The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 453

And Paul, who had wrought through the mighty power of God, mlmolea for the deliverance of others, ie the eubjeot of I\ miracle himself now. And it le the Divine favour, as no hum~n minister of it served the occasion. Paul has been stoned, drawn out of the city; foe and friend take him for dead-nay, perhaps he wae eo; if not, there was but a little "step indeed between him and death." Yet he rises up, uncalled by human voice, unhelped by human hand, a.nd comes into the city. V. THE UNQUENOHED OOURAGE OF PAUL. He does not now "flee t.o aoother city." He comes into that city. He could well trust the God who had delivered him and would deliver him "in deaths oft." And he was well prepared to eoho tho words of the psa.lmist, "Thie God is my God for ever and ever, and he will be my Guide even unto d<'ath." VJ. THAT AG.A.Dr AM> AGAIN THE ENEMY OF CHRIST :MAKES A HUMILIATING FAILURE OF IT. The enemy's work is exposed and is undone. Christ triumphs with fresh manifestation. And his truth and glc.1y are spread,-B. Vers. 21-28.-The return home. The furthest limit of the mission of Paul and Barnabas is not reached till their visit is paid to Derbe. After the recovery by miracle of Paul from his stoning, the next day he advances with Barnabas to Derbe, And after some time spent there and much work done, of which no details are given, the two apostles set their face homeward. And it is evident that the Spirit still leads them. For- I. WITH THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE GROUND, TREIB COURAGE FAILS THEM NOT, The apostles return by the route and the towns a.nd cities by which they had come. It is wonderful. and indeed it is often of the merciful consideration of Heaven, how brave men. IIlllY be toward unforeseen dangers and difficulties. How often, however, does courage vanish after a taste of real work and real difficulty I Not so now. The apostles will face aga.in, if necessary, all which they had before encountered. IL 'l'HEm ll[NJSTRY IS BTILL RICH 1N FRUITFULNESS. The object of the apostles follows closely in the tracks of the very well-ascertained needs of new converts. They would : 1. Confirm them. 2. Exhort them to steadfastness and endurance " even unto the end." 3. They would tarry to instruct them in aspects among the deepest of the Divine life-that men "must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." There were "musts" in the life, the journeys, the sufferings, the death of the great Captain of our salvation himself. And "musts" there must be in the life and work and discipline of his followers. 4. They would also begin to organize Church life in place after place, and "ordain elders" in the new Churches. 5. '!'hey show an example of their faii;h in prayer and fasting and "commending" individuals and Churches to the Lord, of their faith and of their life. All these activities of thought, speech, affection, and deed were tokens and were the trustworthy tokens of men who were still led by the Spirit, and who were still following that lead. Ill. THEY BRING THEIR llUSBION TO ITS OLOSE, AND THEMIIELVEB HO:Ml!l TO THEIR BT.A.BTING-POINT, IN BO EXE:IIPLAJ&Y .&. MANNER. 1. They honour the Church of God's appointment, by calling it together on their return to receive their report. Next to being the servants of Christ, we are the servants of the Church, and ought t.o hold ourselves so far forth answerable to it. 2. They do not carelessly forget or only slightingly remember how by the prayers and fasting of that very Church, they also, months and years before, had been commended to the grace of God. 3. They give, in eome iwrtructive, impressive, and reassuring detail, a rehearsal of (1) "all that God had done with them," and (2) how indisputably God "had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles." 4. There awhile, in the holy fellowship of that Church, they rest from their harder labours. They recruit their souls in the healthy air and the genial comfort of that society, after years of fierce conflict and almost perpetual anxiousness and keen persecution. Happy servants, happy Church, "in the midst of whom God" is present, shedding light, peace, joy, upoa all !-B. Ver. 2.-Hinderer, of Ohrilftian 'IIJO'f'le. The apostie elsewhere expresses in a 1e11ience what was the common experience of his missionary life. He says (1 Cor. xvi. 9), "A great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries," And we mUBt still accept the fact that, if we will do anr Sfecial work, or manifest in OH, XIV. 1-21-1.] THE ACTS OF 'l'HE APOSTLES. 45\