The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 110

our time? Every teacher who bids us strive and o.spire towards the ideal, tho king- dom of God in the spirit, is a prophet, ud is charged with a measure of oracular power for hie generation. VI. THE INHERITANC~ OF THE PRESElo."T, We too are" sons of the prophets." God has spoken to us. Bebmd us lies the pa.st, with its wonderful lore, its yet unsatisfied yearnings. We too are included in the Divine covenant of blessing. The process of events set in motion by the eternal Cause continues itself in us. The seed of hi■ loving thoughts becomes fertile anew in the spirits of each succeeding generation, and appears in new blossom and fruit. Till "all countries of the earth" shall thus be sown and impregnated with the thoughts of God, the process shall continue. Away, then, with a dead theology which seeks for inspiration only in the fulfilled, not also in the fol filling and the to be fulfilled. Let us believe in God, not merely because we know that he stirred in men's souls in days of yore, but because we fool him stirring in our own souls now. VIL OBDEB IN THE DrvINE PURPOSE. Israel first, next through Israel the nations are to be blessed. Spiritual force, like other force, must be concentrated that it may be diffused. Other nations have had light, but Israel the intensest. It is the moral consciousness which makes humanity ; and in the turning from sin, men are in the way of all good, of growing good; the negation of evil is the affirmation of the principle of the spirit.--J. Vers. 1-10.-The apostles worker, of miracl,ea. General introduction. The witnessing vocation of apostles required miracles-as signs of the kingdom of Christ; as attestations of apostolic authority; as appeals to the world, and to the Jewish people especially, to accept the new doctrine; as corresponding in some measure to the miracles of our Lord, and so perpetuating the blessing of bis ministry which he himself promised in his last discourses," .Another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever" ( J obn xiv. 16). Consider the miracle itself. L lTs CIIAll.ACTEB. 1. Purely benevolent. Performed on a beggar, helpless, miser- able, altogether unconnected with the new society, unable to reward his benefactors. 2. Oonspi=sly real. At a public spot-the temple; at the ninth hour, when wor- shippers would throng to the place; on one well known to the whole city; daily laid as a public object of pity; helped by no one before, but now helped through Christ; •born lame, therefore not labouring under merely temporary infirmity; not even asked for by the sufferer, but offered freely by the apostles, as by a sudden impulse of the Spirit. • II. ITS EFFECTS. 1. Upon the man himself. It raised him np physically and spiritually at the same moment. God often thus speaks to the soul through the body, both by afflictions and by visitations of mercy. It turned his wail of misery into songs of joy. Take the description of the work upon the man as typical of the course of gracious work, the bestowment of a new life and strength, first putting us on our feet with sudden leap of heartfelt gladness of faith; then "beginning to walk," feeling the new limbs like a child; then walking forward "into the temple;" then II walking and leaping and praising God," the conscious participation in blessings making us the ministers of joy to others, filling the temple with praise. 2. Upon the apostles and through them on the Church and on the world. The important place of the miracle as evidence of the Divine mi8sion of tne messengers. 'l'hey themselves could scarcely have known what they could do until, by impulse of the Spirit, they put forth the energy. The believers who were sharers with apostles of the gifts of the Spirit would henceforth expect great things. Jerusalem must have been startled into attention and incipient faith. 11 The people saw him," etc. (vers. 9, 10). Although miracles regarded alone would never convert the world, yet in connection with the Word of God they powerfully arouse the minds of men. " Wunder and amazement" are God's agents in awakening the soul and preparing the ground for the seed of eternal life. .Another great effect of the miracle was corrective and didactic. No one could doubt that the apostles were no self-seekers, no fanatics, no ambitious founders of a new sect: but simply heralds of the gospel. What they did was "in the N amc of Jesus Christ of Nazareth." They began their work upon the poor, they appealed to the impotent and the helpleas, they proclaimed their OW.Q poverty, and yet invited men to riches OJI, IU. 1-26,] THE ACTS OF 'fHE .APOSTLES. 106