Acts 17:32-34 - Homilies By P.c. Barker

Three kinds of hearing.

It is not always given to the hardest and most conscientious labored to reap a large harvest. The day had been a day of hard work and faithful work for Paul. Arrived at sunset, he counts more disappointment than gain. This passage speaks of three kinds of hearers. And it is telling us of facts—facts that were, facts that too often are. Notice —

I. THERE ARE WHO HEAR AND MOCK .

1. They mock when they hear something and fear something.

2. They mock when they cannot confute what is spoken into their outer ear, nor silence what speaks of itself in their inner ear.

3. They mock when they don't understand and don't try to understand.

4. They mock when they are ready to risk everything, rather than yield anything of self and self-will.

II. THERE ARE WHO HEAR AND PROCRASTINATE .

1. They procrastinate when they are persuaded—almost.

2. They procrastinate when it is no matter of "two opinions" but of active duty or public declaration of themselves.

3. They procrastinate when their mind is quite clear, but their heart neither honest nor earnest.

4. They procrastinate when they feel they must say something, but are not prepared either to do or to say the right something.

III. THERE ARE WHO HEAR AND BELIEVE .

1. They believe when " the Lord has opened their heart to attend to the things spoken."

2. They believe when they feel that the things spoken are true to their need and are for them.

3. They believe when they are practically ready, if needs be, to "forsake" all the rest in order to "cleave to" that one Being who has "the words of eternal life."—B.