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THE KING’S BUSINESS
had been with Paul upon his first visit to Philippi (Acts 16:11; 12), but iiad not left Philippi with Paul (Acts 16:40), and is never seen again in the story in Acts -with Paul until his return to Macedonia at this time (Acts 20:1-6), so seemingly Luke had spent these six years in Macedonia. This ■ accounts for their having such confidence in him that they chose him to travel with Paul with their gifts at this time (v. 19). Luke is spoken o f here in terms of very high praise, “whose praise is the gospel spread through all the churches.” Luke was evidently a man of great activity and much power. The choice of this companion to travel with Paul was to the glory o f God, i. e., it ministered to God’s glory. It also ministered to Paul’s readiness, i. e., it increased his readiness in the matter (see Vèrse 19, R. V. and ' omit “t o , show,” and place a comma after “is ministered by us” ). Friday, March 8 . 2 Cor. 8 : 2 1 - 24 , The arrangement o f a travelling compan ion for Paul was to avoid any blame regarding this abundant gift which Paul - carried. Paul and the brethren in Corinth very wisely took “thought for things hon orable, not pnly in the .sight o f the Lord, but also in the sight, of men” (cf. Rom. 12:17). Unfortunately not all of God’s ser vants have followed Paul’s example in this. The brother mentioned in verse 22 may have been Trophimus. It was probably the same brother whg'was sent with Titus on> his former visit (ch. 12:18), on which occa sion Titus was sent from Ephesus and Trophimus was an Ephesian (Acts 21:29). Whoever it may have been Paul speaks highly* o f him. He had often tested him and had found him earnest (or diligent), but 'in this matter he was much more in earnest than usual because o f “the great qonfidence” which he had in the saints, of Corinth, the result probably o f his former visit. (The great confidence spoken of in verse 22 is clearly the confidence o f the . one Paul was sending to the Corinthians, not the confidence which Paul had. See R. W ). Note Paul’s tact and the skillful
it is not out o f one’s ability, not at all pro portionate to one’s ability. The Greek expression for “out o f your ability” is a significant one. Literally translated it would be “out o f the to have,” i. e., out o f the having. Wednesday, March 6 . 2 Cor. 8 : 12 - 1 $. . I f there be a readiness, o f heart then it is accepted according to whatsoever one hath, not according to what he hath not; i.e., the readiness' of purpose is accepted according to its execution proportionate to a man’s ability. What a man purposes in his heart so he should do (cf. ch. 9 :7 ). While God looks at the purpose of the heart He takes no pleasure ' in purposes which men do not carry out’ according to their ability. Paul had no desire to dis tress the saints in Corinth that the saints in Jerusalem might be eased, but he wished to see things evened up, the abundance of the Corinthians at this present time being a supply to the want o f Jerusalem. At some future time the abundance of the saints in Jerusalem might become a supply1 to Corinthian need. God’s desire for equal ity among His people was illustrated in the wilderness when “he that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered lit tle had no lack” (cf. Ex. 16:18). Thursday, March 7- 2 Cor. 8 : 16 - 20 . Paul now returns to the mission of Titus, o f which he made mention in verse 6. Titus' very heartily accepted the exhortation of Pajjl to go and complete the offering in Corinth. He more than accepted it, “he went forth of his own accord.” . For this Paul returned fervent thanks to God. He felt that the f^gerness o f Titus was the gracious work of God, that God had put this “ earnest care” for the Corinthians into his heart. It is notable how frequently in his epistles Paul turns to God with thanks giving for. this or that grace which he sees in men (Rom. 1:8; Phil. 1:3; Col. 1:3, 4; 1 Cor. 1:4, 5). The brother mentioned in verse 18 was quite probably Luke, who was with Paul at this time (Acts 20:6). He
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