The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 373

ro.ther peremptorily challenged Peter's conduct may be observed with some commcn- daL1on now. Presumo.bly these were some of his fellow "apostles and brethren'' (vers. 1, 2). And of their disposition it is to be noted favourably that: (1) If they bad begun by putting themselves a little in the \vrong so far as their tone was concerned, they do not therefore persist in it. The injurer is often the last to give in and forgive. So frequent is the occurrence and so fraught with mischief, that this may be en.lied one of tho "devices of Satan," that even Christian men will cleave to the thing they have said, let alone quite the subject of it, because they have once saitl it in a wrong manner. Eye and mind a.nu heart get sealed up in deference to one humiliating fact, that they have uttered so much sound in wrong tone. Well, this was not the case now with those who called Peter to account. (2) They give Peter a patient, and no doubt what soon became a riveted, hearing. (3) They accept unquestioningly every statement that he makes, eo far as it purported to be a state- ment of fact. 'l'here is no quibbling nor attempt at cross-questioning. This was Peter's due under any circumstances. But even fellow-Christians are chary sometimes in the matter of justice to one another. (4) At the right yielding-point they do yield heartily. 'fo "hold their peace" was a very victory of goodness. Detter than this, while they "hold their peace" from blaming Peter, they open their mouth to "glorify God." 'l'heir mode of yielding bespeaks truth and honesty in them at the first, if even these manifested themselves forth in a manner a trifle unceremonious. Doubt, perplexity, a little vexation, clouded brow, all went in a moment. Pent-up anxiety and distl"Ust are relieved. 'l'hey are glad to hear and be persuaded by the things now "rehearsed to them" of Peter. They are not envious and still exclusive, but welcome the admission of the large Gentile brotherhood to the family of God and to" repent- ance unto life." And the end of that meeting was peace and joy-yes, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. We may give our better feelings leave to flow and our higher imagi- nation to play while we think of the reconciliation, hearty and unfeigned, that those happy moments witnessed between Peter and the brethren. Nor shall we doubt that, for his fidelity and unflinching consistency in a moment's: trying "ill report," he is henceforth held in higher honour and surer trust by those same brethren.-B. Vers. 23, 24.-Tlie surprises of the grace of God. Some six or seven years hacl. passed since the martyrdom of Stephen, and "the persecution that arose about Stephen." The winds of persecution had now borne far and wide the seeds of Christian truth and faith. In the "ground" of Jewish hearts alone, however, for the greater part of this time had the seed" fallen," so far as men's intentions and purposes had scattered it. In individual cases, however, it had inevitably fallen elsewhere; and besides, as carried by some "Grecians" of the number of the "scattered," so it was freely given, by these at least, to Grecians again, who were not of the pure" Hebrews," and not of "the circumcised." Many " Grecians" thus "believed, and turned to the Lord" (ver. 21). The sacred history returns in some degree upon its steps to speak of these things, and to record, after the signal given of the fulness of the Gentiles being brought in, how it had meantime been faring with these more nondescript Grecians. There is a cerlain degree of the enigmatic in these two verses. To rewove this will at the same time unfold the truth which the Spirit may have intended to teach in this place. We seem to see- I. AN ELEMENT OF ECCLESIABl'ICAL AUTHORITY. "Tidings,, that presumably were of the best kind, and could mean nothing but good, are apparently not receive~ ~s such, and are visited with some sort of scrutiny. The facts are exactly so. But it 1s to be noted that the authority that moved was one that moved itself, and is not an i~stance of an individual usurping ecclesiastical _authority. ri:1ie authoritf i_s not either arbitrary or that of an external hand. It 1s the Church itself. And 1t IS the Church who delegates one evidently held in high honour, though ~ot an apostle, to go to a long distance to inquire into tho "tidin"S" that have reached itself at Jerusalem. II. AN INOPPORTUNE EXEROISE OF EOC~ESIASTICAL AUTHORITY. If the tidings were on the face of them good credible in the nature of things, or rather in the nature of what the Church now well knew Jo be the operation of t~e Divine Spirit, whf !lee~ the Church assume the attitude of 'caution and do the action of apparent susp1c1on ! 1. It is most grat,rul to note the fir~t d~Wllqlg e~ercise Qf i.qfa.nt powers and discretion 491'~- i !l 370 TIIE ACTS OF 'l'IIE APOSTLEH. [ CII, XI, 1-30,