The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 366

the rele,tion in whic~ ~t should stand t.o the civil power), or (3) a method of evaugellza- tion, or (4) the pos1t1on which should be taken toward other Christian communities I In these nnd similar me,tters the best and wisest of men have occasionally found them- 11elves c~mpelled . to confront the strong censures of those with whom they were in communion. It 1s a most painful position to have to excite the indiano.tion of good men, but it mny be our plain and bounden dutv so to do. ., II. THAT OFTEN A SIMPLE NARRATION OF THE FACTS IS THE BEST POSSIBLE DEFENCE, " Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order" (ver. 4). He told the whole story in its simplicity (vers. 6-16). 'l'hat was enough : it disarmed his accusers ; they had nothing to reply; they accepted his defence ; " 'l'hey held their peace" (ver. 18). If some of them went no further than cea,ing to complain, others acknowledged that a new step was taken, and that the Church was \varranted in" going forward." It is often, Hnot always, the wisest of all plans to let the simple facts speak for us. !four complaining brethren knew as much as we know, they would not condemn. ·we have but to let in the light, and we shall be acquitted and perhaps commended, III. THAT GoD WILL VINDICATE ms owN. Peter's one great argument was that he had done everything under Divine direction (sec vers. 5, 9, 12, 15, 16). He summed it all up in the strong, overwhelming consideration, " What was I that I could withstand God?" (ver. 17). By his marked and manifest interposition, God had sustained his servant, and had given him the means of justifying his conduct when it came before the tribunal of his follows. If wisdom is not al ways justified of her children at once, it ,viii be in time. Unto the upright there will arise light in the darkness (Ps. cxii. 4). God mny desire his servant to place himself in an attitnde of opposition to his friends, and t.o bear the pain of their blows; but he will at length-later, if not sooner-vindi- cate that servant, and give him the greater honour for the shame he bore at his bidding. IV. THAT WE SHOULD KEEP OURSELVES FREE FOR THE EXCULPATION OF MEN AND FOR ouB OWN srm1TUAL ENLARGEMENT. The apostles and brethren had to own that Peter was right, and, at the same time, to receive into their mind a larger and nobler view of Christian tmth. Happily they were free to do so ; otherwise there would hnve beeu a bitter seraration and an in_ju..>ious rnpture. L However wrong good men may seem to us to be, let us remember that it is possible that it is we and not they who are mistaken. We may be very confident we are right, but it is the most positive who are the most fallible of men. 2. Let us be ready to enlarge our view as God gives us light. " He has yet more light and truth to break forth from his Word." Wisdom does not dwell with us. Out of the heavenly treasury there are riches of truth still to be dispensed. A docile Church will ever be learning and acquiring. There are some men who, by their guilty stubbornness, will block the way of the chariot of God ; there are others who will te.ke up the stones and prepare the path that it may go swiftly on its benignant course. Let ours be the spirit of the apostles and brethren at Jerusalem, who. when they had listened and learned, said," 'l'hen hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."-C. Vere. 19-26.-771e many ways and the one work of God. It is interesting to see how God works in many ways toward one end, and how, from the first day of the Cliristian era, he has been acting on the world and on the Church, making all things to move toward one glorious issue. I. THE MANY WAYS OF GoD's WORKING. We may be remintlcd: 1. How he defeats his enemies. "They which were scattered abroad upon the persecution . . . tro.velled . . . preaching the Word,'' etc. (ver. 19). If the enemies of the truth had been its best friends, they could not possibly have taken a course more favourable to its circulation and establishment than the one they took. God overrules the designs of his foes, and turns their attacks upon his kingdom into actual support. Again and again has the enmity, the cruelty, the violence, the cunning of sin been compelled to subserve the interests of righteousness. Mischief smites down the sto.ndiag corn of truth, but, so doinu it sows livina seed from which a large harvest will rise. 2. How he teaches his friends. Those wh~ were scattered abroad went" preaching the Word to none but unto the Jews only" (ver. 19). They did not understand that the gospel was intended tbr mankind : this was an enlargement of view which the Christian Church had then to gain. Its Divine Maister had to teach it this most necessary lesson. How should he do  OJI. XI. 1-30.l THE ACTS OF 'fHE APOSTLES.