the acts of the apostles-第19部分
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given to all who believe in His name。 God will send forth into His vineyard
many who have not been dedicated to the ministry by the laying on of hands。
Hundreds； yea； thousands； who have heard the message of salvation are still
idlers in the market place； when they might be engaged in some line of
active service。 To these
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Christ is saying； 〃Why stand ye here all the day idle？〃 and He adds； 〃Go ye
also into the vineyard。〃 Matthew 20：6； 7。 Why is it that many more do not
respond to the call？ Is it because they think themselves excused in that
they do not stand in the pulpit？ Let them understand that there is a large
work to be done outside the pulpit by thousands of consecrated lay members。
Long has God waited for the spirit of service to take possession of the
whole church so that everyone shall be working for Him according to his
ability。 When the members of the church of God do their appointed work in
the needy fields at home and abroad； in fulfillment of the gospel
commission； the whole world will soon be warned and the Lord Jesus will
return to this earth with power and great glory。 〃This gospel of the kingdom
shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations； and then
shall the end come。〃 Matthew 24：14。
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Chapter 12
From Persecutor to Disciple
Prominent among the Jewish leaders who became thoroughly aroused by the
success attending the proclamation of the gospel； was Saul of Tarsus。 A
Roman citizen by birth； Saul was nevertheless a Jew by descent and had been
educated in Jerusalem by the most eminent of the rabbis。 〃Of the stock of
Israel； of the tribe of Benjamin；〃 Saul was 〃a Hebrew of the Hebrews； as
touching the law； a Pharisee； concerning zeal； persecuting the church；
touching the righteousness which is in the law； blameless。〃 Philippians 3：5；
6。 He was regarded by the rabbis as a young man of great promise； and high
hopes were cherished concerning him as an able and zealous defender of the
ancient faith。 His elevation to membership in the Sanhedrin council placed
him in a position of power。
Saul had taken a prominent part in the trial and conviction of Stephen； and
the striking evidences of God's presence with the martyr had led Saul to
doubt the righteousness
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of the cause he had espoused against the followers of Jesus。 His mind was
deeply stirred。 In his perplexity he appealed to those in whose wisdom and
judgment he had full confidence。 The arguments of the priests and rulers
finally convinced him that Stephen was a blasphemer； that the Christ whom
the martyred disciple had preached was an impostor； and that those
ministering in holy office must be right。
Not without severe trial did Saul come to this conclusion。 But in the end
his education and prejudices； his respect for his former teachers； and his
pride of popularity braced him to rebel against the voice of conscience and
the grace of God。 And having fully decided that the priests and scribes were
right； Saul became very bitter in his opposition to the doctrines taught by
the disciples of Jesus。 His activity in causing holy men and women to be
dragged before tribunals； where some were condemned to imprisonment and some
even to death； solely because of their faith in Jesus； brought sadness and
gloom to the newly organized church； and caused many to seek safety in
flight。
Those who were driven from Jerusalem by this persecution 〃went everywhere
preaching the word。〃 Acts 8：4。 Among the cities to which they went was
Damascus； where the new faith gained many converts。
The priests and rulers had hoped that by vigilant effort and stern
persecution the heresy might be suppressed。 Now they felt that they must
carry forward in other places the decided measures taken in Jerusalem
against the new teaching。
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For the special work that they desired to have done at Damascus； Saul
offered his services。 〃Breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the
disciples of the Lord；〃 he 〃went unto the high priest； and desired of him
letters to Damascus to the synagogues； that if he found any of this way；
whether they were men or women； he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem。〃
Thus 〃with authority and commission from the chief priests〃 （Acts 26：12）；
Saul of Tarsus； in the strength and vigor of manhood； and fired with
mistaken zeal； set out on that memorable journey； the strange occurrences of
