DEVOTIONAL H WITH THE BIBLE READINGS IN THE ACTS, THE EPISTLES AND REVELATION BY J. R. MILLER, D. D. PHILADELPHIA THE WESTMINSTER PRESS Copyright, 191S GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY The most imposing and important work undertaken by Dr. Miller." British C ongregationalist. DEVOTIONAL HOURS WITH THE BIBLE By J. R. MILLER, D. D. In Eight Volumes Price, $1.25 Net, Per Volume XN this series of devotional expositions Dr. Miller proposes to cover the entire Bible, not in detail, but in such a manner as to fur- nish a comprehensive yet concise spiritual in- terpretation of the Bible Record from Genesis to Revelation. These volumes are designed to include the spiritual and practical lessons of the great pas- sages of the Bible in so far as they bear upon the common life of the people of to-day. NOW READY Vol. L—From the Creation to the Crossing of the Red Sea. Vol. n.—From the Crossing of the Red Sea to the Close of the Life of David. Vol. in.—The Gospel by Matthew. Vol. IV.—Solomon to Malachi. Vol. V.—Readings in the Synoptic Gospels on the Life of Christ. Vol. VI.—Readings from the Psalms. Vol. VII.—The Gospel of St. John. Vol. VIII.—Readings in the Acts, the Epistles and Revelation. READINGS IN THE ACTS, THE EPISTLES AND REVELATION GENERAL PREFACE Theee are two methods of studying the Bible. One is, verse by verse, giving close thought to every word, even looking into etymology and grammat- ical construction, so that the exact sense of the text may be learned. Such study is important. Many rich shades of meaning are often revealed by intelligent and scholarly exegesis. Commen- taries that take us over the Bible in this micro- scopical way are valuable. We need every par- ticle of light on the Scriptures we can get. Then another way of studying the Bible is in order to get from it practical lessons for our own daily, common life. What does the passage teach us? What divine instruction have we in it for ourselves? It is the latter purpose that is in mind in this book. It is not a commentary in the usual sense. It is not an exegetical study of the Scriptures that is proposed. No textual criticism is given. There is no discussion of questions of dates, of localities, of authorships, or archaeolog- ical researches. Its single aim is to suggest some of the spiritual lessons which may be gathered from great passages. The book does not attempt to cover every chap- ter; to do this would make it altogether too long vi PREFACE —^it deals only with what appears to be leading and representative portions of the Bible. It is a book for use in the inner chamber, wihere life receives its impulses for conduct, for duty, for service, and for devotion. The Bible is a very ancient book, but it is also a book for to-day. It brings us face to face with God, and its teachings are meant to guide us in all our ways. J. E. M. PREFACE TO THIS VOLUME In 1908, when Dr. Miller was persuaded to pre- pare these practical comments for the volumes of this series, he asked me to share his editorial duties in order that he might have time for the new work. Side by side we worked for four years, during which he completed seven volumes of the eight. He was busy on the last volume when he realized that God would soon take him from earth. Then the request was made that I complete the volume for him. It will not be necessary to tell readers that the messages are all from Dr. Miller's pen. My only task has been the choice of material and the ad- justment of the chapters. John" T. Faeis. Philadelphia, January, 1913. vS 8 CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE Christ's ascension i Acts i. 1-14 CHAPTER II the holy spirit given ii Acts ii. 1-13 CHAPTER III a multitude converted 1 Acts ii. 32-47 CHAPTER IV the lame man healed . 