15. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

The law and the prophets, we see, were "read in the synagogues every sabbath day." The word of exhortation followed: and the apostles were invited to furnish it. So it happened on a similar occasion, (as we learn in Luke iv. 16,) that our Lord himself first declared the fulfilment in his own person of the promises of God. "He came to Nazareth:" he read to the congregation in the synagogue some of the most remarkable predictions of the Messiah. And then he said scripture fulfilled in

unto them, "This day is this your ears."

What Jesus had done in Nazareth, Paul was now to do in Pisidia: having present before him both men of Israel his brethren, and others, not Jews by birth, but proselytes: those who, like Cornelius, had been brought to fear God through the scriptures, and the example of the Jews who lived amongst them.

16. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand, said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

17. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as

4 Ch. XV. 20.

strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

18. And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

19. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20. And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

21. And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

22. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

23. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus;

24. When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.$

Paul had an event to explain, and he traces it to its source, by a brief review of the Jewish history. Throughout this history God had a determined purpose which was now fulfilled.

5 Whose servant I am not worthy to be.

This people of Israel had always been a peculiar people. They worshipped a God whom other nations knew not. And the God whom they worshipped exerted his power to raise them out of the bondage of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

He supported them forty years whilst they wandered through the wilderness, till he permitted them to settle in the promised land of Canaan, casting out seven nations greater and mightier than they, and planting them in.

He governed them by judges, and he governed them by kings: but he still kept his eye upon them; and it was plain for all to perceive that there was a dispensation yet to come which his providence was gradually preparing. Promises

were made to David and his line, which long remained unfulfilled, whilst devout men were "looking for the consolation of Israel."

But now of David's seed had God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus ;a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord: his name was called Jesus, because " he should save his ple from their sins."

peo

His coming had been announced. John had first preached the baptism of repentance. But John had assured his followers, I am not he he who should come. There cometh one after me, whose shoes I am not worthy to loose.

Paul's hearers are thus led on to the announce

ment which he was about to declare. A great preparation had been made. From the beginning God had chosen the descendants of Abraham, and had separated them from all other nations; had given them a country to dwell in, had appointed and honoured their rulers. But the end was not yet. There was something still beyond. And expectation had been lately roused by the voice which cried," Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Thus he opens the way for the Messiah: prepares the ground, that it may better receive the truth with which he was charged: namely, that "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners had spoken in times past unto their fathers by the prophets, had in these last days spoken unto them by his Son." 6

The event, though long waited for, had fulfilled the expectation: had justified the assurance of the prophet Habakkuk (ii. 3.) "The vision is yet for an appointed time; but in the end it shall speak, it shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it: it will surely come; it will not tarry."

And so, of all God's promises. The scoffers of one age, like the scoffers of another, may say, and will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? All things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Meanwhile, his purposes are proceeding: for "one day is with the Lord as

6 Heb. i. 1.

7

7 See 2 Pet. xiv. 4-8. Ib. 14.

a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." One object, and no other, is worthy of our anxiety or diligence: that whenever his final dispensations are disclosed, for which these earthly revelations are designed to prepare us, " we may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

LECTURE XL.

PAUL'S ADDRESS TO THE JEWS CONTINUED.-A. D. 45.

ACTS xiii. 26-41.

26. Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

So Paul assures the Jews his brethren, and the Gentile proselytes, who worshipped God together with them. God, according to his promise, has raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus. But he is only a Saviour to those who trust in him. His gospel is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” 1 Paul therefore appeals to those whom he was now addressing, that they

1 Rom. i. 16.