which were to change the whole current of his life。
On the last day of the journey； 〃at midday；〃 as the weary travelers neared
Damascus； they came within full view of broad stretches of fertile lands；
beautiful gardens； and fruitful orchards； watered by cool streams from the
surrounding mountains。 After the long journey over desolate wastes such
scenes were refreshing indeed。 While Saul； with his companions； gazed with
admiration on the fruitful plain and the fair city below； 〃suddenly；〃 as he
afterward declared； there shone 〃round about me and them which journeyed
with me〃 〃a light from heaven； above the brightness of the sun〃 （Acts
26：13）； too glorious for mortal eyes to bear。 Blinded and bewildered； Saul
fell prostrate to the ground。
While the light continued to shine round about them； Saul heard； 〃a voice
speaking 。 。 。 in the Hebrew tongue〃 （Acts 26：14）； 〃saying unto him； Saul；
Saul； why persecutest thou Me？ And he said； Who art Thou； Lord？ And the Lord
said； I am Jesus whom thou persecutest： it is hard for thee to kick against
the pricks。〃
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Filled with fear； and almost blinded by the intensity of the light； the
companions of Saul heard a voice； but saw no man。 But Saul understood the
words that were spoken； and to him was clearly revealed the One who spoke
even the Son of God。 In the glorious Being who stood before him he saw the
Crucified One。 Upon the soul of the stricken Jew the image of the Saviour's
countenance was imprinted forever。 The words spoken struck home to his heart
with appalling force。 Into the darkened chambers of his mind there poured a
flood of light； revealing the ignorance and error of his former life and his
present need of the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit。
Saul now saw that in persecuting the followers of Jesus he had in reality
been doing the work of Satan。 He saw that his convictions of right and of
his own duty had been based largely on his implicit confidence in the
priests and rulers。 He had believed them when they told him that the story
of the resurrection was an artful fabrication of the disciples。 Now that
Jesus Himself stood revealed； Saul was convinced of the truthfulness of the
claims made by the disciples。
In that hour of heavenly illumination Saul's mind acted with remarkable
rapidity。 The prophetic records of Holy Writ were opened to his
understanding。 He saw that the rejection of Jesus by the Jews； His
crucifixion； resurrection； and ascension； had been foretold by the prophets
and proved Him to be the promised Messiah。 Stephen's sermon at the time of
his martyrdom was brought forcibly to Saul's mind； and he realized that the
martyr had indeed beheld 〃the glory of God〃 when he said； 〃Behold； I see the
heavens
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opened； and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God。〃 Acts 7：55；
56。 The priests had pronounced these words blasphemy； but Saul now knew them
to be truth。
What a revelation was all this to the persecutor！ Now Saul knew for a
certainty that the promised Messiah had come to this earth as Jesus of
Nazareth and that He had been rejected and crucified by those whom He came
to save。 He knew also that the Saviour had risen in triumph from the tomb
and had ascended into the heavens。 In that moment of divine revelation Saul
remembered with terror that Stephen； who had borne witness of a crucified
and risen Saviour； had been sacrificed by his consent； and that later；
through his instrumentality； many other worthy followers of Jesus had met
their death by cruel persecution。
The Saviour had spoken to Saul through Stephen； whose clear reasoning could
not be controverted。 The learned Jew had seen the face of the martyr
reflecting the light of Christ's gloryappearing as if 〃it had been the
face of an angel。〃 Acts 6：15。 He had witnessed Stephen's forbearance toward
his enemies and his forgiveness of them。 He had also witnessed the fortitude
and cheerful resignation of many whom he had caused to be tormented and
afflicted。 He had seen some yield up even their lives with rejoicing for the
sake of their faith。
All these things had appealed loudly to Saul and at times had thrust upon
his mind an almost overwhelming conviction that Jesus was the promised
Messiah。 At such times he had struggled for entire nights against this
conviction； and always he had ended the matter by avowing his belief
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that Jesus was not the Messiah and that His followers were deluded fanatics。
Now Christ had spoke
