The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 264

be these and not those whom the Lord of love and power meana to call and win and bless. Ill. THAT GoD HAS MUCH ENLIGHTENMENT TO IMPART THROUGn HUMAN AGENCY, Here is human ignorance and misapprehension (vcr. 30): a sense of utter helplessness without guidance from some friendly hand (var. 31); invitation to him that knows and will expl11in (ver. 31). Without the enlig11tenmcnt which some men have it in their power to impart, everything is dark, meaningless, obscure, perplexing,-facts in nature, laws of God, utterances of the Divine Word. Then comes the illuminating flash, and the mists roll away, the objects are clear in the sunlight, the p~th is plain. How wise to seek, bow excellent to render, the light which, by God's kind blessing, one human mind may shed on the highest of themes into the most troubled souls! IV. THAT THE SACRIFICIAL SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST ARE THE GRAND THEME OF THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER, (Vers. 32-35.) What passage in all the Hebrew Scriptures could Philip have preferred to this as a text for his teachmg? This supreme fact in the his- tory of our race is the theme on which to dwell, in which to find a deepening interest, from which to draw motive and inspiration, with which to fascinate the people, to which to be continually returning. V. THAT THE CONVINCED DISCIPLE SHOULD FORTHWITH .AVOW BIS CONVICTION 1N THE APPOINTED WAYS. (Vers. 36--38.) VI. TH.AT THE FULL RECEPTION OF CHRISTIAN TRUTH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DEEP .Al\"'D ABIDING JOY. (Ver. 39.) "He went on his way rejoicing." VIL THAT THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER 14.AKES SUCCESS AN INSPIRATION TO FURTBEB HOLY .ACTIVITY. (Ver. 40.)-C. Vers. 1-13.-Incidents of persecution and dispersion, I. A GLIMPSE OF SAUL THE PERSECUTOR. Though brief and passing, it is very significant. He was a party to the execution of Stephen. Saul was full of ignorance and blind passion. What he after- wards felt about his conduct is expressed in 1 Tim. i. 3. This example should be a standing warning to us against trust in mere feeling and enthusiasm. The fumes of anger and violence are no signs of pure glowing zeal for the truth, but rather of the spirit that is set on fire of hell. It is when we are most passionately excited in the cause of party conflict that we have most need to be on our guard. Bitter was the remorse of Saul of Tarsus for his complicity in the murder of Stephen. Hard was it for him to forgive himself. It was the triumph of Divine love in his heart when he could trust that through it he had been forgiven. IL THE EFFECTS OF PERSECUTION. It leads to dispersion, and dispersion to the dis- semination of the truth. Through the country of J udrea and Samaria the scattered ones went, leaving in every village, in every house and heart, stirring memories, new thoughts. And Saul, like a ravaging wolf, went on his blind course. There is a general historical lesson here. Persecution is ever the symptom of intellectual change. The old dragon is ever ready to devour the child of the woman. 'l'he hellish Python would wrestle with the glorious Apollo. Herod would put to death the child Jesus. Saul would slay the infant Church. But the victory of eternal light and love is not doubtful. "They that were scattered in different directions went in different directions evangelizing the world." How beautiful is this I 'l'he true weapon with which to meet tbe sword is the Word. The policy of the persecutor is of all the blindest. He stimulates the move- ment he aims to crush. In every manly spirit opposition rouses new energy, We love more dearly the truth for wiiich we have to fight and suffer. It is in the laws of the spiritual world that persecutions should ever bring a violent reaction in favour of the principlts of the penrn:uted. When (Jbristianity is patronized it becomes corrupt. When through persec, 1tion it is thrown back upon the ground of its first principles, it springs up with new life and vigour. IlL THE woBK OF PHILIP, Well does it stand in contrast with that of Saul in this glimpse of early Christianity. Saul, the :wolf amidst t~e fold, breathin~ out thre~ts and slaughter; Philip, as the shepherd, feed1ug and hea~rn_g ~nd comfortrng. .Agam and again we have the repetition of the true effects of Chnst1an1Ly. Good words are spoken, wbich command attention and do good to the soul ; good deeds are done to the suffering· body, which are evident "signs" of a Divine presence and power to heal, and there• fore of a Divine e.nd loving will And joy ever breaks out-the reflection of recov~~ed OH, VID, 1-40.] THE AOTS OF THE APOSTLES, 261