Vers. 22, 24.-Moses' witness to the (Jhrist. The first reference of Moses in the words used (Deut. xviii. 15) should be ca.refully noticed. The higher Messianic references of the Old Testament usually underlie an immediate relation to historical events or indi- viduals. ".As the words stand, taken with their context, they seem to point to the appearance of a succession of true prophets, as contrasted with the diviners of Deut. xviii. 14; and, even with St. Peter's interpretation before us, we may well admit those prophets as primary and partial fulfilments of them." It seems that the Jews were fond of comparing the promised Messiah with their great prophet and lawgiver, Moses. Of this one specimen may be given from the rabbinical writings. "Rabbi Berakhiah says, '.As was the former redeemer, so shall the latter redeemer be.' While of the former redeemer it is said (Exod. iv. 20), • .And Moses took his wife and his sons and set them upon an ass;' so of the latter, for it says (Zech. ix. 9), 'He is lowly and riding upon an ass.' And while the former redeemer brought down manna, as it says (Exod. xvi. 4), 'Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you ; ' so the latter redeemer will bring down manna, for it says (Ps. lxxii. 16), 'There shall be abundance of com in the laud.' .And as the former redeemer caused the well to spring up (see Numb. xxi. 17); so the latter redeemer shall also cause the waters to spring up, for it says (Joel iii. 18), '.A fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.'" Moses dwells upon the fact that the coming Messiah should be like him. 'l'his comparison may be opened in the following particulars:- I. MESSIAH WAS TO BE "OF THE BRETHREN." Our Lord was bom of Jewish race . .And he was, as a fellow-man, able to understand and to sympathize with those whom he led. He was a" mnn of like passions ; " "in all points tempted as we are ; " "able to succour them that are tempted.'' The importance of the actual humanity of onr Lord in the theological systems of St. Paul nnd St. John should be fully unfolded. And the ndditional interest of his being a Jew me.y be pointed out. The history of the Jews shows that they have a singular power of adapting themselves to all climes, languages, nations, and societies ; and that which is true of them is true of our Lord's gospel, as bearing, so markedly, the Jewish stamp. It can adapt to all the conditions of mankind, and be preached to every creature. II. MESSIAH WAS To BE A. REDEEMER. Like Moses in this, he was to bring a people out of bondage, deliver them in a glorious and Divine manner, and lead them until their full redemption was complete in the possession of Canaan. This comparison may be made more minute. .And it may be urged that, as the Redeemer, our Lord B!k.s the same surrender to him, in trust, that Moses asked. III. MESSIAH wAS TO BE A. LAWGIVER. This was the great work of Moses. He took the entire person, life, and relations of the people into his regulations, settling rules for their moral, social, national, and ecclesiastical conditions. .And so we come "under Law to Christ," who covers with his "new commandments" the whole of our lives and associations. "One is our Master, even Christ.'' IV. MESSIAH WAS TO BE A. TEACHER. This is the permanent idea of the term "prophet "-one who comes between God and the people, as instructing them in the Divine will. Both Moses and the Lord Jesus t.aught the people concerning God, trin, duty, salvation, chamcter, etc. V. MESSIAH WA.B TO B& .a. JtJDGE, 'l'his Moses was presiding at the chief national 122 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [oH. IV. 1-87,
tribunal. And God has " oommitted all judgment to the Son." He "shall judge the quick and dead." "We must all appear before the jndgment-seat of Christ." Impress from Heb. x. 28, 29, "He that despised Moses' Law died without mercy under two or three wit-nesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who bath trodden underfoot the Son of God?"-R. T.