The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 394

Il. The m:w BNTERPRIBB should be undertaken in the spirit of prayerful dependence and eelf-conseoration, III. ORDINATION an aot of brotherhood and reoogn.ltion of spiritual gifts aa euentlal t-0 the ministry. IV. DIVINE GRAOB unites with hnman judgment and effort. Barnabas and Saul had approved themselves faithful by their visit to Jerusalem, Commendation by the brethren there; desire to enter on the IRrger field; apparent fitness for it, Loss as it was to Antioch, a Church which looks far afield for its blessings always receives them abundantly. "There is that scatteroth, and yet increaseth,"-R. Ver. 5.-The Ohu,·ch in prayer. The primitive Church is here found, amid circumstances so full of interest that they even tempt attention, in prayer for an acknowledged leader, a prized teacher and pastor and an undoubted apostle. The Church now is praying to God for one thing, in s11bmission to his will-that Peter may t-e spared to it anil spared to the world. The essentials of effectual prayer ih the Church cannot differ intrinsically from those in the individual; but they are strikingly presented to the mind here. Under the one word" prayer," a variety of spiritual exercise, as is well known, is continually included, viz. the outpourinas of adoration of the one great Object of prayer, the according of grateful praise and th~nks to him, the penitential confession of our sin, and self-humiliation on account of it. But there are very many who will join in a.11 this, and from the heart believe in it, who yield either no assent or a heartless assent to what is after all the chief thing in prayer, its chief wonder and chief privilege, namely,petition. Without studying the theory, let us notice one striking instance of the practice of prayer, 'l'rue theory is never overthrown by fact, but facts often put to rout theory falsely BO called, and expose its weak points. We may observe, then- 1 'l'HE QUALITIES THAT MARKED THE PRAYER OR PETITION OF THE CHURCH: 1. It was most distinct in its object. The safety of Peter is the one desire of the heart of all who joined to pray. Individual prayer a.nd private prayer are very likely to become vague, vague and multifarious, vague and indiscriminating, vague and inevitably indifferent. Perhaps the tendencies of public and united prayer are yet more exposed to this snare, for the obvious reasons (1) that the thoughts of many hearts mUBt be considered for; and (2) that intercession, which must be the memory of many in want, will generally form a large portion of that prayer. It is well when heart and mind and devotion follow each of these with intelligent distinctness, 2. Sincerity of faith marked the Church's prayer at this crisis. He who cometh to God in prayer must believe (1) that he is ; but (2) none the less that he lends a willing, gracious ear to prayer; in order (3) that he may duly, in his own wise time and wise way, answer it, and do nothing less than answer it. Prayer with the mock humility of a timid fear that it is presumptuous to pray, never brought a blessing. The heart's glory in prayer is, if (with George Herbert) it" gasp out," Et vult et potest, of God as the Object and the Bearer of prayer. 3. Great earnestnesB in petition was displayed by the Church. 'l'he heart's desire and P!ayer to God on the part of those composin~ it was_ for the_ saving cf Peter's life. Herod 1s known to be Culf of cruelty, He has Just "killed with the 11 word James the brother of John." And he is known to be goaded on by that wor1;1t 6 ting, the sting of" desiring to please" c_erta~n ~ellow-cre3:tll!es, '!'here is ~nly One with whom we are safe, and always safe, 1n w1shlng and a1mmg to please him. Far enough off from Herod's eye and thought wa~ that One. He w~s torn,_and therefore in tum cruelly and guiltily tore others, by a va1n, weak, contemptible desire for a moment to" please the Jews." The Church did not cower but did pray accordingly, prayed with earnestness. 4. Patience marked this great instance of prayer. It was, nevertheless, not the patience of silence, but of speech; it was not the patie~ce of sitting do~n with folded hands, but of kneeling down wit~ clasped ~ands ; . 1t was the pat1~nce of importunity, that very characteristic ~o which Jesus himself!.~ the days of his flesh gave such prominence and such conspicuous honour (Luke xviu. 1-8). ll. PRAYER WAB IN NO SENSE AT A DISCOUNT BECAUSE IT WAS AN AGE OF llIDACLE, u,,-u oF ABOUNDING lllRACLE, 1. However conspicuously God does th., work, and the Word of Christ is strong and the Holy Spirit's ec.ergy is essential and must be confeued, nothing is diminished of the act of prayer (if we may for a moment so call (Ill, Xll, 1-26.] THE ACTS OF THE .APOSTLES. 391