The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 67

ncss of God," they are not of him; if they do, they are. Bo shall we " try the epirit1 whether they are of him." IV •. Oun H,UMAN RESPONSE. (Vere. 12, 13.) The manifestation of Divine power ~m this. occasion excited amazement and incredulity. Of these the former is wholly msuffici,ent and the latter altogether wrong. Only too often this is the result in our case. 1. We are surprised when we ought to be simply grateful; it ought to be a sur- prise to us when, in response to our prayer and holy expectation, God does not come to us in renewing, fertilizing power. When the Son of man does come, does he find the expectancy of faith or the astonishment of unbelief (Luke xviii. 8)? 2. We ar~ incredulous, and perhaps derisive, when we ought to be congratulatory. Some Christian men can account for Divine energy and agency on any principle but the one which should be readiest to their mind, viz. that God is with us, willing to appear on our behalf, prepared to outpour his Spirit in rich effluence on our souls and on our labours. Ily our incredulity we (1) displease him, (2) hinder the cause we should help,(3) make impossible any blessed share for ourselves in the shouts of victory.-C. Vers. 14-36.-Truthsfrom Peter's sermon. A more glorious opportunity than that now presented no man could desire. Peter was the last man in the world likely to let it go unused. He instantly and, no doubt, eagerly appropriated it. In an animated and forcible address he repelled the idea that th~ apostles were acting under lower excitements, and showed that a new era had dawned upon the race, of which they should hasten to avail themselves. vVe gather from his words- I. THAT THE BOUilCE OF HUMAN INSPIRATION MAY BE VERY MUCH HIGHER, AB IT MAY BE VERY MUCH LOWER, THAN 18 SUPPOSED. (Vers.15-17.) It is true enough that what passes for Divine inspiration is often nothing more or better than earth-born excitement, mental or moral heats which are kindled by man and not by God-of the flesh, fleshly. This is abundantly proved by the test of time, and, in these cases, the last state is usually worse than the first. But, on the other hand, it sometimes happens that what is ignorantly mistaken for human passion is nothing less than a Divine afflatus. So here: these men "were not drunken;" God was "pouring out his Spirit" upon them. So has it been in the history of the Christian Church. Men that God has raised up and inspired to do his work have been either contemptuously disregarded, or cruelly decried, or systematically persecuted. Such facts as these should make us wait, examine, inquire, before we dismiss as worthless, or denounce as evil, those who profess to speak for Christ in ways other than our own. II. THAT THE WHOLE HISTORY OF OUR RACE IS OUTSPREAD BEFORE Goo, AND TH.AT BIB HAND IB LAID UPON IT. (Vers.17-20.) The Prophet Joel tells us what God will do. His words are necessarily obscure, for only the facts when they have occurred can make clear and plain their full significnnce. But we perceive that it was God's purpose, looking on to the future of the world, to pour down at one epoch a very rich effusion of his Spirit on the race, and to "show wonders" of the most extraordinary kind before the end of the dispensation. Everything is foreseen, arranged; the eye of God looks on, and all is before him; his hand, too, is stretched out, and at various points he makes his almighty power to be felt. Ill. THAT AMID ALL THE R0CKINGS OF REVOLUTION THERE IS ONE PLACE OF UNFAILING SAFETY. (Ver. 21.) "Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved." Whatever visions are seen, or dreams are dreamed, or prophesyings are uttered on earth; whatever w-;,:iders may be wrought in heaven,-the man that makes 'Jod his Refuge has no need to fear; he shall be hidden in the everlasting arm!I of strength and love. IV. THAT DIVINE PURPOSE IS llO-0PERATIVE WITH HUMAN FREEDOM. (Ver. 23.) Christ Jesus was "delivered by the determinate counsel," etc.; yet he was not so delivered but that they were "wicked hnnds" that crucified and slew him. The providence of God makes all things possible to us-the noblest achievements and also the darkest crimes; it is our faithfulness which makes us the agents of the one, and our sin which makes us the perpetrators of the other. V. THAT Goo HAS MADE HIS ETERNAL SoN TO OCCUPY THE THRONE 01!' THE HUMAN WORLD. (Vers. 21-36.) Peter showed: 1. That David had predicted the resurrection er Christ (vers. 26-31). 2. Thnt they could bear positive testimony that he had risen 81 THE ACTS OF 'l'HE APOSTLES. [on, II, 1-47.