The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 145

mwselvea. The whole incident teaches the strength of the spiritual life; the method nr the Ohristian work; the glory of the believer's prospects. 'fhose that ha.ve been with Jesus shall sh11re his victories.-Il. Ver. 20.-The aggressiveness of the gospel: "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." The early history of Christianity a striking proof of its Divine origin. Man's method is to wait opportnnitieM, God's to create them. Mau prepares his strength before he puts it forth; God makes his strength perfect in weak- ness. The" foolishness of preaching." Athanasius contra mundum. We must pay no heed to the world's scorn and distrust of enthusiasm. J. THE RELIGION 011' CHRIST AGGRESSIVE BECAUSE rr IS REAL. " The things which we ha.ve seen and heard.'' 1. Not speculative, but simply practical; things of men's moral life, things which concern all, things of infinite importance, having their roots in eternity. 2. Not things of human systems and ecclesiastical dogmas. The apostles did not preach either against the Church of Judaism or about the Church government of Christianity, but about gospel facts which underlie all systems and must make the substance of all creeds. 3. Things of experience-" seen and heard." They spoke as witnesses; and the more we can preach as simply bearing testimony to the gospel, the more power we have. The various false religions of the world powerless to heip because they appeal little to fact and experience. II. THE UNIVERSAL OBLIGATION 011' SPEAKil'l"G FOR CHRIST. 1. Spealcing before men. The notion of secret discipleship utterly false. Special value of outspoken faith, both t" the believer himself, in confirming, maturing, guiding, clearing the spiritual convictions themselves, and in supporting practice by the help of a solemn, recorded vow of service. The deeper and the more real the feeling, the more necessity to speak it before others. 2. Speaking to men in Christ's Name. We hearken unto God and he bids us speak. It is a power that grows with exercise. The world requires it more and more. Books can never take the place of preaching. In all ages men have looked for and trusted their spiritual leaders. The things of the gospel were not done in a corner, and they must be brought out into public life. Read the Bible in the midday light of modern thought o.nd business enterprise; it is fitted to every stage of human advancement. "Stand up for Jesus."-R. Vers. 28-31.-The two kingiloms in array against one another. I. THE SCRIPl'URAL REPRESENTATION nECOGNIZED. The Holy Gbost spake it. The view given in Ps. ii. corresponds with that which pervades the Bible. The Dabe! power over against the kingdom of God. God making all things to work together for his purposes. 'l'he history of Jesus Christ a wonderful confirmation of this view. The disciples in their faith and fellowship following their Master and accepting the responsibilities of the position. II. 'l'HE SPIBITUAL BUPREMA0Y ASSERTED. 1. Ily prayer. Appeal to God to justify the faith of his people. Martin Luther, "God must save his own Church." As the Lord of heaven and earth, the Revealer of his own truth and will, the God of history, which shows his faithfolness. 2. lly renewed self-consecration. "Grant to thy servants boldness.'' 'l'hey did not shrink from the conflict, but laid hold of Divine strength. 3. By expectation of manifestation of power. The miracle already done was but the beginning of great things. We must not Le satisfied with mere moral order as a testimony to Christianity. We should pray for and expect moral miracles; not a repetition of ancient signs and wonders, but marvels of spiritual liie-souls healed, the dead raise<l. to life. III. 'fHE KING ENCOURAGING THE SERVANTS 011' ms KINGDOM. Before the battle closes the commander speaks the word of appeal and encouragement along the line of his nrmy, Whon God has appointed us to do breat work, he prepares us for it by tho special gifts of his Spirit. External signs:" The place shaken "-to :emind them that earthly powers were in God's hand. S::,iritual grace vouchsafed:" All filled." The sen,-e of a brotherhood, of an army going forth to fight, deepened by the outpouring of gifts upon all. 'l'he word spoken" with boldness." Force being macle manifest; perfect lov~ casting out fear. Wo commence from thia time a new st:1ge of the history. Persecution i, doing its work-calling out the graces of tiio brotherhood, turning weak men into heroc~ The simple, devout- dependence of those primitive believers a great e::rnmplo to u~ 140 THE ACTS OF 'l'HE APOSTLES. [ott. I\>, 1-37, -------------------------------- The Church is lacking in boldnoss. We must be prepared to grap1)le with tho enemy. ·we must bring t.heir threatenings to God and pray that he will look upon them. Above all, we must ask to be filled with the Holy Ghost.-Il. Vem. 32-3~.-The host of God drawing to,qether in readinm for action. I. A COMMON SPIRIT m the believing multitude. 1. 'l'he spirit of faith. 2. Of self-sacrifice. 3. Of fellowBhip. 4. Of service. They were of one heart and soul to speak and work for the new kingdom. II. A com.r:m"ITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY, The simple and natural expression of the comm.on spirit. Not the modern communism, or anything like it, for that is nmn's expenment to better himself; but the Christian co:nmunism was the believers' expe- dient to accomplish the will of God. III. A marvellous sign of the SPmIT's PRESEYCE AND POWER. "Great grace upon all." Great power in apostles; great testimony given to Christ. An active, self- denyiLg, speaking Church challenging the world.-R. Ver. 32.-Christian communism. "And the multitude of them that believed," etc. The Bible not a book of politics or earthly legislation. Danger of misapplying its teach- ing, by forgetting that it does not dictate formal rules and creeds, but describes the workin!! out of great principles. The social problem of human history-reconciliation or individual ndvancement with social and organic progress; failure of all merely human attempts; danger of men's experiments; despondency; revolution; selfishness. of the higher classes; misery of the poor; necessity for change in the material condition of society; recognition of the primary law, the external facts coming forth from tbo in tern al life. L The srmITUAL FACT set forth. "One henrt and soul" in the multitude, 1. Cannot be produced by mechanical means. 2. Is the root of all true strength and pros- perity in society. 3. Is the gift of the Holy Ghost. We should pray for it. 'l'he great spiritual revivals of history bnve brought about great moral and social changes. Reformation; revival of W esleys and Whitefield, etc.; missionary spirit of the present centurv. II. The uonAL MIDACLE wrought. The universal self-denial. The confidence in a new state of things, thou~h only at present at the threshold. The absorption of individuality in brotherhood. A new fact in Jerusalem; testimony to the power of Christ and bis doctrine. IIL The PRACTICAL TEACHING EMBODIED in the facts. 1. Depend upon spiritual forces, not on political expedients. 2. Let the multitude work out its own form of brother- hood, from the one heart a.nd o:1e soul; not trust to mere philosophical theorizing and dreams of enthusiasts. 3. Preach Christianity a.s the great uplifting and renewing power of the world; not revolution.2ry, not by wars and strifes, but by sanctification of the multitude of wills. 4. Hold up the gospel prophecy to the poor, not to excite in them envy of the rich, not to delude them with predictions of a speedy deliverance from necessary burdens, but to incite them to the prospect ofa. larger share in the progressive prosperity of mankind, and to co-operation in the work of uplifting their fellow-men. We should be of one heart and soul, rich a.nd poor alike.-R.