Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/49

Rh did, was no excuse at all for their malice and wickedness in the doing of it, any more than God's making the blood of the martyrs the seed of the church extenuated the guilt of their bloody persecutors. Sin is not the less evil for God's bringing good out of it, but he is by that the more glorified, and will be so, when the mystery of God shall be finished.

4. Their petition with reference to the case at this time. The enemies were gathered together against Christ, and then no wonder that they were so against his ministers; the disciple is not better than his Master, nor must expect better treatment; but, being thus insulted, they pray,

(1.) That God would take cognizance of the malice of their enemies; Now, Lord, behold their threatenings, v. 29. Behold them, as thou art said to behold them in the psalm before quoted, (Ps. 2. 4. ) when they thought to break his bands asunder, and cast away his cords from them; he that sits in heaven, laughs at them, and has them in derision; and then the virgin, the daughter of Zion, may despise the impotent menaces even of the great king, the king of Assyria, Isa. 37. 22. And now, Lord; τὰ νῦν; there is an emphasis upon the now, to intimate that then is God's time to appear for his people, when the power of their enemies is most daring and threatening. They do not dictate to God what he shall do, but refer themselves to him; like Hezekiah; (Isa. 37. 17.) "Open thine eyes, O Lord, and see; thou knowest what they say, thou beholdest mischief and spite, (Ps. 10. 14.) to thee we appeal, behold their threatenings, and either tie their hands, or turn their hearts; make their wrath, as far as it is let loose, to praise thee, and the remainder thereof do thou restrain," Ps. 76. 10. It is a comfort to us, that if we are unjustly threatened, and bear it patiently, we may make ourselves easy by spreading the case before the Lord, and leaving it with him.

(2.) That God, by his grace, would keep up their spirits, and animate them to go on cheerfully with their work; Grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, though the priests and rulers have enjoined them silence. Note, In threatening times, our care should not be so much that troubles may be prevented, as that we may be enabled to go on with cheerfulness and resolution in our work and duty, whatever troubles we may meet with. Their prayer is not, "Lord, behold their threatenings, and frighten them, and stop their mouths, and fill their faces with shame;" but, "Behold their threatenings, and animate us, open our mouths and fill our hearts with courage." They do not pray, "Lord, give us a fair opportunity to retire from our work, now that it is become dangerous;" but, "Lord, give us grace to go on in our work, and not to be afraid of the face of man." Observe, [1.] Those that are sent on God's errands, ought to deliver their message with boldness, with all boldness, with all liberty of speech, not shunning to declare the whole counsel of God, whoever is offended; not doubting of what they say, or of being borne out in saying it. [2.] God is to be sought unto for an ability to speak his word with boldness, and those that desire divine aids and encouragements, may depend upon them, and ought to go forth, and go on, in the strength of the Lord God. [3.] The threatenings of our enemies, that are designed to weaken our hands, and drive us off from our work, should rather stir us up to so much the more courage and resolution in our work. Are they daring, that fight against Christ? For shame, let not us be sneaking, that are for him.

(3.) That God would still give them power to work miracles for the confirmation of the doctrine they preached, which, by the cure of the lame man, they found to contribute very much to their success, and would contribute abundantly to their further progress. Lord, grant us boldness, by stretching forth thine hand to heal. Note, Nothing imboldens faithful ministers more in their work, than the tokens of God's presence with them, and a divine power going along with them. They pray, [1.] That God would stretch forth his hand to heal, both the bodies and souls of men; else in vain do they stretch forth their hands, either in preaching, (Isa. 65. 2.) or in curing. [2.] That signs and wonders might be done by the name of the holy Child Jesus, which would be convincing to the people, and confounding to the enemies. Christ had promised them a power to work miracles, for the proof of their commission; (Mark 16. 17, 18.) yet they must pray for it; and, though they had it, must pray for the continuance of it. Christ himself must ask, and it shall be given him. Observe, It is the honour of Christ that they aim at in this request, that the wonder might be done by the name of Jesus, the holy Child Jesus, and his name shall have all the glory.

IV. The gracious answer God gave to this address, not in word, but in power.

1. God gave them a sign of the acceptance bf their prayers; (v. 31.) When they had prayed, (perhaps many of them prayed successively, one by one, ac cording to the rule, (1 Cor. 14. 31.) and when they had concluded the work of the day,) the place was shaken where they were assembled together, there was a strong mighty wind, such as that when the Spirit was poured out upon them, (ch. 2. 1, 2.) which shook the house, which was now their house of prayer. This shaking of the place was designed to strike an awe upon them, and to awaken and raise their expectations, and to give them a sensible token that God was with them of a truth: and perhaps it was to put them in mind of that prophecy, (Hag. 2. 7.) I will shake all nations, and will fill this house with glory. This was to shew them what reason they had to fear God more, and then they would fear man less. He that shook this place, could make the hearts of those who threatened his servants thus, to tremble, for he ''cuts off the spirit of princes, and is terrible to the kings of the earth. The place was shaken'', that their faith might be established and unshaken.

2. God gave them greater degrees of his Spirit, which was the thing they prayed for; their prayer, without doubt, was accepted, for it was answered, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, more than ever; by which they were not only encouraged, but enabled, to speak the word of God with boldness, and not to be afraid of the proud and haughty looks of men. The Holy Ghost taught them not only what to speak, but how to speak. Those that were endued habitually with the powers of the Holy Ghost, had yet occasion for fresh supplies of the Spirit, according as the various occurrences of their service were. They were filled with the Holy Ghost at the bar, (v. 8.) and now filled with the Holy Ghost in the pulpit; which teaches us to live in an actual dependence upon the grace of God, according as the duty of every day requires; we need to be anointed with fresh oil upon every fresh occasion. As in the providence pf God, so in the grace of God, we not only in general live, and have our being, but move in every particular action, ch. 17. 28. We have here an instance of the performance of that promise, that God will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him; (Luke 11. 13.) for it was in answer to prayer that they were filled with the Holy Ghost; and we have also an example of the improvement of that gift, which is required of all on whom it is bestowed; have it and use it, use it, and have more of it. When they were filled with the Holy Ghost, they spake the word with all boldness; for the ministration of the Spirit is given to every man, to profit withal. Talents must be traded with, not buried. When they