The Washington herald., 1909-07-24
Facts and Their Motive Power.

TeTss Comments upon the Christian Endearor
Topic for August /. Life Lessons for Ne from
the Book Of Acts" Acts. usyiIsA
The Book Of Acts Is a book OF facts
It's value as religious literature consists
chiefly in its historical variations. There
Is power In fact. Some persons who
are forever ''spiritualizing'' all things. and
trying to draw lesson" need TO be re-
minded Of the dynamics resident in sheer
fact The gospel itself. in its early sim
plicity. was the mere narration Of certain
historical facts. These facts-carrying in
their train. TO be sure a great body Of
truth-have conquered the nations that
govern the world; and they seem likely
by their telling to bring all peoples in
subsection TO the Christ concerning
whom the good news is told No argu-
ment Is equal to a proved experiment.
Down in the rescue missions. IN the
Sums Of the great cities, il IS not elo-
quence that reclaims men from sodden
vice, but the reiterated testimonies OF
persons who had been in Ike case and
whom the power OF Jesus had made over
into new men. II any company Of Chris
tans undertake 10 study seriously the
Book OF Acts, they are certain to be
anmateR to new efficiency in their own
church work
The titles OF the books OF the scrlptural
canon are not inspired. The appellation
The Book Of the Acts Of the Apostles"
Is palpable misnomer, for at the out
set this history dismisses most Of the
apostles with mere mention. giving far
more space to some men who are not
apostles than 20 most OF the members of
that body. Peter and Paul are the prin-
cipal figures, the latter occupying the
larger part OF the authors attention. one
commentator has pointed out that the
book is more truly record OF the acts OF
the Holy Spirit than Of the acts Of the
apostles.
First-century Christianity is revealed as
of heroic stun by the Book Of Acts
II dared and did and died that the gospel
might grow.
Or. Luke was a great historian. Doubt
less it was his theme that caught him
up to heights Of ability Of which neither
he nor his friends had dreamed. even az
men in public life. when called upon to
produce state papers, suddenly develop
uncommon literary ability. His subject
matter aside. however. Dr. Luke must
be credited with a simple. direct. and
natural literary style. His unconscious
illusions TO contemporaneous matters
have come to be profound arguments for
the authenticity of his work
Who was TheOphilus. to whom two
books Of the New Testament were written
by DR.. Luke? We do not know. He was
simply an Interested disciple, with a
great friend. Possibly IL Is TO his thirst
Tor knowledge that we owe the third
Gospel and the Book Of Acts. Because
or his quest for truth. his name is for
ever embalmed in the New Testament.
the greatest literature Of humanity.
All kinds Of characters move through
the pages Of the Book Of Acts. It's
heroes are not demi-gods. but men in
world Of men" The sane naturalne@s
of Christianity in practice Is one of the
proofs Of its divine origin. II Is a pos
sible religion
When some Chinese converts were
studying the Book Of Acts one Of them
naively remarked: I'VE like this book
It's people are just Ike ourselves. They
had the same sort Of temptations we /
have. and sometimes they stumbled lust
as we do" For this peerless history I
depicts. with rare fidelity, the infant /
Church against a somber background OF 4
environlng heatheHdom.
The world is keen to hear a man talk
who has been a part Of his own story. /
That is why adventures and explorers /
are such popular lecturers. Now Luke
figured In the events he described: occa-
sionally he lapses into the I'VE" OF a
Like Caesar. he could saw.
of which things I also was a part
This book is journalistic in that il is so /
largely the story OF an eyewitness.
The Book OF Acts is incomplete It
is "continued-in-our-n next" story. The
author purports only TO tel Of begin
nings and continUings. but not of end /
ings. All the significant aspects OF early
Christian history which Luke touches. he
leaves unfinished The end is not Yet. /
Inc Book OF Acts is still in the writing. /