Acts 13:42-52 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

Ministerial success.

I. THAT IT IS A REAL MINISTERIAL GAIN TO EXCITE RELIGIOUS INQUIRY . ( Acts 13:42-44 .) It was a considerable success to have called forth the interest of the Gentile audience, so that they begged to hear the same truths stated again ( Acts 13:42 ). It was the beginning of "the grace of God" in their hearts ( Acts 13:43 ); it resulted in the excitement of still more extensive inquiry, so that "the whole city" was agitated and solicitous ( Acts 13:44 ). We may thank God for the commencement of religious life, for the sprouting of the seed, for the first signs of spiritual awakening; we need not hesitate to ascribe this to the hand of God on the heart of man.

II. THAT SUCH AWAKENING MUST BE FAITHFULLY FOLLOWED UP BY THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER . Paul and Barnabas "persuaded them to continue," etc. ( Acts 13:43 ). We must not only plant, but water ( 1 Corinthians 3:6 ). We should watch for the first signs of religious earnestness, and promptly follow up what has been wrought by wise, earnest, devout encouragement.

III. THAT THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER SHOULD AVAIL HIMSELF OF EVERY PROVIDENTIAL OPENING . ( Acts 13:45-47 .) The rejection of the gospel by the Jews might have led some half-hearted missionaries to abandon their work. But to those who were here at work it simply acted as an incentive to go forth into a wider field. They took the shutting of one gate to mean entrance through another; the blocking of one way to prove that the finger of God was pointing in another direction, where more ground was to be cultivated and larger harvests were to be reaped. So must we strive to gain good from apparent evil, and look on every adverse event as showing us what other and what better thing our Master would have us do.

IV. THAT GOD 'S WORK WILL BE WROUGHT IN SPITE OF MAN 'S ENMITY , AND EVEN BY MEANS OF IT . The violent and determined opposition of the Jews ( Acts 13:45 ) led the apostles to a conclusion in favor of more extensive Christian labor earlier than they could otherwise have reached it. The language of Paul ( Acts 13:46 ) indicates no little tension of feeling. The enemies of the truth urged onward the chariot of the kingdom, and it rolled forward at full speed. And the fervent words of the apostle met with a prompt and earnest response ( Acts 13:48 ); the Gentiles "glorified God," and many of them yielded an intelligent, saving faith to the truths presented. So much of centrifugal force was there in the enmity of the Jews that the. gospel was carried far and wide, and "the Word of the Lord was published throughout all the region" ( Acts 13:49 ). A happy thing it is for us that often "vaulting ambition o'er leaps itself and comes down on the other side," that the wrath of man does occasionally and incidentally work the righteousness and grace of God, that the industry of evil builds up the walls it is seeking to undermine.

V. THAT MINISTERIAL SUCCESS IS CERTAIN TO BE DASHED WITH SOME DISAPPOINTMENT , and that the Christian teacher must mingle reproach with invitation ( Acts 13:50 , Acts 13:51 ).

VI. THAT FAITHFUL WORK MAY FILL THE MINISTER OF CHRIST WITH HOLY JOY . ( Acts 13:52 .) There is a gladness, an exultation, which may find a home in the teacher's heart which is not holy, and when it cannot be said that he is "filled with joy and the holy Ghost;" that is, when he is congratulating himself with a satisfaction that is selfish, earthly, unspiritual. But when his joy is pure, disinterested, Christian; when he rejoices because Christ is being honored and men are being raised and blessed, then is his heart happy with a joy with which the Holy Spirit is closely associated, and which "sanctifies and satisfies the soul."—C.