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Singleness of heart and consecration to the Master's use, and separation from
other vessels and other uses, so far from restricting and limiting, are
essential elements in all true usefulness:
'Meet for the Master's use, having been prepared unto every good work'
(2 Tim. 2:21 author's translation).
To be a chosen vessel to bear His Name, to be an earthen vessel to contain
His treasure, to be a vessel meet for the Master's use, surely these things
touch the very heights of devoted service. No wonder that the apostle blends
such dignity and greatness with so much humility.
Witnesses
In the first chapter of the Acts we find the eleven apostles gathered
round the risen Lord. They have been told to wait at Jerusalem until they
have been endued with power from on high. They have had the unique
experience of continual fellowship with Him throughout His earthly ministry
and have enjoyed a unique exposition of the Old Testament Scriptures
'concerning Himself'. And now they await their commission. Out of all the
symbols of service that were at the disposal of the Lord, which will He
select? We find that He chooses an important title which we have not yet
considered:
'Ye shall receive power ... ye shall be witnesses unto Me' (Acts 1:8).
'Witnesses unto Me'. In these words the Lord indicates the basic
significance of all New Testament ministry. The Greek word for 'witness'
(martus) is translated three times 'martyr' and twice 'record'. The feminine
form marturia is translated 'record', 'report', 'testimony', and 'witness',
and each of these words is used to translate the verb martureo, 'I witness'.
The fact that the word generally translated 'witness' is also translated
'martyr' shows the inner meaning of all true witness. Let us consider the
way in which the ministries of the apostles and others during the Acts were
closely linked up with 'witnessing'. Immediately after the Ascension, the
apostles, together with the hundred and twenty, take steps to fill the gap
created by the fall of Judas. Matthias, who was numbered with the eleven,
possessed the essential qualification for all true witness, the ability to
give personal testimony:
'Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that He was
taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His
resurrection' (Acts 1:22).
Matthias could say 'I know', 'I saw', 'I heard', 'I was there'. Piety
and eloquence, learning and gift, may all be valuable adjuncts to witness -
bearing, but none of them would be of any value apart from personal
testimony. The baptism of Pentecost did not give these witnesses experiences
to draw upon, but power to testify to what they had already seen and heard.
Peter's address on the day of Pentecost reaches its climax when he declares
the fact of the resurrection of Christ, saying: 'This Jesus hath God raised
up, whereof we all are witnesses' (Acts 2:32). And again in connection with
the healing of the lame man: 'Ye killed the Prince of Life, Whom God hath
raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses' (Acts 3:15).