26 Acts iii. i-ii CHAPTER V the trial of peter and john 34 Acts iv. 1-31 CHAPTER VI the sin of lying 40 Acts v. i-h » CHAPTER VII the apostles IMPRISONED 48 Acts v. 17-32 CHAPTER VIII STEPHEN THE FIRST MARTYR 54 Acts vi. i-8; vii. 54 to viii. 2 CHAPTER IX THE DISCIPLES DISPERSED 60 Acts vin. 1-17 ix X CONTENTS CHAPTER X PAGE the first ethiopian convert 67 Acts viii. 26-40 CHAPTER XI the conversion of saul 75 Acts ix. 1-30 CHAPTER Xn peter and cornelius 8l Acts x. 1-20 CHAPTER Xni gentiles converted at antioch 87 Acts xi. 19-26 CHAPTER XIV PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON 93 Acts xn. 1-17 CHAPTER XV the first christian missionaries 102 Acts xiii. 1-13 CHAPTER XVI the council at jerusalem ho Acts xv. 1-5, 22-29 CHAPTER XVII PAUL BEFORE KING AGRIPPA II5 Acts xxvi. 1-30; also 19-32 CHAPTER XVIII paul's voyage and shipwreck 124 Acts xxvii CHAPTER XIX justification by faith 131 ROM. V. I-II CHAPTER XX the life-giving spirit 138 RoM. viii, 1-14 1 CONTENTS xi CHAPTER XXI PAGE CHRISTIAN LIVING I44 Rom. XII. 9-21 CHAPTER XXn THE LAW OF LOVE 1,50 RoM. XIII. 8-14 CHAPTER XXni ABSTAINING FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS ..... I55 I COR. VIH CHAPTER XXIV A LESSON IN SELF-DENIAL I6I I Cor. X. 23-33 CHAPTER XXV THE lord's SUPPER I67 I Cor. XI. 20-34 CHAPTER XXVI PAUL ON CHRISTIAN LOVE I75 I Cor. XIII CHAPTER XXVII THE RISEN CHRIST I81 1 Cor. XV. 3-28 CHAPTER XXVIII PAUL ON THE GRACE OF GIVING 187 2 Cor. vin. 1-15 CHAPTER XXIX 1 the flesh and the spirit i92 Gal. v. 16-26 CHAPTER XXX THE IMITATION OF CHRIST 1 97 Eph. IV. 20-30 CHAPTER XXXI A CALL TO CHRISTLIKE LIVING ....... 205 EpH. V. II -2 xu CONTENTS CHAPTER XXXII page THE CHRISTIAN ARMOUR 209 Eph. VI. 10-20 CHAPTER XXXIII Christ's humility and exaltation 215 Phil. ii. i-ii CHAPTER XXXIV the new life in CHRIST 222 Col. III. 1-15 CHAPTER XXXV Paul's counsel to the thessalonians . ... 228 I Thess. v. 14-28 CHAPTER XXXVI Paul's charge to timothy 235 2 Tim. III. 14 to IV. 5 CHAPTER XXXVII sober living 24o Titus ii CHAPTER XXXVIII the priesthood OF CHRIST 246 Heb. IX CHAPTER XXXIX heroes of FAITH 252 Heb. XI. CHAPTER XL believing and doing 258 James ii. 14-26 CHAPTER XLI the power of the tongue 262 James hi. 1-12 CHAPTER XLII THE HEAVENLY INHERITANCE 268 I Peter i. 1-12 CONTENTS xiii CHAPTER XLIII page SALUTARY WARNINGS 275 I Peter iv. i-8 CHAPTER XLIV BIN AND SALVATION 38l I John i. 5 to 11. 6 CHAPTER XLV god's love in the gift of his son 288 I John iv. 9-16 CHAPTER XLVI JESUS APPEARS TO JOHN 292 Rev. I. 9-20 CHAPTER XLVII WORSHIPING GOD AND THE LAMB 297 Rev. V CHAPTER XLVIII the SAINTS IN HEAVEN 304 Rev. VII. 9-17 CHAPTER XLIX THE HEAVENLY HOME • S" Rev. xxn. i-ii CHAPTER L THE GREAT INVITATION ^ . 3^6 Rev. XXII. 11-21 EEADINGS IN THE ACTS, THE EPISTLES AND EEVELATION CHAPTER I cheist's ascension Read Acts 1: 1-14 The Ascension was part of the work of Christ as our Saviour. It was not the end of it. The Gospel narrative is described by Luke as ''all that Jesus began both to do and to teach. " It is inter- esting to think of words and deeds of Jesus as beginnings. He did not cease to live and work when He went away from earth. He only re- turned to heaven, where He continmed His active interest in behalf of this world. The atonement was made on the cross, but the real work of sav- ing men goes on all these common days. Men are not saved merely by Christ's death on Calvary; each one is saved by a personal relation with Christ, and by the work of Christ, which goes on in his life from the day he settles the great ques- tion until he enters heaven. Thus the work of Christ is going on ; He only began it in His years on the earth. The coming of the Spirit was really the return of Christ to this world to continue His ministry. His work is carried on, too, by His people in this world. We are the body of Christ and we are to be Christ to others; Christ would live in us and work through us. 1 2 CHRIST'S ASCENSION The most wonderful miracle the world ever saw was the raising of Jesus Christ from the dead. The truth of the resurrection is the very comer stone of our Christian faith. Everything depends upon it. If it could be disproved, the whole system of Christianity Would be swept away. A Christ who died and did not rise again could never be the Helper and Saviour we need. If the body of Jesus still lies amid the dust of Jerusalem, how can He help us in our struggles, our toils and our duties? If death was too strong for Him, how can we hope that He can conquer death for us? In those forty days during which Christ remained on the earth He appeared again and again to His dis- ciples in different manifestations of His love, and gave them proofs which left not a shadow of a doubt in aJny heart.