The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 149

1~1ightier. This method of securing a certainty and even facility of holJ upon tho vastest bulk of mankind, to disintegraoo it if one corrupt mass, or gradually to rodintegrate it, without recourse to flood or deluge or any physical force, invites most grateful and reverent study. The analogies of physical nature, more and more laid bare to li~ht by science, offer many an inferior harmony with it. God's moml hold upon the ~at mass depends on and is regulated by his hold upon the individual and the individual conscience; and often exhibits itself in this shape-that one conscienet1 touched will prevail against ten thousand men, will suffice to make "a divided house," and put a wonderfully centrifugal tendency into the constituent parts of what seemed a ,cry compact whole. While, on the other hand, thousands and all the influence they could wield, and all the torture they could apply to martyrdom itself, will leave the conscience unha.rmed and unmoved. " Commaud," then, and " threat," varied only by "threat" and" command," are the singularly weak weapons to which this embarrassed. and undignified court now resort. And these soon enough crumble to their touch, V. THE REBUFF SUST.UNED BY THE COURT. (Vers. 19-22.) This rebuff contains not a few points which make it remarkable. 1. It is no doubt uttered in a respectful tone and manner, but for decision of language and firmness of front it wants nothing. It distinctly emphasizes the subordinate character of the jurisdiction of the Sanhedrim; it distinctly emphasizes their prisoners' knowledge of it; and as distinctly it empha- sizes the intention of the prisouers to continue to do the things they were commanded not to do, and respecting which tlwy were threatened. 2. The rebuff administered by Peter and John contains a reiteration of that which was so often the unconcealed i;trcngth of the apostolic message-the doctrine and impulse of "God," the matters of fact, such as they themselves had "seen and heard." Three forces sustained (and should still sustain) the Christian preachers-that they spoke things within their own kt10wled~e, that they found themselves irresistibly moved to speak of these things, and that their undying conviction was that those things were the things of God. Upon what a platform of unassailable strength do they now stand, who hold this reply u!lly to prohibition and threat, "Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye: for we cannot but speak the things which "·e have seen and heard" l The implications are manifest. That the apostles must do what is right; that by right they mean what is so in the sight of God; that this .nay utterly traverse and contravene the criterion of right with the Sanhedrim; and that they a.re cognizant of a call to speak which they cannot and will not disobey. 3. The rebuff so fits in to truth, to time, and to circumstance, that there is nothing left for those most smitten by it but to sit down quietly under it. Except for the inanity of "further threatening" Peter and John, those who now smart are also like certain others, "spe,ediless " (Matt. xx.ii. 12). So sometimes does God cover with the shield of his wondrous protection his servants. They are without a shred of worldly position, of influence, of wealth. They sit on no throne, can summon no legions, nor wield one ,\·ea.pon. Yet are they themselves kept safe as "the apple of his eye." They gaze, too, with the light of the Divine eye un human hearts, darkened with guilty tumult booause unloya.l to the truth. And it is entrusted to them to wield the weapon of unanswerable rebuke. Many a victory falls far short of what it seems. Greater than all, it showed, was tLe victory of Peter and John, when the Sanhedrim, after enduring keen rebuke and blank rebuff, nevertheless" let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done." It is 60, God protects and exalts and all in one honours his servants with highest service in his Name.-B. Vera. 23-3L-The grareful, emb()ldened, and prayerful Church, and the Spirit', witneBll. With all the naturalness of simplest truth, we are told how the apostles, in tLeir new character of discharged prisoners, hie away at once to their brethren of tho Church. .And we are in this passage taught how- l. THE CHURCH SHOULD BE A HOKE OF TENDEREST, KOST FAITHFt7L 8Ylll'ATHIE81 A!l.'D OF HOLY SOOUL INTEBCOU11SE, Now it is too often the place of suspicion, dis- trust, unhappy emulations. Or it is the place of coldest indifference, None welcome the coming, speed the parting, guest. Or it is only the place of an almost selfish 5eck.ing of the proffered religious instruction, or exhortation, or enjoyment that may, VU, IV, 1-37.] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 145