Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/96

90 Note, What God speaks in general, is then likely to do us good, when we apply it to ourselves, and insert our own names into the precepts and promises which are expressed generally; as if God spake to us by name, and when he saith, Ho, every one, he had said, Ho, such a one: Samuel, Samuel; Saul, Saul.

The doubling of it, Saul, Saul, intimates, First, The deep sleep that Saul was in; he needed to be called again and again, as Jer. 22. 29. ''O earth, earth, earth. Secondly, The tender concern that the blessed Jesus had for him, and for his recovery; he speaks as one in earnest; it is like Martha, Martha, (Luke 10. 41.) or Simon, Simon, (Luke 22. 31.) or O Jerusalem, Jerusalem'', Matt. 23. 37. He speaks to him as to one in imminent danger, at the pit's brink, and just ready to drop in; "Saul, Saul, dost thou know whither thou art going, and what thou art doing?"

[2.] The charge exhibited against him, is, Why persecutest thou me? Observe here, First, Before Saul was made a saint, he is made to see himself a sinner, a great sinner, a sinner against Christ. Now he was made to see that evil by himself which he never saw before; sin revived and he died. Note, A humbling conviction of sin is the first step towards a saving conversion from sin. Secondly, He is convinced of one particular sin, which he was most notoriously guilty of, and had justified himself in, and thereby way is made for his conviction of all the rest. Thirdly, The sin he is convinced of, is, persecution; Why persecutest thou me? It is a very affectionate expostulation, enough to melt a heart of stone. Observe, 1. The person sinning; "It is thou; thou, that art not one of the ignorant, rude, unthinking crowd, that will run down any thing they hear put into an ill name, but thou that hast had a liberal, learned education, hast good parts and accomplishments, hast the knowledge of the scriptures, which, if duly considered, would shew thee the folly of it. It is worse in thee than in another." 2. The person sinned against; "It is I, who never did thee any harm, who came from heaven to earth to do thee good; who was not long since crucified for thee; and was that not enough, but must I afresh be crucified by thee?" 3. The kind and continuance of the sin. It was persecution, and he was at this time engaged in it; "Not only thou hast persecuted, but thou persecutest, thou persistest in it." He was not at this time haling any to prison, or killing them: but that was the errand he came upon to Damascus; he was now projecting it, and pleasing himself with the thought of it. Note, They that are designing mischief, are, in God's account, doing mischief. 4. The question put to him upon it; "Why dost thou do it?" (1.) It is complaining language. " Why dealest thou unjustly, thus unkindly, with my disciples?" Christ never complained so much of those who persecuted him in his own person as he did here of those who persecuted him in his followers. He complains of it as it was Saul's sin; "Why art thou such an enemy to thyself, to thy God?" Note, The sins of sinners are a very grievous burthen to the Lord Jesus. He is grieved for them, (Mark 3. 5.) he is pressed under them, Amos 2. 13. (2.) It is convincing language, "Why dost thou thus? Canst thou give any good reason for it?" Note, It is good for us often to ask ourselves why we do so and so, that we may discern what an unreasonable thing sin is: and of all sins none so unreasonable, so unaccountable, as the sin of persecuting the disciples of Christ, especially when it is discovered to be, as certainly it is, persecuting Christ. Those have no knowledge, who eat up God's people, Ps. 14. 4. Why persecutest thou me? He thought he was persecuting only a company of poor, weak, silly people, that were an offence and eye-sore to the Pharisees, little imagining that it was one in heaven that he was all this while insulting; for surely if he had known, he would not have persecuted the Lord of glory. Note, Those who persecute the saints, persecute Christ himself, and he takes what is done against them as done against himself, and accordingly will be the judgment in the great day, Matt. 25. 45.

5. Saul's question upon his indictment, and the reply to it, v. 5.

(1.) He makes inquiry concerning Christ; Who art thou, Lord?' He gives no direct answer to the charge preferred against him, being convicted by his own conscience, and self-condemned. If God contend with us for our sins, we are not able to answer for one of a thousand, especially such a one as the sin of persecution. Convictions of sin, when they are set home with power upon the conscience, will silence all excuses and self-justifications. Though I were righteous, yet would I not answer. But he desires to know who is his judge; the compellation is respectful; Lord. He who had been a blasphemer of Christ's name, now speaks to him as his Lord. The question is proper, Who art thou? This implies his present unacquaintedness with Christ; he knew not his voice as his own sheep do, but he desires to be acquainted with him; he is convinced by this light which incloses him, that it is one from heaven that speaks to him, and he has a veneration for every thing that appears to him to come from heaven; and therefore, ''Lord, who art thou? What is thy name?'' Judg. 13. 17. Gen. 32. 29. Note, There is then some hope of people, when they begin to inquire after Jesus Christ.

(2.) He has an answer immediately, in which we have,

[1.] Christ's gracious revelation of himself to him. He is always ready to answer the serious inquiries of those who covet an acquaintance with him. I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. The name of Jesus was not unknown to him, his heart had risen against it many a time, and gladly would he bury it in oblivion; he knew it was the name that he persecuted, but little did he think to hear it from heaven, or from the midst of such a glory as now shone round about him. Note, Christ brings souls into fellowship with himself, by manifesting himself to them. He said, First, I am Jesus, a Saviour, I am Jesus of Nazareth, so it is, ch. 22. 8. Saul used to call him so when he blasphemed him; "I am that very Jesus whom thou usedst to call in scorn Jesus of Nazareth." And he would shew that now that he is in glory, he is not ashamed of his humiliation. Secondly, "I am that Jesus whom thou persecutest, and therefore it is at thy peril if thou persist in this wicked course." There is nothing more effectual to awaken and humble the soul than to see sin to be against Christ, an affront to him, and a contradiction to his designs.

[2.] His gentle reproof of him; It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks, or goads; to spurn at the spur. It is hard, it is in itself an absurd and evil thing, and will be of fatal consequence to him that does it. Those kick at the goad, that stifle and smother the convictions of conscience, that rebel against God's truths and laws, that quarrel with his providences, and that persecute and oppose his ministers, because they reprove them, and their words are as goads and as nails. They that revolt more and more, when they are stricken by the word or rod of God, that are enraged at reproofs, and fly in the face of their reprovers, they kick against the pricks, and will have a deal to answer for.

6. His surrender of himself to the Lord Jesus at length, v. 6. See here,

(1.) The frame and temper he was in, when Christ had been dealing with him. [1.] He trembled, as one in a great fright. Note, Strong