The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 278

them," nnd "skin covers t.bem above," and they make into a most livina whole. These incidents of our history group around two subjects. Let us notice- " I. "WHAT 18 RECORDED IIERE 01' A LIFE TRATWAR TRUE TO ITS LIGilT. 1. The subject of this fr~gmcnt of biography is an Ethiopian. '!'hough a fragment, it conducts to the most criti('al portion of lifo, and puts the key of it into our baud. He is a firstfruits of the fulfilment of the prophecy that was written, "Ethiopia sba.U soon stretch out her hands unto <;J-od" (Ps. lxviii. 31); and in the desolacy too rapidly drawing on of Jerusalem, Z10n was still to say," This man was born in her" (ver. 28; Ps. lxxxvii. 5), The Ethiopian cannot "change his skin," but God can change e. darkonecl heart, and this he is doing. By whe.t route the Divine ray of light reached the Ethiopie.n's mind ,_.e know not, but that in man's deepest darkness that light oftentimes loves most suddenly to spring up, we do know. He was not one who bad been brought up in the light of revelation, but was now following that which was given him. 2. The subject of this fragment of biography was a. man of peace, doubtless of wealth also, "of great authority," and with nea.r relations of office to royalty. Yet he is e.n instance of 'lxception to the tyrannical entanglements of the " cares of this world, and the deceit- fulness of riches, a.nd the lust of other things entering in to choke the Word." He is not of those rich of whom it is said by unerring lips, "How hardly shall they that ba"l"e riches enter into the kingdom of God!" He strives to enter in, and strives at the right time. He is not leaving it till too late-the "too late" of those who "shall seek . . . and not be able." This, again, was obeying and being very faithfully ruled by the light that was in him. 3. The subject of this fragment of biography is come upon using the advantages of his position, state, wealth, for direct religious ends. He has been to Jerusalem to worship. He is returning. He has by his resonrces of money and of influence possessed himself of the Scriptures, or a. portion of them, comparatively so difficnlt to obte.in; and while yet on his journey be is reading them. He is dwelling on what be has beard read in Jerusalem, and is referring to something that bad fixed bis attention and wakened his wonder. Air, and light, a.nd sun, and movement of the cha.riot, and presumably voices of some attendants, are playing disrege.rded upon his senses, while his soul is communing with itself e.nd the things written in that scarcely understood Scripture-all interested. He is scarcely outside; he is crossing the threshold in the very porch of the living Churcb--of God's own glorious temple and manifestation of truth to man. He is reading in "Esaias the prophet; n and is reading in "the place" of places, where "some soft hand invisible" has guided his eye. The se.cred parable of some six centuriu old-but which, within the last some six months, has, unknown to him, blossomed for a mission of perpetual youth-has arrested him. He ree.ds and wonders and inquires, " Of whom speaketh the prophet this-• He was led as a sheep to the slaughter : and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare bis genera- tion ? for his life iB taken from the earth ' ? " The man who has got to that "story," sacred story, sweet story, strange story, and can't pass it, won't pass it, bot lingers over it, muses it, asks in the very spirit of prayer for its interpretation, looks very like a man who is not putting out hie light, not dishonouring it, but is following it and on the way to improve it and find it brighter. 4. Arrived a very little further in know- ledge, the snbject of this partial biography is resolved without an unnecessary moment'• delay to "make profession." Let him belong to what nation he may, let him wear what livery he may, let him jeopardize what splendid place of earthly promoiion he may, he will take the Name of Christ. He has found the truth, and he recognizes it, and not an hour will he lose or risk his "part and lot in the matter," His "heart is right in the sight of God," and it is because God's light bas come to be in him. What liuht he had he followed, and it "shone upon the road that led him t.o the Lamb;" aid he wa.s satisfied, and" went on his way rejoicing." • Il. WHAT 18 RECORDED HERE OF UNSEEN A.ND UTTERLY UNBUBPEOTED AGENOIEB AT WORK BEFRIENDING THE ETHIOPIAN. There were such agencies, and this is first to be noticed. It is plainly written where it can be written, that it may be the better understood and believed in the times innumerable when it cannot be written. Life flows on often apparently by itself; but what unthougbt-of tributaries there are to its stream I Or, if they a.re thought of and even seen, how little is made of them, with how little faith or rlcvoutness a.re they mused overl Nay, even when acknowledged a.■ providmua, the err, vur, 1-40.J THE AOTS OF THE APOSTLES, 271