation for them, in heart and lire. An outpouring of the Spirit in answer to prayer is a bestowment of grace. on those who are ready to employ it when it comes. 4. Mutual recognition in the Divine presenoe the prerequisite to individual callings and separate work. The spirit of prayqr the preservative against division.-R.  20 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [cH, I, 1-26,