The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 326

III. THE rncm,AsE oF THE CJIURCH. Intervals of rest give the opportunity of growth, and intervals of peace within are deep, solid, firm, growing itself. Ilut neither the Church nor the individual Christian cnn be right in considering exclnsively or enjoyin!! exclu~ively without consideration, its own possibilities of inwanl grO\;th, The Church was now not only "edified" in itself, and "settled," "stnblished" "strengthenC'd," but "it was multiplied." No doubt, even in times of severest trihnl~• t.ion, it wns added to, and persecution by no mem1s closed its roll and cut off its recruits. Rut now the Church-the destined depository of Divine power in part, and the honourod i.cllow-labonrcr with Divine unseen actors-was beginning to know its work and to J':el it.s high force .nnd to ~ c_onscious of its most respo11sible privileges, 'l'he very simple and beautiful descnpt10n before us warrants us to say that the consistent " walk" of the Church, and the deep heart-felt experience on the pa.rt of the Church of what is most characteristic above all things else whatsoever of her existence and nature, namely, "the comfort of the Holy Ghost," are the best adapted hum11n means for the increase of the Church, for the impression of the world, for the conversion of t.he sinners. " The power is of God" under any and all circumstances. The " foolish- ness of preaching" is the pusiti.e and declared method of making known what the :;:ospel of Chri8t is and what it proffers. But for impression on others, so far as human action goes, the Christian man who "walks in the fear of the Lord" availeth much. And for pressure upon the unbelieving world, pressure upon its eye, car, judgment, and conscience, pressure constant, close, and uoevadible, there is nothina- iike the ad~ance of a host ths.t "walks in the fear of the Lord," and that enjoys" th; comfort of the Holy Ghost." 1. Consistent Christian life speaks itself. This has nlways been a potent presence and an irresistible argument. The absence of it is rlamnatory, on all sides and in all senses-to the person who makes hollow profession, damnatory of that hollowness; to the world damnatory of any inclination to be found in the camp of s'U,Ch hollowness. For, wonderful though it be that the world will condone and will have fellowship with other hollowness, most blessed and advantageous it is that it kicks at, scorns, and exposes the hollowness of mere profession of Christ. 2. "The comfort of the Holy Ghost" is an experience, and it is of what is deepest clown in human hearts. Yet is it not for that reason invisible. It betrays itself in the eye; it betokens itself in the language and the very tone of that language; it beams forth in all the deed of the man whom the Spirit who gives it vouchsafes to inhabit. When the Holy Ghost becomes the Master, the gracious, condescending, comforting Master of any man, or of the Church, or any part of the Church, then these become the per~uasive masters of others, and the choicest, chiefest attraction of the world. The "Church is multiplied" then, and the "excellency of the power is of God" still. This little episode of history, then, is a. sermon, and teaches us what a practical sermon the life of every Church and every Christian may preach.-B. Vers. 32-35.-0ne tipecimen-of <Jhristian activity. The history has for some little \Yhile veiled the Apostle Peter from view. He now appears again in an episode that catches our attention the more because of the things it leaves unsaid. Let us notice- L THE MORE REMARKAllLE FEATURES OF THE BBIEF NARRATIVE. 1. The picture is put before our eye, by the mere touch of the sacred pen, of the full measure of activity that characterizes Peter. He is not at home. He is "not slothful" and self-indulgent. He is at work, and for work's sake travelling " through all parts." 2. The fond inclining of Peter's heart is seen. He "comes down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda." He comes down to refresh brethren and to be refreshed by them. He comes to see the little nucleus of believers, to give them "some token for good," to give them another hostaa-e of their work, to give them an example, and to take from them that which they h~d to give and yet be no losers-Christian sympathy and joy, 3. The silence observed respecting lEneas, who he was. Is there not justification for supposing that he was already one of''. the saints•:? Fo_r: _(!.) Peter seems to h~ve found him amO'Tlg such. (2) Peter asks him no question to ehc1t knowledge or faith, hope or love; nor does he seem to ask anythin_g of Pet.er either for body or mind. (3) Petet• appears to use the Name of Jesus Chnst as a. name known already to lEneae, and nci<lresses him apparently with the ease of brotherly familiarity and of Christian !wrneline&I!, 4. 'l'he immediate blessing " given " though unaskeil, 11.-nsought yet  OH, [I, 1-43,] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 323