The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 426

Ver. 52.-Spiritual .foy. "And the disciples were filled with Joy and with the Holy Ghoi-t." At the conclusion of a narrative descriptive of varied experiences both of the rnes~engel'8 and oft.he Church. L T~F. JOY OF TRUE ors_cr~1,Es IN THE MIDST OF TROUllL_Es. 1. Joy of personal faith, which 1s promot.ed by d1~c1phne. If all went smoothly with us we should lose strength by the ease and self-indulgence which we should be apt to cherish. 2. Joy in the spread of the Gospel. The world opposes, false religion opposes, bnt the truth makes way. II. THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY GHOST IN THE CHtTBoH, independent of human guidance, Paul and Barnabas expelled, but the disciples taught and led by the Spirit, We must not glory in men. The great resource of the Church is fellowship. Even the spread of truth largely independent of particular agencies. The Word speaks for itself. The Spirit works often without apparent use of human instrumentality. IIL THE UPLIFTED HEART AND THE UPLIFTED TESTD[ONY. Joy and the Holy Ghost. We should show the world that religious joy is above all other. Victories, if given, should be recounted. We should often meet together to tell of Divine wonders. The bold and joyful spirit especially needful, as the present day is full of growing unbelief and indi.fference.-R. Vera. 1-5.-..dn ordination seruit:e. This chapter 'is very interesting, as finding for us the real starting-point of Saul's grand missionary labours; as recording the change of his name to Paul (ver. 9); as altering the order hitherto obse"ed in mentioning it, from "Barnabas and Saul" to "Paul and Barnabas" (vers, 2, 8; comp. with vers. 13, 43); and l&,;tly, as forming the commencement of a long sketch of history almost exclusively occupied with his acts and career alone. For reasons which doubt- less came of the Holy Spirit, of his purpose, his motions, and his sanctifying guidance, Paul now takes the foreground and henceforth is kept in it. His early character and career had been marked, his "call" had been marked, his waiting and trial since had been marked, and now marked for ever on the page of Scripture and upon the genius Jf Christ's Church was the stamp of his work and devotion. The preamble alike of the ~hapter and of this long sketch of history is filled in with the very brief recital of the ordination of Barna.bas and Saul to missionary labour. Let us obse"e what is distinctly recorded as the condition of things at this juncture, and what thereupon the course of things. L THE CHtTBcH A.l'PEABS AS THE UNIT EOOLEBIASTIOAL. This is worth obse"ing, if only for the honour thereby done the Church. But yet more for the suggestions that arise from it, as indicating that it is the point of departure condescendingly recognized by Heaven itself, by Christ and the Spirit-of duty, of work, of character, of privilege to men. Wherever the Chnrch, it is the living centre, where dwells the Spirit, around wliicb warmest and most intelligent affection, devotion, and enthusiasm should gather, even beyond those owned to by David and the most pious of the Jews toward Jerusalem rnd Zion (Ps. cx.xxvii. 4-6). No metropolitan centre of officialism, it purports to be i.nd is ordained to be a living fount.a.in head. This is the "rest of the Lord" (Ps. :x.xxii. 8, 14). This is where his people find rest. This the spot from which the b.eralds of everlasting truth set out, and of which they 1ay again and again,}" .All my ;prings are in thee " ( Ps. lx.xI vii. 7). It ElllPRATIO MENTION 1B lUDE OF FIVE KEN IN TBB CHURCH. They are prophets l.Ild teachers. 1. Though every Christian man should be a spring of good to others and L true minister in the Church, the New Testament, fa.r from dishonouring the idea of .Jrders among those who compose it, here evident!) enough countenances it. 2. The ~IUTllfl,e/ of these five excites interest. Barnabas, who stands first, we know, and Saul, ,vho stands 1-ast. Lucius is ,In African, and is mentioned again (Rom. xvi. 21). 'fhe ipithet attad,ed to Symeon marks something interes~ing, though we cannot say certainly what. While a volume of interest underlies what lS added to the name of Manaen I It is a signal case, indeed, of " one being taken and the other left." 8. The holy engagements of these five men ui emphasized. They are warming the fire ; they are Ott, Wt. 1-62,] THE Acrrs OF THE APOSTLES. 428