Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v04650

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 8KB | 135 lines

04653
 * Paul before Festus, he appeals to Caesar. (1-12) Festus
 confers with Agrippa respecting Paul. (13-27)

 #1-12 See how restless malice is. Persecutors deem it a peculiar
 favour to have their malice gratified. Preaching Christ, the end
 of the law, was no offence against the law. In suffering times
 the prudence of the Lord's people is tried, as well as their
 patience; they need wisdom. It becomes those who are innocent,
 to insist upon their innocence. Paul was willing to abide by the
 rules of the law, and to let that take its course. If he
 deserved death, he would accept the punishment. But if none of
 the things whereof they accused him were true, no man could
 deliver him unto them, with justice. Paul is neither released
 nor condemned. It is an instance of the slow steps which
 Providence takes; by which we are often made ashamed, both of
 our hopes and of our fears, and are kept waiting on God.

04665
 #13-27 Agrippa had the government of Galilee. How many unjust
 and hasty judgments the Roman maxim, ver. #16|, condemn! This
 heathen, guided only by the light of nature, followed law and
 custom exactly, yet how many Christians will not follow the
 rules of truth, justice, and charity, in judging their brethren!
 The questions about God's worship, the way of salvation, and the
 truths of the gospel, may appear doubtful and without interest,
 to worldly men and mere politicians. See how slightly this Roman
 speaks of Christ, and of the great controversy between the Jews
 and the Christians. But the day is at hand when Festus and the
 whole world will see, that all the concerns of the Roman empire
 were but trifles and of no consequence, compared with this
 question of Christ's resurrection. Those who have had means of
 instruction, and have despised them, will be awfully convinced
 of their sin and folly. Here was a noble assembly brought
 together to hear the truths of the gospel, though they only
 meant to gratify their curiosity by attending to the defence of
 a prisoner. Many, even now, attend at the places of hearing the
 word of God with "great pomp," and too often with no better
 motive than curiosity. And though ministers do not now stand as
 prisoners to make a defence for their lives, yet numbers affect
 to sit in judgment upon them, desirous to make them offenders
 for a word, rather than to learn from them the truth and will of
 God, for the salvation of their souls. But the pomp of this
 appearance was outshone by the real glory of the poor prisoner
 at the bar. What was the honour of their fine appearance,
 compared with that of Paul's wisdom, and grace, and holiness;
 his courage and constancy in suffering for Christ! It is no
 small mercy to have God clear up our righteousness as the light,
 and our just dealing as the noon-day; to have nothing certain
 laid to our charge. And God makes even the enemies of his people
 to do them right.
04680
 * Paul's defence before Agrippa. (1-11) His conversion and
 preaching to the Gentiles. (12-23) Festus and Agrippa convinced
 of Paul's innocence. (24-32)

 #1-11 Christianity teaches us to give a reason of the hope that
 is in us, and also to give honour to whom honour is due, without
 flattery or fear of man. Agrippa was well versed in the
 Scriptures of the Old Testament, therefore could the better
 judge as to the controversy about Jesus being the Messiah.
 Surely ministers may expect, when they preach the faith of
 Christ, to be heard patiently. Paul professes that he still kept
 to all the good in which he was first educated and trained up.
 See here what his religion was. He was a moralist, a man of
 virtue, and had not learned the arts of the crafty, covetous
 Pharisees; he was not chargeable with any open vice and
 profaneness. He was sound in the faith. He always had a holy
 regard for the ancient promise made of God unto the fathers, and
 built his hope upon it. The apostle knew very well that all this
 would not justify him before God, yet he knew it was for his
 reputation among the Jews, and an argument that he was not such
 a man as they represented him to be. Though he counted this but
 loss, that he might win Christ, yet he mentioned it when it
 might serve to honour Christ. See here what Paul's religion is;
 he has not such zeal for the ceremonial law as he had in his
 youth; the sacrifices and offerings appointed by that, are done
 away by the great Sacrifice which they typified. Of the
 ceremonial cleansings he makes no conscience, and thinks the
 Levitical priesthood is done away in the priesthood of Christ;
 but, as to the main principles of his religion, he is as zealous
 as ever. Christ and heaven, are the two great doctrines of the
 gospel; that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is
 in his Son. These are the matter of the promise made unto the
 fathers. The temple service, or continual course of religious
 duties, day and night, was kept up as the profession of faith in
 the promise of eternal life, and in expectation of it. The
 prospect of eternal life should engage us to be diligent and
 stedfast in all religious exercises. Yet the Sadducees hated
 Paul for preaching the resurrection; and the other Jews joined
 them, because he testified that Jesus was risen, and was the
 promised Redeemer of Israel. Many things are thought to be
 beyond belief, only because the infinite nature and perfections
 of Him that has revealed, performed, or promised them, are
 overlooked. Paul acknowledged, that while he continued a
 Pharisee, he was a bitter enemy to Christianity. This was his
 character and manner of life in the beginning of his time; and
 there was every thing to hinder his being a Christian. Those who
 have been most strict in their conduct before conversion, will
 afterwards see abundant reason for humbling themselves, even on
 account of things which they then thought ought to have been
 done.

04691
 #12-23 Paul was made a Christian by Divine power; by a
 revelation of Christ both to him and in him; when in the full
 career of his sin. He was made a minister by Divine authority:
 the same Jesus who appeared to him in that glorious light,
 ordered him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. A world that
 sits in darkness must be enlightened; those must be brought to
 know the things that belong to their everlasting peace, who are
 yet ignorant of them. A world that lies in wickedness must be
 sanctified and reformed; it is not enough for them to have their
 eyes opened, they must have their hearts renewed; not enough to
 be turned from darkness to light, but they must be turned from
 the power of Satan unto God. All who are turned from sin to God,
 are not only pardoned, but have a grant of a rich inheritance.
 The forgiveness of sins makes way for this. None can be happy
 who are not holy; and to be saints in heaven we must be first
 saints on earth. We are made holy, and saved by faith in Christ;
 by which we rely upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness, and
 give up ourselves to him as the Lord our Ruler; by this we
 receive the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and
 eternal life. The cross of Christ was a stumbling-block to the
 Jews, and they were in a rage at Paul's preaching the fulfilling
 of the Old Testament predictions. Christ should be the first
 that should rise from the dead; the Head or principal One. Also,
 it was foretold by the prophets, that the Gentiles should be
 brought to the knowledge of God by the Messiah; and what in this
 could the Jews justly be displeased at? Thus the true convert
 can give a reason of his hope, and a good account of the change
 manifest in him. Yet for going about and calling on men thus to
 repent and to be converted, vast numbers have been blamed and
 persecuted.