Acts 8:32-38 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer… I. THE TEXT. "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter," etc. Here is no difficulty, but there are two difficulties following which require explanation. 1. "In His humiliation His judgment was taken away." He appeared in such a condition that Pilate, though convinced of His innocence, did not consider Him of importance enough to risk anything for His deliverance. "Taking away His judgment" means the denial of the rights of legal justice. 2. "And who shall declare His generation?" Some have referred this to His eternal generation from the Father; some to His being conceived by the Holy Ghost; others to His resurrection; others again to His spiritual seed. But there are only two probable meanings:(1) Who shall declare the manner of His life? Before the execution of criminals, proclamation was made, "Will any one testify anything in favour of the condemned?" Sometimes they saw one hastening with a long white flag, and exclaiming, "A witness is come." But there was no white flag on Calvary! "They all forsook Him and fled."(2) Who shall declare the generation of men in which He lived? Thus Luke says, "He shall suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation." Therefore there was no one in this sense to declare His generation, the wickedness of the men in whose day He lived, suffered, and was slain. II. THE SERMON. 1. It was unpremeditated. The apostles were admonished not to meditate beforehand, for "it should be given them in that same hour," etc. And ministers should never be at a loss to say something about Christ. Our Saviour says "Every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto an householder," etc. Ye would not deem him a good housekeeper who, if a friend calls suddenly, could not bring something to feed him. Sometimes a minister's best thoughts will be those produced by present circumstances and present feelings. Baxter was once preaching, when there occurred a tremendous storm which threw his audience into great consternation. He paused and exclaimed, "My brethren, we are assembled this morning to prepare against that day when the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements melt with fervent heat; the earth and all the works that are therein shall be burnt up." This hushed and calmed the audience. When Peter was preaching, a multitude exclaimed, "What shall we do?" but Peter was not disconcerted. 2. Its subject was Jesus, as it was in Samaria. This was his constant practice, nor was it peculiar to him. Paul said to the Corinthians, "I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." The Saviour, when He commissioned the apostles, instructed them to preach in His name. This is the subject which, though so old, is always so new; and not only a faithful saying, but "worthy of all acceptation." In order to be useful to others we must preach the truth as it is in Jesus; "for "there is salvation in no other." 3. This sermon was very Scriptural: "He began at the same Scripture," and this was a good beginning; but we must extend the thing. According to Christ's own testimony there are things concerning Him in all the Scriptures. "Search the Scriptures, for they are they that testify of Me." Divide them, arrange them as you please, and you will find that He is "all in all." Wherever, therefore, you step on this holy ground, immediately a star is in motion, going before you till it stands over where the young child is; wherever you listen, you hear a voice saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world"; wherever you open the leaves in this sacred book, "His name is as ointment poured forth." (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: |
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