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(Cf. 2 Corinthians 11:32, 33). Saul had returned from his Arabian retirement, and his powerful preaching aroused the animosity of the Jews. The Ethnarch, under the king of the Nabothaean Arabs, sided with them, and watched the gates of the city to take Saul. It was a close investment, and with such powerful enemies the chances were all against him. At this juncture a device occurred to his friends, recalling that of Rahab (Joshua 2:15), and David (1 Samuel 19:12). It was a humiliating circumstance, and is placid by Paul amongst "the things that concern my infirmities." Most men would have banished it from their thoughts and concealed it. Of such odd and inconvenient things the religion of Christ can make splendid use. This was —

I. AN INSTANCE OF PECULIAR DISCIPLINE.

1. That there was something in Paul's mental constitution requiring to be so dealt with we may be certain — over-sensitiveness, a sense of personal dignity, pride of race. In such ways we get the starch taken out of us.

2. There was need for the most contradictory qualities in an apostle. He had to be strictly upright, yet "all things to all men"; firm and stern in rebuking sin, yet gentle and forgiving the penitent; keenly sensitive to the claims of the Master and His representatives, but oblivious to mere personal consideration. Whilst he had to confess that he was less than the least of all saints; he had to withstand "pillars," and those who "seemed to be somewhat to the face" (Galatians 2). Of the stiff Pharisee God was making a keen and flexible weapon.

3. This circumstance was in a line with his confusion on the highway, when he was "led by the hand." That it made a deep impression on his mind we learn from the minuteness of the description after so many years. He uses the specific word for "rope work hamper," while Luke employs the more general "basket."

4. Many would have hesitated to avail themselves of such a means of escape as making them ridiculous, and thus detrimental to authority and usefulness.

II. A TEST OF THE FAITH OF THE DISCIPLES. There are many who cannot receive the truth for its own worth. Moral influence is with them bound up with personal position and external dignity. Yet a humble exterior is no proof of real lowering. Splendour may cloak corruption and spiritual death. The appearance of an apostle dangling in a rope basket was therefore a trial to the new converts. One might fancy themselves exclaiming, "Where is the miracle, the Sign?" So Paul banters the Corinthians — I am a fool! "bear with me." With men God ever pursues this reparative process, dissolving the temporal and accidental from the essential and eternal.

III. A SPECIMEN OF THE IRONY OF PROVIDENCE. In certain historical events one seems to detect such a mood, especially in the cries of nations and churches. The O.T., e.g., in the stories of Moses, Jacob, Gideon, is full of them. The means of checkmating the enemy of souls is reduced to a minimum — a ridiculous, preposterous circumstance, but it is sufficient. And when one compares the huge preparations and complex machinery of Satan with the simplicity of the Divine instrumentalities, the power and wisdom of God are thrown into relief. There are traces of a contempt for Satan in the Bible. Let us take heart, then, as we think of the grim laughter of the angels over abortive schemes and transparent blunders of the prince of darkness.

(A. F. Muir, M. A.)

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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,