The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 195

Ver. 19.-.Angel-help. Angels are constantly referred to in Holy Scripture. The angel-Jehovah, or angel of the covenant, who appeared in human form to the patriarchs as a sign and foreshadowing of the Incarnation, must be distinguished from the ordinary angelic appearances, The Old Testament conception of angels is that they were agents or executors of Divine missions to individual men or to communities. Thus we have angels visiting Sodom; angel of the pestilence; angels guarding Jacob, etc. From the earlier poetical and imaginative point of view, the angels were veritable beings, belonging to other spheres but able to communicate with men in the earthly spheres. To our more formal and scientific notions, angels are regarded as the personification of material agencies, as used by God for moral and religious purposes, "He maketh winds his angels, and flames of fire his ministers." Very little can be really known a.bout augcls, and no doctrine of angelology can be pressed on universal acceptance. The New 'fcstarnent conception of angels is given in Heb. i. 14 (Revisetl. Version), "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?" The precise work of ministry is that entrusted to them, and apostolic assertion of tho fact of their ministry is probably designed to oppose the Sadducees' teachin" that "there is neither angel nor spirit." I. ANGEL-HELP AS o::'VEN TO CHRIST, 'fhe principal instances are: 1. Angel-announce- ments nnd preparations for his birth, 2. Angol-comfortings in the time of his desert temptations (llfott. iv. 11). 3. Angel-strengthenings in the moments of his conflict and agony in Gethsemane. 4. Angel-attendance upon his resurrection. 5. Angcl-announcc- me11ts cancernirig his ascension and his coming again. From these instances we may  'l'lil~ ACTS OF 'l'HE APOSTLES. [ea. v. 1-42. ------- -------------------------- learn the ki11d of help which angels may be expectetl to give to Christ's tempted and tried <li~ciplcs. II. ANGEL-HELP AS m:ALlZED BY AP0STJ,Es. This took several forms. 1. As deli\'ernncc from prison (see text, and incident nam\ted in eh.xii. 7). 2. Ascommuni- calin:; Di,·inc messages (see eh. 'l'iii. 26; x. 7). 3. As ensuring safety in timos of peril (-cc eh. xnii. 2<:). It may be observed that what may bo called the materiality of tho nngel began gradually to fade away, and the visionary realization of the angel-help took ils place. In this we trace the transition to the form in which we now may apprehend tbe help of the angels. No ~an ?Jay expect such actual working !n the physical_ spher~s as St. Peter knew when his prison doors were opened. Even in St. Paul's time this work was done by the natural shakings of the earthquake. III. ANGEL-HELP AS GRANTED TO us. And we may distinctly affirm that it is granted. 'l'he only question is-In what mo.nncr do we realize the help? Spiritual forces arn ar,,und us. \\'e are influenced, for good and for evil, by unknown agencies. 'l'his is as yet almost an unstudied Christian phenomenon; one, however, which often brings comfort as a sentiment to pious souls. Such angel-help is very properly put into a secondary place in our consideration when we have a. full and strong conviction that the Lord Jesus Christ himself is with us, the Inspiration, Guard, and Guide of our whole life and thoughts. They who consciously realize the presence of the Master will make comparatively little of tbe presence of the Master's ministers and servants working out Lis gracious purposes for him. Show with what limitations we may properly cherish the idea of an1el-help in everything that is good.-R. T. Yers. 21-~4.-The hopelessness of fighting against God. The narrative indicates that the Sanhedrim had fully entered on the work of checking and crushing the party of Christ's disciples. Gamaliel expressed what the nature of their action might 1,os.sibly prove to be-it might be even a" fighting against God." Some effort should be made to realize u-hat they thought about their work, and how they deluded them- selves with the notion that they alone were guardians of the truth of God, and in opposing the Christian party were really fighting for God. It is one of the saddest effects of cherished exclusiveness and self-confidence that these things actually blind ruen, and make it impossible for them to receive truth as newly presented to them. A little self-criticism, a little skill in testing their own motives, would have revealed to these men the low and unworthy passions and prejudices by which they were per- mitting themselves to be ruled. So often we need to "see ourselves as others see us," and may thankfully welcome any light that reveals ourselves to ourselves. These men were really" fighting against God_'' L lN FlGHTTh'G AGAINST uOD MAN JII.AY WIN .APPARENT AND TEllll'OBARY BUCCEBBES, Only apparent, because they always lead men on to attempt further schemes, which involve them in utter ruin. Only temporary, because God has the long ages in which to secure the outworking of his purposes. Illustrate by the success of the Sanhedrim iu the conviction and death of our Lord, and in the imprisonment of the apostles. II. IN FIGHTING .AGAINST Goo MAN VEALS WITH FORCES BEYOND HIS REACH. And they arc sure to roaster him. Compare man's range of power with God's. illustrate from the treatment of Christ ; death was man's limit, resurrection was in God's power. So with aposLles; imprison.ment was man's limit, angel-deliverance was in God's power. God's miracles then, God's providences and overrulings now, surely mate and master man's utmost antagonism. This is true of persecutions, infidelity, or other forms of attack on Christian men, the Cbristian/aith, or the spread of the Redeemer's lein9dom. -H.T. , er. 31.-The present royalty and rights of Jesus. It is interesting to notice how the Jewish conception of Messiah, as a conquering King of the house of David, gave form and tone to the earlier ideas which the apostles had of their risen aud ascended tsaviour. He proved, indeed, to be a Kini in quite another sense than that in which they had regarded him, and at first they felt much disappointment in the crushing of their national hopes; but still they knew that he was a King, they gradually gained clearer notions of the spirituality of his kingdom, and they freely asserted hiij present royal rights, demanding the immediate submission of men to his authority. 'l'he en. v. 1-12.J 'l'HE ACTS OF 'l'HE APOSTLES. 191