The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 388

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vars. 1-19, 24.-Sin in high places. Sin has many aspects, and it is not only curious but instructive to see how it shows itself under different conditions. Here we have it manifesting its evil spirit in "high places." Herod's action at this juncture reminds us of- I. ITS CONTEMPTUOUSNESS. "Herod .•. stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church" (ver. 1). He did not stay to inquire whether these men were in the right or not. They had with them the most convincing credentials-strong evidence, miraculous power, a truth which met the necessities of the human heart and life; but all this went for nothing. From his place of power he looked down superciliously on this new " way," and with a light heart he determined to vex its adherents. How often does a high place beget an unseemly, unwholesome, injurious arrogance which, smiting others, inflicts a death-blow on itself! . II. lTs BRUTALITY. "And he killed James . . . with the sword" (ver. 2), What was the life of an enthusiast to him? "He commanded that the keepers should be put to cleath" ( ver.19). What signified it to him that a few soldiers were executed? It would not spoil his meal nor disturb his slumber that, at his bidding, a few of his fellow-men had their lives cut short and that their families and friends were mourning. 'l'his was the spirit of the age, an unchristian age: it was especially the spirit of human tyranny. The ruler on his throne, too often attained by violence and cunning, was indifferent to the blood be shed, to the rights he violated, to the sorrows he caused. Such has been the history of sin in high pla.ces from the beginning until now, from one end of the earth to the other. III. !Ts MEil"NESS. "Because he saw it pleased the Jews," he proceeded further (ver. 3) in the same course. What a miserable reason for imprisonment and execution of subjects! Not because any crime had been «immitted, or any folly wrought, or any danger incurred; but "because it pleased the Jews," more violence was to be done, more wroncr inflicted, more grief and lamentation called forth. To such shameful depth will ~In in high places stoop, "justice" prostituting its high vocation (1 Pet. ii. 14) to win a mean and despicable popularity at the expense of innocence and truth. IV. ITS DIP0TEKCE. 1. How vain are bolts and bars to shut in a man whom God intends to be bis agent among men (vers. 4-10; see eh. v. 19; xvi. 26) I 2, How vain are swords to slay and prison doors to confine the living truth of God I A James may be killed and a Peter imprisoned, but the chapter which narrates these incidents of human tyranny does not close without recording that "the Word of God grew and multiplied." We may learn these two lessons. (1) We may well be contented with our humbler lot. Obscurity and comparative powerlessness are far less attractive to an ordin~ eye tb,an e~inence anjl power, But who of 118 can say that 11, " high plaqo " CIR, XU. 1-26.] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 385