Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/145

Rh broken off, and the Gentiles, that were branches of the wild olive, were thereupon grafted in, v. 17, 19. Now here we are told how the Gentiles welcomed this happy turn in their favour.

1. They took the comfort of it; When they heard this, they were glad. It was good news to them, that they might have admission info covenant and communion with God, by a clearer, nearer, and better way than submitting to the ceremonial law, and being proselyted to the Jewish religion; that the partition-wall was taken down and they were as welcome to the benefits of the Messiah's kingdom as the Jews themselves, and might share in their promise, without coming under their yoke. This was indeed glad tidings of great joy to all people. Note, Our being put into a possibility of salvation, and a capacity for it, ought to be the matter of our rejoicing; when the Gentiles did but hear that the offers of grace should be made them, the word of grace preached to them, and the means of grace afforded them, they were glad; "Now there is some hope for us." Many grieve under doubts, whether they have an interest in Christ or no, when they should be rejoicing that they may have an interest in him; the golden sceptre is held out to them, and they are invited to come, and touch the top of it.

2. They gave God the praise of it; They glorified the word of the Lord; that is, Christ, (so some,) the essential Word; they conceived a mighty veneration for him, and expressed the high thoughts they had of him. Or rather, the gospel; the more they knew of it, the more they admired it. Oh! what a light, what a power, what a treasure, does this gospel bring along with it! How excellent are its truths, its precepts, its promises! How far transcending all other institutions! How plainly divine and heavenly is its original! Thus they glorified the word of the Lord, and that is it which he has himself magnified above all his name, (Ps. 138. 2.) and will magnify and make honourable, Isa. 42. 21. They glorified the word of the Lord, (1.) Because now the knowledge of it was diffused, and not confined to the Jews only. Note, It is the glory of the word of the Lord, that the further it spreads, the brighter it shines; which shews it to be not like the light of a candle, but like that of the sun when he goes forth in his strength. (2. ) Because now the knowiedge of it was brought to them. Note, Those speak best of the honour of the word of the Lord, that speak experimentally, that have themselves been captivated by its power, and comforted by its sweetness.

3. Many of them became, not only professors of the christian faith, but sincerely obedient to the faith: As many as were ordained to eternal life, believed. God by his Spirit wrought true faith in them for whom he had in his councils from everlasting designed a happiness to everlasting. (1.) Those believed, to whom God gave grace to believe; whom, by a secret but mighty operation, he brought into subjection to the gospel of Christ, and made willing in the day of his power. Those came to Christ, whom the Father drew, and to whom the Spirit made the gospel-call effectual. It is called the faith of the operation of God, (Col. 2. 12.) and is said to be wrought by the same power that raised up Christ, Eph. 1. 19, 20. (2.) God gave this grace to believe, to all those among them, who were ordained to eternal life; (for whom he had predestinated, them he also called, Rom. 8. 30.) or as many as were disposed to eternal life, as many as had a concern about their eternal state, and aimed to make sure of eternal life, believed in Christ, in whom God hath treasured up that life, (1 John 5. 11.) and who is the only Way to it; and it was the grace of God that wrought it in them. Thus all those captives, and those only, took the benefit of Cyrus's proclamation, whose spirit God had raised to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, Ezra 1. 5. Those will be brought to believe in Christ, that by his grace are well disposed to eternal life, and make that their aim.

4. When they believed, they did what they could to spread the knowledge of Christ and his gospel among their neighbours; (v. 49.) And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region; when it was received with so much satisfaction in the chief city, it soon spread itself into all parts of the country. Those new converts were themselves ready to communicate to others that which they were so full of themselves. The Lord gave the word, and then great was the company of them that published it, Ps. 68. 11. Those that have got acquaintance with Christ themselves, will do what they can to bring others acquainted with him. Those in great and rich cities, that have received the gospel, should not think to engross it, as if, like learning and philosophy, it were only to be the entertainment of the more polite and elevated part of mankind, but should do what they can to get it published in the country among the ordinary sort of people, the poor and unlearned, who have souls to be saved as well as they.

VIII. Paul and Barnabas, having sowed the seeds of a christian church there, quitted the place, and went to do the like elsewhere. We read not any thing of their working miracles here, to confirm their doctrine, and to convince people of the truth of it; for though God then did ordinarily make use of that method of conviction, yet he could, when he pleased, do his work without it; and begetting faith by the immediate influence of his Spirit, was itself the greatest miracle to those in whom it was wrought; yet, it is probable that they did work miracles, for we find they did in the next place they came to, ch. 14. 3. Now here we are told,

1. How the unbelieving Jews expelled the apostles out of that country. They first turned their back upon them, and then lifted up the heel against them, v. 50. They raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas; excited the mob to persecute them in their way, by insulting their persons as they went along the streets; excited the magistrates to persecute them in their way, by imprisoning and punishing them; when they could not resist the wisdom and spirit wherewith they spake, they had recourse to these brutish methods, the last refuge of an obstinate infidelity. Satan and his agents are most exasperated against the preachers of the gospel when they see them go on successfully, and therefore then will be sure to raise persecution against them. Thus it has been the common lot of the best men in the world, to suffer ill for doing well; to be persecuted instead of being preferred, for the good services they have done to mankind. Observe,

(1.) What method they took to give them trouble; They stirred up the devout and honourable women against them. The Jews could not make any considerable interest themselves, but they applied themselves to some ladies of quality in the city, that were well affected to the Jewish religion, and were proselytes of the gate, therefore called devout women. These, according to the genius of their sex, were zealous in their way, and bigoted; and it was easy, by false stories and misrepresentations, to incense them against the gospel of Christ, as if it had been destructive of all religion, of which really it is perfective. It is good to see honourable women devout, and well affected to religious worship; the less they have to do in the world, the more they should do for their souls, and the more time they should spend in communion with God; but it is sad, when, under colour of devotion to God, they conceive an enmity to Christ, as those here did. What!