The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 321

not al ways quite so clear that their Vllice, their wisdom, their persuasion, their mental Influence on a fellow-being's mental state, are correspondingly impotent in and of themselves. Yet it is so, 'l'he love of Jesus and the command of the Spirit, and these alone, "make dead sinners live," Of one thing we may be convinced that had Ananias only spoken e. ho:Iow word of respect to Jesus, and flattered himsefr tha't the healing and eight-giving were going to be his own, the miracle would have broken down in the middle, if it had got so far, e.s Peter oank in the middle of his walking upon the sea. Does the preacher, does the teacher, does the pastor, remember this principle constantly enough? Do they possess an unfeigned humility of faith in it? IV. THl!l ASBERTION OF THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY GHOST, 1. The work of the Holy ,Ghost is announced, 2. The presence of the Holy Ghost is announced as the result of the sending of Jesus Christ (John xvi. 7). 3. The commandin" need of the Holy Ghost for a renewed man and an enlightened man, that he may rem~n surely so, is strongly enough implied: "That thou mightest be filled with the Holy Ghost." Nothing so hinders the spread of Christianity, the force of Christian life, the conversion of souls, as the neglect or the indifference shown to the work of the Holy Spirit. Christianity is in the fullest sense "the dispensation of the Spirit," and yet prayer for that Spirit, dependence upon him, understanding of him, are often all of the vaguest. The power and persuasion and grandeur of Christ and the cross of Christ only move into vitality as the Spirit takes of them and brings them to men's hearts. We do all and always need the Holy Spirit for both conversion and for sanctification, and for knowing and doing acceptably any service for God, for Christ, in man's heart and life. V, THE SIGNS FOLLOWING THE WORD AND THE LAYING ON OB' THE HANDS OF ANANL!.S, They followed just as though it were by his own "power and holiness" that this miracle was wrought. So in our spiritual work, we should look for results. We should feel their cheering effect. We should delight in them. We should be grateful and honoured exceedingly that we are permitted to be instruments in the" mighty hand n for doing them. But, meantime, we are bound never to forget how fearful the robbery and the guilt if we give not all the glory to God, to Jesus, to the Spi.ri.t.-B. Ver. 21.-.Amazement's opportunity. The amazement of the disciples of Jesus, and of others also who heard Saul preaching at Damascus, may be pronounced natmal enough under any circumstances and in any view of it. Yet distinct and emphatic mention of it asks for a somewhat more careful observation and scrutiny of its nature and peculiar features. Notice-- L THE 0AUSE OF THIS AMAZEMENT. 1. That Saul, a bitter opponent heretofore of Christ and his truth, now preaches Christ, the whole Christ, and nothing but Christ. He preaches "the whole Christ" in this sense, that, as we are told, he uplifts the central and so to speak crucial fact about Christ, " that he is the Son of God." Thls once granted " with the heart," all else follows. Ha has not yielded upon some side aspects of the matter, and for some politic reasons joined a remarkable movement. But he has yielded the stronghold of his own unbelief, and has acknowledged the impreg- nable character of the stronghold that he had been striving to batter down, to under- mine, to "utterly " destroy. 2. That Saul, a notorious opponent of Christ, comes now to preach in the places where his change of front would also become most notoriously confessed, and where it in turn would be the mark and butt of keen opposition. He preached Christ" in the synagogues." 3, That, with the most unreserved and appa- rently even unconscious self-forgetfulness, Saul mingles in this work side by side with men, for the apprehension of whom, and for the conveying of whom "bound to Jerusa.lem," he had in his pocket official authorizations. 4. That Saul does this "straightway," without finding delay II possible thing, without waiting for anything of the nature of diplomatic introduction. There is something or other fresh in his heart, and it comes with all promptness and naturalness and force, full of ita freshness, into his life. II. THE SUJIJ"EOTa OP TBIB illiZBMENT, 1. They were in part disciples. It is impos- sible to say that aL\ those who wem amazed were of the number of either disciples or non-disciples. It is said "all" that " heard him n were amazed. These must have consisted of both disciples and non-disciples. The one had not left off entirely to frequmt the syt1agogue, and the others would, as a matter of course, be fotllld in 10me 318 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, [oH, a, 1-43,