The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 159

M.ved. Search the world over and the lt"'CS 0 throucrh there is no other • nnd yet one day to this Name "every knee shall bow, and every t~nguo confcss."-R: 'l', Ver. 13.-S(qns of 7,a_vfng been with ,Tesus. We should always keep the thought close to u~ that our spm_t and our word and our conduct, as the professed disciples of the Lord Jesus, are bemg daily watched; sometimes kindly, sometimes unkindly, all\'RYS_ keenlJ:, Men do" take knowledge of us." Something must be wrong if our life as Clmst,aus 1s not so toned and charactered as to arrest attention, There was some- thing abo_ut the apostles which puzzled the Sanhedrim : there was more than they were able to discern. We may see what actually did impress them, and also what might reasonably he.ve impressed them. !,- The Sanhe~rim were struck with the POWER, the COURAGE, which the apostles had fa~ned from Chnst. Power, high personal influence, more.I courage, had been character- 1st1c of the Lord Jesus. In the apostles power showed itself in firm, noble witnessing to the facts they knew and the truths which he.d been entrusted to them however offensive the facts and the truths might be to the rulers who listened. In u~ the like power, given by Christ, me.y show itself in steadfastness to principle, even when that maY place us in ~ocinl disability; and in pi-actical consistency, whatever may be our surroundings. Illustrate by firm keeping of the sabbath law; and by such passages as "Having done all, st.and;" "Quit you like men, be strong;" "Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." There is great need of a more steadfast opposition to accepted worldly maxims and worldly habits. Christians should dare to be singular when Christly principles and the Christly spirit arc imperilled. II. The Sanhedrim might have been struck with the CHARACTERS of the apostles, as fashioned by Christ. The character of the Lord Jesus had been peculiarly his force, and these apostles had come so fully under its influence that they had become, both consciously anci unconsciously, moulded thereby. '!'hey had learned, as Christ's dis- ciples, to seek" whatsoever things a.re true," etc. (Phil. iv. 8). Their natural characters were being sanctified; and, in measure, they were exerting the influence of personal moral excellence and virtue, even as their Lord had done. This may be illustrated in St. Peter. Pure and lovely character is still the highest power on men everywhere. None can wholly withstand the influence of sweet and saintly lives. III. The Sanhedrim might have been struck with the RULING PRINCIPLE of the apostles' CO!."DUCT, which they had learned of Christ. It was the principle of the con- straining love. Love to Christ, by whom we a.re redeemed. Love to the brethren who share with us in the common redemption. And love to the unsaved, for whom we may well desire the unspeakable blessings which we have ourselves received. Love is e,·er seeking to find expression, and will not be satisfied with measures of self- sacrifice short of the self-sacrifice of Christ for our salvation. We cannot hope to exert the same influence on those about us that was wrought by the apostles on the Sanhedrim, until we learn to be oftener with Jesus. Aud that wo may be in two ways. 1. In the outward fellowship of the Gospels. We may study them better. \Ve may meditate on them more frequently. We may realize more perfectly the Christ they reveal, and so "know him," and feel the power of his presence. 2. We may be with Jesus in the inwardfellowship of cherished thoughts. Taking him into our heart!! as we take our dearest friend, and often holding with him secret soul- communings. Then men would plainly see upon us, day by day, the signs that we "have been with Jesus."-R. T. Vers. 23-31.-Praisefor safety and prayer for power. "From the court-room the apostles retired to the Church. Christian confessors win their victories in the face of day; but the strength by which such victories are won is only to be got where JesuY got his, in secret. Remember Luther's broken cries as he lay on his chamber floor at early morning on the 18th day of Apri~ 1521 (D':A.ubignc,' History of~he Reformation,' bk. vii. eh. viii.). In every crisis of stram and penl through which our hves must pass, e.t every moment of supreme difficulty, Sanhedrim threatenings, Worms Diets, or whatever less thing it be before which our faith and courage qua.ii, there is for us no place of help lih the secret footstool of Almighty God, nor any weapon like the cry of faith" (Dr. Dyke~). Notice that the »rayer of the di1eiples is addressed te God, not to Christ, Also CII, tV, 1-37.) 'l'llg AC'l'S-1, OF 'l'llE Al'OSTLtS.