Acts 9:23-25 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:… I. NEVER INVOLVE AN UNNECESSARY MIRACLE. Had occasion required it, all the forces of the universe would have been at Paul's disposal. The circumstances were apparently desperate, but not beyond the God-directed ingenuity of brotherly hearts. God helps those who help themselves — and God's ministers. A chariot of fire is not harnessed when a rope basket will do. In trouble or work expect deliverance or help, not from some striking supernatural interposition, but rather from some humble source overlooked because so commonplace and seemingly inadequate. II. OFTEN INVOLVE CURIOUS EXPEDIENTS. An ambassador of Christ making his escape in a rope basket! Yet spies, defeated warriors, and kings have been glad of the even more ridiculous disguises. And God's people in escaping persecution or seeking truth must not be, and have not been, particular as to what people think. Carey posed as an Indigo planter, Zacchaeus perched himself in a sycamore tree, and the Bible had to be smuggled into Italy under a lady's crinoline. III. ARE FREQUENTLY THE SIMPLEST AND THE EASIEST OF ADOPTION. There would be no trouble in getting a basket. Saul would have had no difficulty in making one if necessary. And when hit upon, how much more effective this plan must have seemed than a score of others that possibly may have been entertained — bribing the governor, dodging the guard, etc. How often God rebukes us by setting aside our apparently clever but really cumbrous contrivances, and using the humblest instruments. Shamgar's ox goad, Samson's jaw bone, David's sling and stone, wrought wonders at times impossible to the whole might of Israel. IV. ARE ALWAYS THE BEST UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. The question for Saul is the question for this practical age — not "How does it look?" but "How will it do?" And the rope basket did admirably. It was soft, light, strong, and no one would dream of looking for an apostle in it. Do not then criticise the form which a given method of providence may take? Whatever it may be, it is the best because God employs it. V. DIFFER ACCORDING TO VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS. Paul was often afterwards in peril, but never had occasion to use the rope basket again. This would have been useless in a similar crisis (chap. Acts 23), where a band of soldiers was required. Because God delivers us in a given fashion, or blesses us in a certain way at one time, it does not follow that the specific acts will be repeated. There is as much variety in the methods of providence as in the methods of nature; both deal with needs as they arise. (J. W. Burn.) Parallel Verses KJV: And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:WEB: When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him, |
    |