The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 70

Vers. 5-13.-The a.ma.zement of the multittuk. I. WONDER IS CAUSED BY ANY BREAK IN THE REGULAR ORDER AND CUSTOM OF THE WORLD. It is BO in the kingdom of nature, a.nd here in that of spirit, The country-folk of Galilee were least of all likely to acquire the power to speak the tongues of nations with which they were seldom or never in contact. And here unlettered men are found speaking the tongues of ancient and cultivated peoples. It is a type and prophecy of what the gospel in its simplicity is to do for all the varieties of mankind. II. Wm,"DER WAS HERE ENHANCED BY THE MATTER AS WELL AS THE l/lANNER 01' THE ll.ESS.AGE. The burden of this deliverance in diverse tongues was the "great deeds" or "mighty works" of God. Notice that power is the great theme. In any new beginning of spiritual life or fresh era of revelation, perhaps it may be said, the power of God must first be felt by the heart before his mercy and love can be rightly received_ Our weakness needs the disclosure of the power working within us to make all things possible, and our pride may need chastising by the proof that one touch of that power brings the wisdom of this world to nought. liL THE PHENOMENA OJI' THE SPIRIT ADll!IT OF DIVERSE INTERPRETATIONS, The elation and exaltation of the mind produced by the incoming of Divine power outwardly resembles the intoxication of wine, and may readily be mistaken for it. With allusion to this, doubtless, St. Paul said, " Be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit" (see F. W. Robertson's sermon on this text). This is an example of the coincidence of extreme opposites. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and only the spiritual man can distinguish the spurious from the genuine enthusiasm, the superficial effer- vescence of bodily excitement from the sublime manifestation of the presence of God in the soul. Here, too, lies a trial of faith. The enthusiast is liable to be confounded with the madman or the fanatic by the many who judge according to appearances. The results can alone show the reality or otherwise of influence. Genuine spiritual power ia ever followed by moral regeneration in the community.-J. Vers. 14-21.-Interpretation of the phenomena of the Spirit. I. THEY ARE NOT TO BE CONFOUNDED WITH THOSE OJI' SENSUOUS INTOXICATION. In this case the latter was not in the least likely, for it was still early morning. Indeed, Peter waves aside the explanation with an air of contempt. lL THEY ARE TO DE ll,"TEBPDETED BY TIIE LAWS OJI' BPffiITUAL EXPERIENCE. 1. The teaching of the prophets-the most inspired and enlightened of the race-must be fallen back upon. The prophet lived near to the fount of truth, and was the mouthpiece of the oracles of God. 'l'he oracle quoted from Joel lies in the centre of his short roll, and burns there like a core of fire. It seems the one portion of his prophecy which looks beyond the circumstances of his time, and can only be satisfied by repeated fulfilments in the course of all future history. 2. The contents of the oracle of Joel. (1) At some epoch undefined there is to be an outpouring of God's Spirit upon all man- kind_ (2) The effect of this will be a general outburst of sacred utterance; e.n intense inward illumination. (3) The whole manifestation is to be accompanied by wonders, symbolic 1tr1:1d signuioant of a 11pirttu1trl revel.?,tion, and the passing away Qf old and Q\l~ en. 11. 1-47.J THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 66