The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 68

fro~ ~he dead (ver. 32). 3. That prophecy pointed him out as One reigning in power, awa1tmg the final and complete overthrow of all his enemies (vers. 34, 35), Wherefore let every knee bow to him, every heBrt be subject to his sway ; for (1) all power as well as nil authority is his; (2) on his side, we are sure of victory and blessedness; (3) ranged against him, we shall be overcome, with terrible disaster to ourselves.-O, Vers. 37-40.-The gospel according to Peter. That whioh followed immediately on the prenching of Peter's sermon brought out the truths of the gospel quite as fully and forcibly as the discourse itself, We learn from these verses- I. THE RANGR OF DIVINE LOVE. (Ver. 39.) Peter declared, at this the outset of the new dispensation, that the range of God's redeeming love would be" exceeding broad." 1. It wa.s to go from generation to generation: "to you and to your children." 2. It was to extend to remotest regions: "to all that are afar off," 3. It was to embrace every one whom the summons of the inviting Lord should reaoh: "as many as the Lord our God shall call." Thus, at the beginning, the apostles gave a true idea of the fulness of that "kin~dom of God" of which their Master had spoken so much, and which he lived and died to <•stablish. II. THE FIRST RESULT OF Drvnrn TRUTH. (Ver. 37.) This was (and is): 1. Spiritual A.gitation. 2. Earnest inquiry. "When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart; " they said, "What shall we do?" This is the simple, natural, constant course of things divine in the heart of man. When the truth of God is faithfully preached, and when the seed falls on good soil, there is spiritual agitation; the soul is smitten, the heart pierced; there a.re "great searchings of heart;" the old apathy, self-sufficiency, equanimity, is disturbed and broken up, and the spirit is troubled with a deep dis- ~1uietude. It discovers that everything is wrong: the past is guilty, the present utterly unsatisfactory, the future clouded. Then comes earnest inquiry: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" " Wherewithal shall we come before the Lord?" How shall we be forgiven, justified, accepted? What is the path of reconciliation and peace? Through what spiritual ei:perieaces must we pass? What is the way into the kingdom of God? The soul. thus in earnest, turns to the sacred Scriptures or addresses thosa who speak in the name of Christ. Ill THE CHHISTIAN MTh"ISTER'S COUNSEL TO THB INQUIRING. (Vers. 38, 40.) 1. Repent; i.e. turn from sin and selfishness to righteousness and holy service; abandon the old and evil life of folly, thoughtlessness, worldliness, wrong-doing; put that away with shame and sorrow, and enter the opposite path-turn Godwards, truthwanls, heaven- wards. 2. Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Teacher, Lord, Saviour; be baptized into him. Heartily a(;cept him, and honestly avow him, as your Divine Redeemer, 3, Separate yourself from the sin which surrounds you; "save yourselves,n etc. (ver. 4.0); ha,·e no participation in :;uilt, and have no sympathy or fellowship with sinners, as auch. IV. THE PROMISE OF DIVINE MERCY AND INDWELLING POWER. 'l'hese conditions fulfilled, there will be: 1. Remission of sins (ver. 38). 2, The indwelling of the Holy Ghost (vcr. 38). Christ, our almighty Saviour, our Divine Friend, being with ua, we shall have above us a reconciled heavenly Father to whom we can look up with rejoicing, childlike trust and love; and we shall have within us a Holy Spirit, cleansing the thoughts of our heart by his inspiration; sanctifying our nature; empowering us for the burden, the witness, and the battle of life; preparing us for the companionships aud engagements of immorta.lity.-O. Ven. 41-4i.-Bpiritrtalfervwr. The Pentecostal outpour was more than a mere flashing forth of Divine energy, suddenly emitted and immediately withdrawn ; it was the communication of Divine power which remained in the Church and resulted in lasting spiritual fervour. This fervour, no doubt, took certain exceptional and tem- porary forms. 1. There were miracles wrought by the apostles (ver. 43). 2, There was a community of goods (vers. 44, 45), which was so far from being permanent and general, that it only lasted for a short time in the one Church at Jernsnlem. 3. There was daily temple-worship, necessarily restricted both as to time and place (ver. 4.6), But though there were these peculiar and exceptional features, there was much in the apiritual fervour of those earliest days which belongs_ to every age of tho Christian Church. CB, JI.1-47.) THE ACTS Ol•' THE Al'OSTLES. 63