The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 139

ever from some form of interest. The temper of the truth-lover is ever for free speech and free thought. lie knows that the truth, being e. beam of Go<l, cannot be quenched !lnd is renccted with nil the more glory from the mists of error. Often men mean bJ ~• the truth" their own opinio~s :1nd I?re~udices: History shows, and passion c?nstantly ignores, that to put down opm10ns 1s 1mposs1ble. The spirit of man acquires forco both in good nnd evil by resistance. Let what you consider false be either iITTiored, or, far better, honestly exnrnincd and discussed. But, in fact, no absolute fals~hood can live an hour; and when desire is shown for suppression of free utterance,/ear of tbe truth, not love of it, is betrayed. 2. Another cause was the popular acceptance of the gospel. 'rhe thousands may be despised as individuals, but their collective feeling commands respect. When the mulLitude wait on a preacher, and their lives are changed by his influence, we may be certain that there is a deeper a,::encv at work than appears. The very extravagances which attend popular religious movements ore in their way evidences that men are being acted upon by unwonted spiritual power. II. THEIR EXAMINATION. They stood in the presence of the Sanhedrim-the great ecclesiastical court and rnling body of the nation. It is a snblime contrast between the power that is and the power that is not of the world. The parts of the prisoners and the judges are really reversed. Sincerity is ever the jndge; appearances go for nothing in the spiritual sphere, 1. The question. 'l'he fact is not disputed; the question is-How is it to be accounted for? What power, whose Name, had been at work here? The surging up of a new power in Church or state is a formidable thing. What is its nature? how must we deal with it? is the care of the powers that be. 2. The answer. First, a good thing has been admit.tedly done. Out of prostration ond weakness a sufferer has been restored to health and freedom. Facts are stubborn things. Our acts speak louder than words, and tell for us or against us irresistibly. So let us live that the facts of our life may plead for us trumpet-tongued. Second, the interpretation of the fact. The name and po1ver of Jesus are behind it. Thus does spiritual force rise up and react against those who idly fought against it. Here was the crucified One darting a ray of his glory upon suffering. 'l'he Resurrec- tion: it was no fancy; it stood illustrated in the person of the restored man in the presence of the court. What else was or could ho the meaning of the fact? No other explanation is attempted. .Accusers and accused stand beneath the shadow of a power of which the oue are feeble foes, the others mighty agents. Life is full of these contrasts, these coincidences of extreme opposites; power dwindling into impo- tence, feebleness lifted into power. The stone cast aside on the highway proves to be the corner-stone of a new buiiding. The rejected of men, who could not save himself, becomes revealed the Elect of God, and sole Source of salvation. Contempt of goodness is avenged by the manifested contempt of God. III. THE EMOTION OF THE COURT. The judges are overcome in spite of t,hemselves by the extraordinary contrast before them. It is rare that the learned do not feel a deep secret contempt for the ignorant and unlettered. An overvaluation of worils and logic blinds to realities. But here the calm eloquence of those simple men breaks out like the ray of a pure gem hidden in some rough mntrix, and dazzles the intelligence. Memory is stimulated, and Peter and John are identified as disciples ot Jesus. There wns a combination of evidences which fairly reduced the judges to stupefied silencci. There stood the well-known figure of the paralytic; side by side his confessed healers; the clenr statement of the Divine agency iu the case has been boldly and impressively given by thee; finally their former connection with Jesus is recognized. 'rhe whole chnin of antecedents and conscquents hangs firmly tog~ther. 'l'he logical process in fact and thought is complete. Infinitely better the silence which bows before irrcsititible reasons than the silence which is gained by force. Here again extrnmes meet. Mute are the lips of the unjust, who have evoked eloquence from the innocent; the silencers have reduced thern_se:v~ to _durn)mess. 'Tis ever so. When violence seems to have made the truth to retire for a t1rue, 1t has really sent it on a larger arc of travel, from which it will surely return to smite the propelling lie. . . . . IV. TuE CONSULTATION. Policy 1s consulted when conscience IB absent.. It is dubious, and flies to compromises. There were three courses open: to p1'l1sh the 134 THE ACTS OP THE APOSTLES. Con. 1v. 1-37.