The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 35

AND AN APPARENTLY INCONOLUBIVE REASON FOR IT, ON THE PART OF TWO ME,," wno APPEARED IN WIIITE APPAREL." '!'he II two men in white apparel" were neither phantoms, creatures of the bro.in, nor spectres, creatures of the nir and heavens. The expression, no doubt, designates umgels; it is likely enough such as bad once been "men," such as Moses and Elijah, or two "of the prophets." Their interruption one must ima;sine, must have been at first unwelcome to the apostles. It seems so at' first to ourselves. "\Ve would have liked to know what close the apostles would have them- selves put to their rapt gazing heavenward. Nor is the necessity or the expediency of the interruption visible upon the surface. Yet we may remark that: 1. We are, as it happens, in ignorance of what might have been the etiect upon the t:pectators of the glorious scene of the .Ascension, but for this interruption-the strickenness of a trance, for instance. 2. Intently excited states of mind often answer to the corrective of the mere sound of the human voice, calmly addressed to them. Marvellous instances of this fact are furnished in the history of mental disease. 3. Genuinely exalted feelin,-, may "exalt above measure" (2 Car. xii. 7), anrl may need a prompt simple treat: ruent, to obviate the necessity of future much more painful treatment. TLe simple treatment now was interruption, but with the comforting assurance that the separa- tion was not absolute and for ever, but distinctly the contrary. 4. Very vivid experiences of joy, of grief, or of an intricately mingled character, while on the one hand very prone to absorb undue attention for the present, are at the same time the very soil that abundantly rewards the introduction of the seeds of great aspects of the future. Nor could there easily be found a more certain example of this than in what is now before us. It was of first-rate importance that in the heart and mind of the first teachers and preachers of Christianity the second coming of Christ should be ciosely linked with his ascension. '!'he Uhristian individual and the Christian Church may never linger too long in the past. It is a silent, wonderful testimony to the vitality of Christ's truth, and its spirit of progress, wide as the world and lasting as the world, that a tremendous future career and consummation are ever marked for prominence. Side by side with the Ascension must the second descent of Christ be kept. Therefore side by side were these great facts (so to say) sown, in the apostolic heart. Further, that the descending Christ would be the same-i.e. one of glorified human body, as the cloud bore him a minute or two ago out of human sight-was a fact to be deeply impressed upon the Church of all time. And therefore, ab initio, it is so impressed on the apostolic heart, while nothing has yet occurred to efface from them the conviction of the real body of Jesus. 'l'he words of the "two men in white apparel" are the words of studied precision and emphasis. " This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." We can be left in no doubt that the interruption was neither reckless nor heartless. It was not to spoil the infinite serenity, infinite solemnity, infinite charm of moments, that with the eye raised heart and soul to heaven. Momentous doctrinal truth was to be safely sealed and impressed upon the Church's mini!. And the choicest of Hea,en's seasons must be ungrudgingly given and unchurlishly accepted-a tribute to the importance of that truth; a token, also, of another noteworthy thing, that the Church was infinitely dear to the heart of her Lord at all time; nor that even the purest joy of a few first apostles shall be permitted to stand in the light of the whole Church. In this case there is not the atom of a reason to think those apostles would have asked it. 'l'hey breathe no murmur that their delicious reverie was disturbed. 5. Last of all, under any circumstances, heavenward gaze, contemplation, seraphic vision, must be exchanged a while for earth's duty. '!'hat word is sacred, that call is sovereign. We must come uown from the mount, whether it be the Mount of Beatitudes, or of Transfignration, or of Olivet. Prayer, praise, and those acts of meditation and devotion that may be of sublimest significance, are the aliment of Christian life. It is in "the strength of such meat" that we must live the present life, and do the work of the present days, and teach the" truth as it is in Jesus," by living, humble example as well as by word. And we must ourselves" wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ," "comforting nnd citifying one another" (1 'l'hess. v. 11) with the words of the "two men in white apparel.''.-B. Vera. l2-l4,-.d second interval a/ thrilling expectation hushing itself in prayer. 80 THE ACTS OF TUE APOSTLES. [cu. I, 1-26,