The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 356

It is true for all the world that "if any man will do his will, he ehall know or the doctrine." While this subject needs to be treated with great prudence, and stroncrly dogmatic statements should be avoided, we may gain from it some relief from the pressure of our questioning as to the salvability of the heathen, and wo may concein how the heathen state may become a moral preparation for Christianity. It is an important feature of modem missionary enterprise that those who preach Christ's i:· • ,·l seek to find points of contact in the heathen mind and reli"'ious sentiment8 anu expect to discover that God has been beforehand with them, prepa~ing men's heart; to receive the wonderful message of Divine salvation by a Divine sacrifice.-R. T, Vers. 5, 6.-The intimacy of Divine k11owledge. This is a striking passn"e when tl1onghtfully considered. The doctrine of Divine omniscience we may accept°without having any adequate conception of it, or feeling any practical impression attendincr on oar faith. The ease with which a general truth or principle may be held, while it"' yet remains ineffective on the life, has often been urged on us. The skilful teacher seeks to set forth the general truth in some particular instauce, and expects that the truth will thus be seen clearly and grasped finnly. ,ve have an instance in the passacre before us. Cornelius bad some appropriate ideas concerning God's omniscience a;d omnipresence, yet we may be sure that they had never been practical, real, ~nd search- ing thoughts to him, until the angel showed that God knew all about him and all a bout Peter, his name, lodging, host, etc. In our childish days we were often frightened by being reminded of the words, "Thou God seest me." It is well if in our manhood we can have such a revelation of the marvellous minuteness, yet more marvellous tenderness and graciousness, of the Divine inspection. David's joy in the omniscience and omnipresence of God, as indicated in such psalms as the hundred and forty-ninth, may be referred to. "The Lord knoweth them that are his." We may notice the points in the passage which suggest the intimacy and exactness of God's daily know- ledge of us. L Gon KNOWS oun NAMES. Our surname, by which we are commonly known to the world, and even our Christian name, by which we are known to our intimate friends. He knew Peter the fisherman, but he knew him as Simon. This includes God's knowledge of all that our fellow-men, with whom we have to do in daily business, know of us; and his further knowledge of all that our most intimate relatives could tell of our charact.er and disposition. There may be some things of private thought or conduct which we would gladly keep from God; even these are " naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." II. Oun EMPLOYMENT. God knew that thie other Simon was a tanner by trade. We somehow dissociate the common occupations of life from the thought of God, but he watches us in daily work. And we may surely feel that he judges day by day the spirit in which our daily work is done. "Whereunto a man is called, therein let him abide with God." III. THE SITUATION OF OUR HOUSE. God knew that this tanner's house was" by the seaside," placed there, probably, for the conveniences of his trade. So God knows our precise circumstances and surroundings, and the exact influence which these things bear upon us. And if he knows all this, we may confidently rest assured that he is readv and willing to be the power that helps us to overcome our disabilities, and master our difficn.lties, and live for him" even where Satan's seat is," if our lot should be cast in such scenes. IV. Ova RELATION TO THE FAMILY, Bringing bis inspections to bear on the family circle, he knows the place of each one. He kne~ that Pet~r wa._s only a lodger .. Then he can gj ve each one the needed grace for worthily occu_pymg bis place, and faithfully maintaining his relations and doing the consequent duties. Apart from the revelation of the humanity and sympathetic brotherhood of Christ, as '.' God manifest in the flesh," so minute a Divine knowledge would only appal us, crushing down energy, effort, nnd hope. Now we glory in the thought of the perfect knowledge, for he who besets us bthind and before is our Father, whom we know well through his Bon and our Brother, the" Man Christ Jesus."-R. T. Vere. H, l5,-Nc,t'1,ing CQ'/'MIWm 4n God,'• sight. Introduce by an acoount of St. IB, X. 1-48.) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 353