The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 160

thnt in the worahip and prayer one voice led, fincli_ng expression for the common feeling, 11nd the rest of the company probably responded with II Amens" spoken aloud. From t.he exegetical portion of this Commentary th.a precise meanin"0 and allusion8 of the prayer lfl(IY be learned, '\Ve dwell on two things. I. MAN'S PRAISE AND Pr.A YEn. Compare other recorded son"'S and prayers. Espe- cially unfold that the praise took the form of a psalm. Compare the so-called "Psalms of David." It was a public rejoicing on account of a Divine deliverance that was of public interest. Compare Miriam's sung at the Red Sea. Impress the duty of recognizing God's hand in our lives, and praising him for his II ffil)rciful kindnesses." The prayer took the form of a request for precisely the things needed at the moment, viz. power to witness and power to worlc miracles, in attestation of the truth witnessed, .An example of directness in prayer. II, GoD's Rl!:SPON'SI); TO MAN'S PRAISE AND PRAYER. A rene~ of the special grace and endowment with which the apostles had been started on their work. Renewals of grace a.re still God's best answers to our prayers (2 Cor. xii. 9).-R. T. Ver. 32.-Nolliing our own. "The chief way in which at that time a member or the Church could express his unshalten devotion to the common cause, or his willingness to sacrifice to the last penny for the common weal, was by placing his realized capi~al at the disposal of the brotherhood. The endangered position of the little community (through the enmity of the Sadducean party) thus tended to intlame the fervour oi it8 charity, and gave a new impetus to that common relief fund which had been started at Pentecost." 11 '!'here can be no question that an expectation of Christ's immediate return from heaven, acting along with the unity of thoughts and feelings, made these men willing to part with their possessions and goods." Such community of goods has always been part of theories of perfect commonwealths. In this case each member of the Church held his possessions only as a trust, and was prepared to yield them up, if the exigencies of the brotherhood demanded such a surrender. \Ve have, then, in this picture of the early Church, a model of the spirit that should animate the members of Christ's Church in all ages, We do not say models of conduct, because the application of such models in changing generations becomes uncertain. Models of the essential principles, and of the spirit, which we should cherish, are both more helpful and of more constant application. The early Church expressed Chr:stian feeling in outw,rrd forms, just as childhood gets impulsive and unrestrained expression for its sentiment.-: and emotions. Their new faith in Christ suddenly brought them close together, ano made them conscious of new and binding sympathies. Tb ere was at tirst a great gush o~ impulsive brotherhood. Compare the intense feelings animating, and the extraordinary sacrifices ma.de, when the year A.D. 1000 drew near, because of the expectation that Jesus would return on the first day of that year. The feeling was so far right, but the mode of its expression did not gain permanence. Compare the impulse for missions so often strongly felt by young Christians. What these men actually did we may not make a model. 'l'he spirit which led them to do it, and the spirit in which they did it, ar~ a model for us all. There are three sentiments that may be cherished concerning our earthly possessions. I. WE IIIAY REGARD THEM AB oun OWN. Illustrate by the parable of the rich fool, who says he will build greater barns, "where I may bestow all my fruit and my goods." This is both a false and au unworthy sentiment; for " what have we that wo have not received?" II. WE MAY REGARD THEM AS CnnIBT'II. Compare the sentiment of St. Paul, who could say, 11 'fo me to live is Christ." III. \VIJ; MAY REGARD TllEM AS OURS IN TRUST. ThP-n they become talents for whose use we are responsible. Aud we learn to feel that they are not to be spent for self, but used for others; and self-denial, charity, and self-sacrifice are recognized as the first of virtues. Put alongside this sentiment of the early disciples concerning their property, the sentiment of the apostles concerning the disciples themselves-" Ye are not your own;" and then we have the twofold feeling which Christians ought ever to cherish; and our anxiety concerns (1) holding omselves for the Lord, and (2) holdini; our prorerty at the service of others for Christ's sake. "\Vo are not our own." Nothinir that we have is our own. All is Christ's. We arc Christ's. And ther  THE AOTS OF THE APOSTLE~ [on. rt. 1-IT