For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Ver. 24. For he was a good man] Few exist today.
" Rari quippe boni-
Iam nec Brutus erit, Bruti nec avunculus usquam. "
(Juvenal.)
Anthony de Guevara tells a merry story of the host at Nola, who when he was commanded by the Roman censor to go and call the good men of the city to appear before him, went to the churchyard, and there called at the graves of the dead, Oh ye good men of Nola, come away, for the Roman censor calleth for your appearance: for he knew not where to call for a good man alive. The Scripture complains that there is none that doeth good, that is, none in comparison, none to the mad multitude, that, like Jeremiah's figs, are naught, stark naught. Phocion was surnamed Bonus; the Good, but the excellency of a godly man is (Barnabas-like) to be full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, to follow God fully as Caleb, Numbers 14:24; to have a heart full of goodness, as those Romans; a life full of good works, as Tabitha; shining full fair, as a right orient and illustrious star with a singularity of heavenly light, as good Noah did in his generation; and as holy Joseph whose life, saith Bucholcer, was a constellation, yea, a very heaven bespangled with brightest stars of glorious graces.