The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 295

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-9.-Gonversion. We have here an i~stance and a picture of conversion- of a human eoul pursuing the wrong course, bemg arrested by the Divine hand, and submitting itself willingly to the rule of Christ. l. A BUMAN SOUL PUBBUING 1TB OWN WRONG OOUBBE. Paul was moving with th0 whole force of his strong and ardent nature in the direction of active persecution of the friends of Christ (vers. 1, 2, 5). Sin sometimes takes this special form now. More often it takes the shape of (1) guilty indulgence, or (2) utter worldliness, or (3) confirmed unbelief and rejection of the truth, or (4) indecision and procrastination. But whatever particular form it takes, its es_sential 1;1ature is this-that the so_ul which "!'a~ created to love, honour, and please God 1s pursumg another and an opposite path; 1t 1s found in highways or byways of evil. It is not with God, with Christ, but against him (Matt. xii. 30). It itself is not in active sympathy with hire, rejoicing in him, delighting in his truth and happy in his ,service; and all the influences, both those which (as in th0 case of Saul at this time) are the direct result of conscious effort, and those which flow spontaneously and unconsciously from t.he life, a.re hostile to his truth and to his kingdom. II. THE DIVINE ABBEST. (Vers. 3-5.) Paul tells us (Phil. iii 12) that he was "apprehended of Christ Jesus." Christ laid hold upon him as he was going on his guilty way, arrested him in his own name, and charged him to turn round and pursue another and a better course, The Saviour's interposition in his case was unusually sudden, and it was exceedingly striking in its form (see vers. 3-5). It is seldom that the hand of the heavenly Lord is laid so manifestly, so powerfully, on the human heart. Yet it is being continually la.id upon us, and we now are being arrested by him, with effectual power in redeeming love. 1. Christ's arrest of us is sometimes sudden, but more often gradual. Sometimes a man who has been proceeding far in some way of folly and of sin is instantly convinced that he is guilty and foolish; in an hour, in a moment, th11 truth of God flashes into his soul and lights up the dark depths within, and it shines upon and illumines the dreary and fatal path before him, and he stops and turns. More frequently the Lord of love and power works gradually in the heart; by degrees he insinuates his heavenly truth, and gradually makes the soul to see and to feel that the way of selfishness and of sin is a path which must no longer be pursued, from which it must escape for its life. 2. The Divine arrest is sometimes by extra- ordinary but usually by ordinary means. Occasionally God comes in power to the liumo.n soul, by some vision of the night or of the day, or by some very remarkable l()rdering of his providence, by some experience which is shared by no other or by a very few; but commonly the hand of his renewing power is laid upon us by ordinary means, by the gracious influences of a Christian home, by the appeals of the Christian minister or teacher, by the sickness which brings death and judgment into full view, or by the loss which compels us to feel that we do need and must secure a. Divine Friend who can succour and console in the drear and lonely hour of life. m. THE SOUL'S SUBMISSION 'rO THE DIVINE WILL. The first result of feeling the pressure of the Divine hand may be, perhaps generally is, spiritual agieation. We may be "trembling and astonished" (ver. 6), or, if not moved so powerfully, we sha.11 be agitated, earnestly concerned, exceedingly solicitous; we shall be as those thoroughly awakened who have been partially asleep, our spiritual faculty of inquiry will bo called into fullest exercise. But the ma.in and all-important result is spiritual, submission. -readiness and eagerness to accept the rule of Christ. The question of Saul will be the question of our heart, now reduced to loyalty and self-surrender, "Lord, wha.t wilt thou have me to do?" Christ will tell us the.the wants us to trwt him, to follow him, to work/or him, And these three things we shall gladly do. But the victory is gained, the one supreme step is taken, death is left behind, and the gate~ of life are before us, when, responding to his merciful and mighty touch. we submit ourselves to his sovereign will, when we tum round in spirit and say, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to ,do?''-0. Ver. 6.-Th_e ·goads of God. There is proba.bly some truth in the tiuuili1u 11!\ying  THE ACTS OP THE APOSTLES, [OIi, a. l-48,,