The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 359

woll ae Jew; and he delivered this testimony: "Now I perceive that God is no rospecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh ri"hteousness is e.ccepted with him." In ways quite as clear, in fact, though it may be not so sensibly plain to us, God's providences still unfold God's Word and will ; and he who will obediently follow as God leads shall surely find the heart-rest of spiritual apprehensions 1>f tho Divine truth.-R. T. Ver, 33.-Good hearers. Picture the company assembled in Cornelius's house. It was composed of the God-fearing, devout people in. the neighbourhood; and, in their attitude, interest, and openness of heart, we may find the example of the" 170od hearer," to whom God's Word may come with power, and in whom it may be ~ade fruitful. The following are the marks of the "good hearer," of which we may be reminded by the text :-'l'hcro will be- I. THE DUE SENSE OF GoD's PRESENCE. "We are all here ~rese~t before God." Though that presence now finds no outward or symbolic express10n m cloud or flame, it is inwardly realized, and has now on men's hearts its due solemnizing effect. 'l'he true worshipper can say, "Surely God is in tbis place." II. l<'ULL RESOLVE AND INTENT. The company had not gathered according to custom or merely to please each other ; all were purposed to come, and had set their minds upon hearing what St. Peter might have to say. Cornelius had awakened this earnestness by telling of bis vision. III. DuE OPENNESS OF HEART. They were prepared to put all prejudice aside, "and hear all things commanded of God." The open-hearted listen to a.II, receiving what God sends, not merely what may please them or accord with their doctrinal views or prejudices. IV. CONSCIOUSNERS THAT WUA.T GOD COMMANDS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE. The onlv good listener is the obedient listener, who goes forth to life prepared to carry out Goafs will as it may be revealed to him, and determined to tone all life by the principles which God may announce, Illustrate by the parable of the Sower and the seed.-R. T. Vers. 34, 35.-Believers outside Judaism. Several important and interesting cases, taken from the old Scripture histories, may serve to illustrate this conviction which now came to St. Peter, and found suggestive expression in our text. The point of his testimony is that the one living and true God of the whole earth has been and is graciously concerned in the religious life of the human race as a whole, apart from any special revelations which he may be pleased to make to any portions of the race. From the religious point of view, the " God of the whole earth mw;t he be called." I. MELClllZEDEK IN THE PATRIARCHAL PERIOD. We know very little about the religious condition of Palestine in the days of Abraham. Hastily we say that doubtless the Canaanite idolatries absolutely prevailed, for " the Canaanite was then in the land." But the figure of Melchizedck is, as it were, thrust into the Scripture narrative as if on purpose to correct such hastily formed notions. Abraham is clearly the elect of God, separated from his Chaldean surrnundings in order to witness to the great truths of the Divine unity and spirituality. And yet, coming into the land that was promised to his descendants, he finds believers in the Most High God, presided over by a king-priest, to whom Abraham feels that he must pay homage and give tithes. It has been well said that " when Abraham received the blessing of Melchizedek, and tendered to him his reverent homage, it is a likeness of the recognition which true historical faith will always humbly receive and gratefully render when it comes in contact with the older and everlasting instincts of that religion which the ' Most High God, Possessor of heaven and earth,' has implanted in nature and in the heart of man, in 'the power of an endless life.'" So, in the very starting of Judaism, in the very lifetime of its founder and father, we find God directing our attention to real and acceptable religious life outside the Abraha.mio election. II. BALAAM IN THE PERIOD OF THE JEWISH WANDRRmGS. Without attempting to form a full judament of Bo.lae.m's religious standing, ffll must admit that he was :, prophet of God~to whom God made communications; and wha_tcver ma:r have been his religion, it was certainly distinct from Judaism. "In his career 1s seen that recognition of Divine inspiration outside too Jewish Feople, which the narrowness of 356 'l'IlE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. ( Cl!, XI, 1-30,