The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 184

them" with hearty acclamation for instant and grateful acknowledgrnent, (2) "no umn of the rest" (i.e. presumably of those who would not care to be classified altogether among "tho people," and who would have been quite prepared to snatch at any possible dignity at which they could" dare" to snatch)" durst join himself" to those llposUes. 'l'hcy did not daro thiA, because their abilities could be immediately put to },ho proof. They di,1 not dare it., because of tho warning, so fresh, of the end of Ananias, when ho had tampered with the sacredness of the society organized by the apostles. And likely enough, in many cases, they did not dare it from a sincere awe and an intelligent, respectful reverence for men who were doing the things that the apostles were now doing. Any way, the result was obtained that round these apostles was drawn the cordon of a moral regard and a moral support, which would be a strona- comfort to the believers and a strong condemnation to the unbelievers. A very fo.,;; hours were to find the use of this. And a very few hours would show that it inferred no danger_'.of the access of superficial vanity or the incursion of deeper pride. III. THEY GO BEYOND OTl:IER MOST SACRED DAYS OF MIRACLE IN THE DmEcT SPIRITUAL RESULTS WHICH THEY RECORD. (Ver. 14.) It is quite possible that, among the "multitudes both of men and women" who now were "added to the Lord," some may have proved apostates as time went on. On the other hand, the supposition would be most gratuitous that any disproportionate number turned thus away. The fair inference from what is said here and from the tenor of the history that follows would be, if anything, in a contrary direction. Assuming this or contenting ourselves readily with the other and lower estimate, in either case we are justified in noting the kind of use to which at this time miracle was ordained to be subservient. It is not to be disputed that the fervent attachment which bound not a few to the person, yes, and to the character and truth, of Jesus during the days of bis flesh was wakened and fixed by some miracle that he bad wrought for them or theirs. Nor need it be denied that that attachment answered to a genuine spiritual change, a change of heart, evidencing itself in a change of life. Nevertheless, it can scarcely be said that this was the clear rule in the operation of the miracles of Jesus, or that this was their aim. Neither, perhaps, now was this the primary object of the miracles and "the many signs and wonders wrought by the bands of the apostles." But the miracles were distinctly the pioneers of those spiritual results. In the track of miracle went a most efficacious working of the convincing and converting Spirit I The miracle drew many together; it wakened a.:id held the attention; it undoubtedly did have this practical and so far forth moral effect, viz. the effect of compelling_.many to say, "Lo, God is here I" and to feel it. To deny the possibility of a miracle falls nothing short of denying a personal God. To allow the fact of any individual miracle is to allow that God is offering to the help of a poor memory, to the help of a struggle always arduous enough against sense and the numbing sway of habit, to the help of conviction itself, the enlivening touch of his personal presence. Sophistry has a vanity in weaving its web to snare miracie, but vainly weaves. The faith that inheres in the world's great heart is too strong for it, and sweepR away that vanity with equal case and contempt. In the track, then, of miracle viewed for a. moment tlms, it is quite optional what follows. 'l'he miracle, like all other mercy, may be to condemnation, as Jesus said," If I bad not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin . . . . If I bad not done among them the works which none other u,au did, they had not had sin" (John xv. 22, 2±). 'l'hc miracle may bo what it so often WnR in the very dearest specimens of it, those of Jesus himself, to the great gratifica- tion of curiosity-that of people, of priest, and of ruler, and after a while to their deeper sleep and their more reckless disbelief. But it may also be all the blessed contrary. In the track of what or of whom would the quickening, enlightening, convincing, converting Spirit himself rather follow? And this is what was seen now. When Jesus himself wrought his own mightiest works, the Spirit's course seemed restrained. But, wonderful grace I when his disciples nnd apostles are facing the world and encountering the inevitable dangers involved in doing so, mighty miracles aro brought homo by the mightier Spirit, and spiritual results follow such as may be described in terms unknown to the lifetimo of Jesus himself. "Believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." Nevertheless, then were plainly fnlfillcd tho words of Jcsm1 to his disciples, "Verily, verily, I sny unto you, Ho  THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [en. v, 1-42.