Acts 9:10-15.
ONE thing that gives intense interest to this Scripture is, that the Lord Himself is acting in it. We are prone, in thinking of the Lord’s work, or even in witnessing it, to be taken up with what the visible actors are about, ―what Peter, or John, or Philip, or Stephen may be doing, ―what this preacher or that gift may be occupied in; and surely these things have their interest, and ought, in the souls of God’s people. The Holy Spirit acts by men on earth as well as in them, and therefore it can never be wrong for Christian people to love, help, and pray for those whom He is using for good, and this irrespective of personal likes or dislikes. I must be very narrow-thoughted if I do not see that God is working in various spheres, and by different individuals, who would not, perhaps, act together. I am speaking of things as they are. In the beginning of the history, in the early chapters of this book, things were blessedly as they ought to be― “all with one accord in one place,” as we get at the opening of the second. They had previously waited together in the upper room, continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication―earnest of coming blessing surely, which the day of Pentecost made good. And then the effect of the Holy Ghost in power among them was to make them of one heart and of one soul, caring for each other as members of one common family―the new family formed by the faith and hope of the gospel. From thence testimony flowed; and though there was soon a dispersion―a scattering if you will―yet it was not in heart. The scattered disciples preached the gospel; diffused with joy the tidings of a crucified and risen Lord; knew He was in heaven; had their hearts filled with Him; loved to recognize one another as having interests which the world around knew not of; as being, in short, a peculiar people—in the world, and not of it. Their mission was to tell of Jesus, to make known His love. Now it is the activities, of the Spirit of God, if I may use the expression, that we find in the opening chapters of this book, His working in these dear people as the witness of Jesus, and particularly by some of them, who were full of the Holy Ghost. (4:8, 7:55.) Jesus had gone into heaven; they had spoken of Him as being there; their testimony was a testimony to Him as being there; but now a great blow is being aimed at the Church—a fierce persecution arises; and what is so intensely interesting is, that at this crisis the Lord Jesus Himself appears in the work. No servant now. The Lord of all will meet the persecution. “I am Jesus.” This is something worth notice. His interest in all that concerns His sheep, His feeble flock, is not a whit less deep in heaven than when He suffered for them on the cross. (Love in God is eternal, unchangeable; ever fresh, and ever free. It is a living love, the same today as yesterday, the same forever.) He will superintend the case of Saul of Tarsus Himself; and in thus doing, having laid him low, He speaks to Ananias in a vision. This is what I would notice. He calls Him by name. Jesus speaks. O blessed communication! The disciple hears and answers. The sheep knows the Shepherd’s voice. The communication is most interesting; for the Lord tells His disciple all that was happening in another house, and to another soul. He lets him know it as friend communicates to friend. He tells him that which interests himself: “Behold, he prayeth.” And is it not a wondrous consolation this, that the Lord is interested in a poor stricken sinner’s prayer? How little do we read His heart! But look again. The servant speaks to Him, ―tells out his fear, ―tells his simple tale as freely as he would to his fellow-man. And this is blessed surely! The soul that knows the Lord can tell Him all things. Here is complaint as well as fear. “This man” is an object of dread to Ananias. He has done evil—evil to the saints—thy saints. What a terrible thing, such an accusation going up from one afflicted soul against another! But who does it go up to? Does it not remind you of Elijah, on another occasion (1 Kings 19), his face in his mantle, and his heart poured out to God in intercession against Israel? “Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and dragged down thine altars; and I am left alone; and they seek my life, to take it away.” ‘Who, I say, does it go up to? God, the blessed God! Does He not see it all? He does. But what is He looking at? The faithful remnant. “Yet have I left me seven thousand in Israel that have not bowed the knee to Baal.” God is patient. “You, my servant, must have patience too. Your path is through the wilderness, and thence to heaven.” And if in that day there was light amidst the darkness, by the revelation of God, is it not so still? If the cloud of sorrow was so thick upon the servant’s eyes that he could see only the evil and the ruin―if he needed the voice of the Lord Himself to remind him or to tell him of the remnant in his day, may it not be still the same? Is Ananias heeded when he tells his tale? He is. But he has to learn that the thoughts of a risen and a glorified Lord Jesus are higher far than his thoughts; that let the swelling wave rise high and furious as it will below, the Lord who dwelleth on high is mightier; and not only so, but “mercy rejoiceth against judgment” (James 2); or, as the margin has it, glorieth against judgment. “Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name.” Ah, wondrous love and grace! Pattern of all long-suffering! Who would not praise, and bless, and magnify this gracious, heavenly Lord Jesus! All authority and power, all might is His. “Go thy way” is His commandment. Do the gracious work I give thee; but His love, His condescension, tells the secret of His heart― “He is a chosen vessel unto me.” No fear now, Ananias; the service is not terrible now. Blessed be His holy name! Who would not fear Him! Yea, who would not love Him too―the Lord, the restorer of all!