The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 317

not Christ and the Spirit be able to do? Eighteen centuries have justified that "Behold I" in both these aspects-as pointing out a model conversion in Saul's conver- sion and as vindicating it as but the first of an amazing and alorions series. 4. Jesus, in sayi~g,. Behold I" teaches us where to look, and so also whe~e not to look, in ourselves for evidence of real change. All objection, all inquisition, all human dogma, all ecclesiastical domination and forging of creed and formula and fetters,-perish they all before the decisive "Behold I" of Jesus-" Behold, he prayeth ! " Before this sight human presumption may well be silenced, as before it "Sa.tan trembles." In con- clusion, still, alas I for once that the gracious finger points while the !rracious lip say~, "Behold, he prayeth ! " how often must it be said, "Behold, be prayeth not" I Though there be every reason to pray, every encouragement to pray, how many pray not! Yet no monarch on the most powerful and majeRtic ~hrone, and wielding the mightiest sway, is in very deed to compare for one moment with the man whose attitude is on his knees before God. Who can describe the new alacrity with which in due time that man regains his feet? Though Saul had laboured abundantly under the wrong master, after that praying he "laboured more abundantly, yet not he, but-the grace of God that was in him," and in him through that praying.-B. Ver.15.-The choice of perfect forgivingness. Ananias demurs to the errand assigned. It was not altogether unnatural that he should do so. His hesitation, however, does not resemble that of Moses. And, in expressing the grounds of it, he was only occupying by anticipation the position which it would become necessary to occupy when any and all actual interposition of the great Head of the Church should be withdrawn. Then, as it is to this day, it became among the most critical cares and the most solemn responsibilities of the Church and of its leaders, its "pastors a!!d elders," to consider what prudence may permit, and act as much with the wisdom of the serpent as with the innocuousness of the dove. The hesitation of Ananias does not appear to be reproved, but is plaiuly overruled; and we are therein reminded still how- l. A.N ILL REPUTATION AMONG MEN WILL NOT DETER THE CHOICE 011' JESUS. The "things that are highly esteemed among men" are not only sometimes "held in abomination in the sight of God," but the things that are with justice lightly "esteemed among men" are taken up sometimes by God, that he may in them magnify his transforming power. 1. Reputation is ,· an uncertain guide. It is even particularly so, perhaps it may be said, when it is a good reputation; for how" many that are first shall be last" I 2. '!'he tyranny of ,·eputation is not for a moment recognized by Jesus. As peremptorily as he would bid the worst sinner depart from the error of his way, as lovingly as he would persuade the most disreputable to "sin no more," so graciously does he receive such also; and let the censorious world say what it will, he discoun- tenances the censoriousness by word, and here emphatically discountenances by deed, what might contain the germ of the principle. It is a thing to be much thought upon by the true disciples of Christ. '!'he world and a worldly Church aggravate the difficulty of the returning sinner. This is the opposite of the way of Jesus. Jesus helps a man to recover his character; he helps his struggles while he does so; he shows him sympathy, and," though he fall" many a time in the struggle, graciously watches him and upholds him again and a.gain that he be not "utterly cast down." It is a proverb that the world keeps the man down who is down. And when the Church approaches anything of the like kind, it means to say that it is only in name the Church, and is drained miserably dry of the Spirit. !I. T1rn UNLIKELIEST ANTECEDENTS DO NOT FRIGHTEN JESUS FR011 HIS CHOICE. Ananias did not misstate anything, did not exaggerate the case against Saul, was noi overridden by strange tales untrue. But he did fear; he had a nervous apprehension; he had not up to that moment learned, what probably he did at that moment learn, and from that moment never forgot, the proud reach of the power of Christ. How long it is before any of us attain to the right conception of Jesus and his heart and his hand I We still think him such as ourself, only something greater, greatly greater ; .iomething better, and very much better. We need to see that he is divinely greater. divinely better and all that divine means. 1. The antecedents of a man's life ma!J largely betoke~ its real bent. 2, They will lorgely have made his halnts. 3. They  TllE AOTS OF THE APOSTLES. (on. Ix. 1-43.