June 8

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. - Acts 2:12-13.

THE audience on this occasion were divided into three classes, and these three classes are always to be found. Some wondered, some mocked, some believed to the salvation of their souls. First, Some heard with wonder. “Are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our tongue, wherein we were born?” What does all this indicate? What is it likely to lead to? What does it forebode? So it is now. The preacher seems to speak parables. The natural man discerns not the things of God, neither can he discern them; hence they marvel at the doctrines taught, at the precepts inculcated, and at the change effected in the lives and characters of those who receive the truth. This is often attended with a good effect, for it induces examination. On the other hand, the wonder often dies away.

Secondly, Some heard in mockery, and so it is now.

“Thus the wide world esteem it strange;

Gaze and admire, and hate the change.”

That which devils believe, and which makes even them to tremble, becomes a matter of mirth and mockery with some men-only serving to excite their contempt. The seat of the scorner is for the highest class of sinners. Some of these mockers were once professors. The apostate generally does all he can to defame the characters of others, so that the last end of that man is “worse than the first.”

Some mock from affectation of greatness. “Have any of the rulers believed on him?” These things, say they, may be very well for the common people, but will not do for men of taste. Some mock from affectation of wisdom. “What will this babbler say?” “Christ crucified” was “to the Greeks foolishness.” Some mock from ignorance. Hume confessed to a friend that he had never read the New Testament. Many of these mockers are afraid to read or hear the truth, lest it should disturb their peace and confidence. “This,” says Peter, “they willingly are ignorant of.” They turn their backs upon the light. Some cannot deny certain facts which are before them, but then they show their malignity by accounting for them. The zeal of Christian’s they ascribe to disappointed hopes, to ambition, a sanguine temperament, a heated imagination, to enthusiasm, etc. So it was here. The multitude ascribed the energy of the Apostles, and their knowledge of languages, to drunkenness: “These men are full of new wine.” Peter met the charge by an appeal to their candour and to their social usages: “It is,” says he, “but the third hour of the day”- that is, nine o’clock in the morning. But if the charge had been true, what could drunkenness do in teaching men the knowledge of languages? but men will say anything for the sake of objection.

Thirdly, Some heard and believed. And thus it is now, and thus God’s word is never preached entirely in vain; and therefore while some neglect or despise, and others mock and insult, there are others convinced of sin-others who receive the “faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners,” and the gospel becomes to them as “a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.”