Acts 28:23-28 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God… Note — I. THE INTERESTING CHARACTER OF HIS PREACHING. It was — 1. Evangelical. His theme was the "kingdom of God" — the reign of the Messiah as predicted by the prophets. Christ here, as everywhere, was his grand subject. 2. Earnest. He "expounded," "testified," "persuaded" from morning to evening. II. THE EFFECT OF HIS PREACHING (ver. 24). They were different, which is such a common occurrence as to excite no wonder. Even the discourses of Christ were far from commanding uniform impressions. This diversity may be accounted for without calling in the unscriptural doctrine of the partiality of the Divine influence. Man's power to think upon the subject presented to him or not, to think upon it in this aspect or that, with this intention or that, is sufficient to explain the diversity. III. THE TERRIBLE WARNING OF HIS PREACHING (vers. 26, 27). This must not be regarded as teaching that God exerts any influence to morally blind and stupefy men. Such a work would be — 1. Unnecessary. Men are already in that condition. 2. Incompatible with the Divine character. His holiness and love render such a work eternally impossible. 3. Opposed to the whole tenor of Scripture. "Let no man say when he is tempted, he is tempted of God." 4. Denied by universal consciousness. No sinner ever felt that the Creator exerted any influence in making him sinful. On the contrary, universal conscience charges sin on the sinner. All that the passage teaches is — (1) That men may fail into an unconvertible moral condition. They may become so blind, insensitive, and obdurate, as to exclude all hope of recovery. (2) That the ministry of Divine truth may promote this condition. As the heart of Pharaoh grew hard under the ministry of Moses, the hearts of thousands in every age are hardened under the ministry of the gospel, which is either a savour of life unto life or of death unto death. (3) That a ministry that may fail with some will succeed with others. This comes out of Paul's warning, "Be it known unto you," etc. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. |
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