The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 91

growth to the vegetation already in existence, and at the same time the development of life in seeds and germs which had long lain Intent in the soil, incapable of veaetation 0 in the unkindly climate of their birth. Exactly in the same way, the flood of a Divine life, poured suddenly into the souls of men, enlarged and ennobled qualities which had been used already, and at the same time developed powers which never could have become apparent in the c0kl, low temperature of natural life." It may be well to recall the associations of the Feast of Pentecost, especially noting that it was held to com- memorate the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. Then Law came as a series of formal commandments; now Law came as an inward impulse to righteousness; it was" written in the mind and the heart." The symbols designed to show the character of the Spirit's work in the disciples are three, viz. wind,fire, tongues. I. THE SYMBOL OF THE WIND. This would recall our Lord's simile used in con- versation with the inquiring Nicodemus (John iii. 7, 8), "The wind bloweth where it listeth," etc. It would also remind of the later incident when Jesus "breathed on them, and said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John xx. 22). The figure in the Hebrew word for Spirit (ruach) is "breath," or" wind." We may note that the wind suggests the freeness of the Spirit, the force of the Spirit, and the el.evating and inspiring influence of the Spirit. II. THE SYMBOL OF THE FmE. This would recall the words of John the baptizer, "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." Fire is conceived as the great purging and purifying agent. John could not forgive sin, or cleanse souls, or sanctify. For this work he prepared the way. Christ cleanses and sanctifies, by bis Spirit, with a fulness and a power that can only be represented by the work of fire on precious meta.I. A power like fire is needed to destroy and root out self and sin. III. THE SYMBOL OF THE TONGUES. It is difficult to decide precisely the form of the gift that came to these first disciples. Afterwards we find the gift of tongues explained as an ecstatic utterance, which required interpretation. Here we may assume that the gospel message was ,delivered by different individuals, in different languages, and in different parts of the temple courts. We should see that it fulfilled the promise made to the disciples of power to witness. The first sign of the power came in adaptation to the particular circumstances and needs of the day,and they might s'le in this the assurance that the power would come in adaptation to every day's needs. Not always as power to speak a foreign language, but always as power to speak, as the freed loosened tongue, as a new tongue, so that they might preach Christ, and witness everywhere for the "Prince and Saviour, exalted to give repentance, and remission of sins." Conclude by showing that the symbols tea.eh us this lesson-that the same Spirit is still with the Church and with us; and is as certainly and precisely adapting h.is grace and help to the work and the witness we are called to render.-R. T. Ver. 4.-The great lesson of the Pentecost. It seems a strange thing that our Lord, when preparing his disciples for the coming of the Spirit, should set a higher value on that Spirit's work than on the continuance of his own (John xvi. 7-11). The only satisfactory explanation is this-that the Spirit's work was the continuance of bis own. It continued that Divine presence which was essential to the stability and culture of the disciples; for both while he lived among men and when he passed beyond human vision, our Saviour's words were true, "Without me ye can do nothing." No longer is Christ outside us, only to be seen by the eye, heard by the ear, and touched by the hand; we are now the" temples of the Holy Ghost;" he dwelleth with us, and is in us. We do not rightly apprehend the scene of Pentecost if we regard it only as the first of a series of separate gifts of the Spirit, which may be ma.de in answer to prayer. 'Na take a much more comprehensive and truthful view when we regard it a.s tbe eu~rance of God the Holy Ghost upon his special mission in relation to the ful~ red_emption of mankind. It was, as it were, the opening of the heavens, and the sending l_orth of ~he Divine Spirit, to brood for ever over the waters, quickening lif~• It was his r~cept1on in the hearts prepared for him, that he might begin a work which, ever sp:eadrng and widening seeks to enthrone God the Father in every heart and every hie. As God the Son ~ntered and won first a mother's heart, that he might get a standing-ground from which to enter the heart of tb.e whole world; so God the Spirit cl\Ille into the  86 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [OR. II, 1-47.