_Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence._ PAUL’S DEFENCE 1. Whether we consider the man, the circumstances, the speech, or the effect produced, this address is worthy to be ranked among the famous speeches of the ages. Yet it was not the address of a great political leader, but the defence... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when they heard that he spoke in the Hebrew tongue._ PAUL’S METHOD OF QUIETING THE MOB The Hebrew language was their dearest language. It touched them at the point of sympathy. Paul had a new hold on them when he spoke in that language. He knew that, and therefore he chose that language in sp... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass that as I made my journey and was come nigh unto Damascus._ THE CONVERSION OF SAUL I. Saul’s misdirected energy. The immense energy of the man is apparent to us at once. 1. Energy is a splendid trait in any man’s character. It is great, and we love what is great. It is a grand... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I said, What shall I do, Lord?_ THE GREAT PRACTICAL QUESTION It is a brief one but very common: the question of the idler, the steward in the parable, the statesman. It is one of the standing proofs of its practical character that the Bible makes this the first question as soon as there is a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when I could not see for the glory of that light._ TOO MUCH LIGHT There is such a thing as having too much light, as having so much light that we can see nothing. If God should send us all the light we ask for, we should all be blinded. What we need is not more light, so much as more faith--in... [ Continue Reading ]
_And one Ananias … said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee._ THE DIVINE ORDINATION OF HUMAN LIFE The verb here translated, “chosen,” only occurs in this form in one other place (Acts 26:16), where it has the sense of “making,” or “appointing.” The idea here is ordination, or setting apart. T... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass that … while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance._ A COMMON THING REACHING THE WONDERFUL Here is-- I. A common thing--a man praying. Prayer is an instinct of the soul. Danger seldom fails to rouse this instinct even in the most depraved (Psalms 107:13). Volney, in a sto... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they gave audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices._ THE POINT OF SECESSION Paul was listened to attentively until he came to the word “Gentiles.” How some words madden men! We are not offended by the word “Gentiles,” otherwise we should be offended by our own name; but the Je... [ Continue Reading ]
_The chief captain commanded him to be brought to the castle._ THE JEWS, THE BOMAN, AND THE CHRISTIAN I. The Jews in their conduct, which necessitated the interference of the chief captain, illustrate-- 1. The blindness of religious bigotry. They rushed to the conclusion that Paul was not fit to... [ Continue Reading ]