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This double appeal attests his profound sincerity.

I. CONSIDER HIS PERSONAL DEPORTMENT. "Ye are witnesses, and God, how holily, and justly, and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe." He touches on the twofold relationship of the Christian life toward God and toward man, for he had always exercised himself" to have a conscience void of offence toward man and God," and strove "to give no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed" (Acts 26:16; 2 Corinthians 6:3). He had striven to walk circumspectly in a world prone to suspect sinister ends even in the best of men. The apostle's walk was on high, even as his calling was high.

II. CONSIDER HIS OFFICIAL DEPORTMENT. It was manifest in his method of dealing with his converts, and in the end which he kept steadily in view in all his ministry.

1. His method of dealing with his converts. "As ye know how we exhorted and comforted, and testified to each one of you as a father doth his children."

(1) Mark the varieties in his mode of dealing with his converts.

(a) He exhorted them, for their position of persecution and temptation demanded that he "should give them much exhortation (Acts 20:2).

(b) He comforted them, m the presence of many disquieting circumstances in their condition.

(c) He testified to them, exhibiting gospel truth with all urgency.

(2) Mark the affectionate spirit of his dealing with them: "As a father doth his children;" for he combined a father's unwearying love with his power of direction and authority.

(3) Mark the individualizing interest in their welfare: "Each one of you." Whether they were rich or poor, few or many, he passed by none of them. They all had a place in his heart.

2. The aim of all his affectionate and individualizing interest in their welfare. "That you would walk worthy of God, who calleth you into his kingdom and glory." The duty here enjoined, "Walk worthy of God." This implies

(1) conformity to his revealed will;

(2) adornment of the gospel by a holy walk;

(3) supreme regard to the obligations involved in the high calling of God - these being necessitated by

(a) the nature of the call, which is not external, but spiritual;

(b) by the consideration of him who calls us;

(c) by the holy ends of the call;

(d) by the consideration of their high destiny:

for they are called to "his own kingdom and glory." This kingdom is that which is established in the mediation of Christ, into which we enter by the gate of regeneration, and which reaches its full and final development in the second coming of Christ. The glory is that which he impresses upon his people here, and which receives its full manifestation hereafter. - T.C.

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KJV: Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

WEB: You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.