The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 417

the membere fasting (vers. 2, 3). Fasting, for the sake of fastn:ig or with a view or pleasing Christ, is not enjoined, and both the words of our Lord 11nd the genius of his religion discourage rather than encourage it, But we shall undoubtedly do well to pursue our work and to maintain our worship-" mi_nistering Ul\t<- the Lord "-up to and within the line of self-control and even self-demal; not only not giving the reins to our bodily cravings, but checkin~ these and restric~ing ourselves beyond that which is positively demanded, if by so domg we can worship God more spirit,ually or work more effectively for our fellows. IV. !TB OBEDIENT ENTRANCE ON AN APPARENTLY BOPELEBB ENTERPBIBB. (Vers. 2 3.) The Church was commanded by its Lord to send two of its members on the errand of converting the Gentiles, "and . . . they sent them away." It was not its part to "reason why," but to obey, Had it reckoned the likelihood of the case, dwel, on the difficulties in the way of 11ucceRs, measured the might and number of its adversaries weighed the strength of two Jews against the learning, the prejudice, the military forces, the material interests, the social customs, the evil habits, the inwrou"ht unrighteoUBiless of a bitterly and even passionately hostile world, it would ~ve hesitated, it would have refrained. But it did not measure these things. It heard the sovereign sound of its Divine Leader's voice, and it proceeded unquestioningly to obey. It "sent them away." And they went forth-those two men-unpractised in the wiles of the world; poor; unarmed; unequipped with any forces which, on mere human lines, could avail anything; determined to preach a doctrine which would be received with the haughtiest contempt, which would clash with men's strongest interests and smite their most cherished sins ;-they went forth, with the confi- dence of the Church behind them (ver. 3), with the hand of the Lord upon them, with the hope of his welcome and his reward before them. It was a splendid action of an illustrious Church, and the nearer we can approach it in our own times and in our own communities, the dearer shall we be to our Master and the greater service shall we render to our race.-C. Vera. 4-13.-Frowardnesa and frailty. - The two leading points In this passaga are the frowardness of Bar-jesus and the frailty of Mark. But there are other incidental lessons which spring up by the way. We may learn as we pass: 1. That good work for others comes home with a blessing before long. Some of the scattered Christians were men of Cyprus, "who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks" (eh. xi. 20); and here are men from the Church which the Cypriots helped to form coming to evangelize Cyprus (ver. 4). "Give, and it shall be given unto you." 2. That the success of any great work ii not to be meawrea by the fruit of th.8 first endeavour. We read that "when they were at Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the synagogues" (ver. 6); but we do not read of any conversions to the faitb. It is fair to infer that their earliest attempt was, if not disappointing, far from a. cr.arked success; but they were not daunted thereby. 3. That it '8 well worth wilile for youthful aspiration to attend on mature and established piety. "They had also John to their minister" (ver. 6). Mark may have been little more than the courier of the apostles, but it was no mean service he was rendering the Church and the world if he did his duty thus. 4. That when religion ia cast out wperstition ia su.re to enter, Where God is unhonoured the people will resort to the "sorcerer" (ver. 6), the 1100thsayer, the spiritualist, etc. I. THAT MAN IIAY DEPART 80 11'.lll. FROlll BEOTlTUDB AS TO DELIBERATELY FALSIFY TBB TROTH OF GoD. (Vera. 6-8.) "Wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" Here was a man who, for the purpose of retaining a lucrative position, wae determinately opposing the truth. Many have been his predecessors and many his successors, who have not scrupled to "fight against God," to act in such a way that they have made what they knew to be right seem to be wrong, what they knew to be wholesome and helpful seem to be injurious; they have twisted round and per- verted the right line of heavenly wisdom; they have not only "called good evil and evil good," but striven, for some base motive, to make it seem thus in the eyes of men, resolutely and wantonly deceiving them. II. THAT TBB TllllB 00.MES FOB BURNING INDIGNATION AND STRONG INVECTIVB. ' 1 Q fl,µ). of ~ll 11ub~ilt1 and !ill mischief, Qlou chlld of the qevil, thou enemy of all  Tlm ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. [ou. xrn, 1-62,