the acts of the apostles-第36部分

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streams　from　Calvary　shining　in　our　faces；　we　may　go　forth　to　reveal　this
light　to　those　in　darkness。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（211）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　21

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　In　the　Regions　Beyond


The　time　had　come　for　the　gospel　to　be　proclaimed　beyond　the　confines　of
Asia　Minor。　The　way　was　preparing　for　Paul　and　his　fellow　workers　to　cross
over　into　Europe。　At　Troas；　on　the　borders　of　the　Mediterranean　Sea；　〃a
vision　appeared　to　Paul　in　the　night：　There　stood　a　man　of　Macedonia；　and
prayed　him；　saying；　Come　over　into　Macedonia；　and　help　us。〃

The　call　was　imperative；　admitting　of　no　delay。　〃After　he　had　seen　the
vision；〃　declares　Luke；　who　accompanied　Paul　and　Silas　and　Timothy　on　the
journey　across　to　Europe；　〃immediately　we　endeavored　to　go　into　Macedonia；
assuredly　gathering　that　the　Lord　had　called　us　for　to　preach　the　gospel
unto　them。　Therefore　loosing　from　Troas；　we　came　with　a　straight　course　to
Samothracia；　and　the　next　day　to　Neapolis；　and　from　thence　to　Philippi；
which　is　the　chief　city　of　that　part　of　Macedonia；　and　a　colony。〃

212


〃On　the　Sabbath；〃　Luke　continues；　〃we　went　out　of　the　city　by　a　riverside；
where　prayer　was　wont　to　be　made；　and　we　sat　down；　and　spake　unto　the　women
which　resorted　thither。　And　a　certain　woman　named　Lydia；　a　seller　of　purple；
of　the　city　of　Thyatira；　which　worshiped　God；　heard　us：　whose　heart　the　Lord
opened。〃　Lydia　received　the　truth　gladly。　She　and　her　household　were
converted　and　baptized；　and　she　entreated　the　apostles　to　make　her　house
their　home。

As　the　messengers　of　the　cross　went　about　their　work　of　teaching；　a　woman
possessed　of　a　spirit　of　divination　followed　them；　crying；　〃These　men　are
the　servants　of　the　most　high　God；　which　show　unto　us　the　way　of　salvation。
And　this　did　she　many　days。〃

This　woman　was　a　special　agent　of　Satan　and　had　brought　to　her　masters　much
gain　by　soothsaying。　Her　influence　had　helped　to　strengthen　idolatry。　Satan
knew　that　his　kingdom　was　being　invaded；　and　he　resorted　to　this　means　of
opposing　the　work　of　God；　hoping　to　mingle　his　sophistry　with　the　truths
taught　by　those　who　were　proclaiming　the　gospel　message。　The　words　of
recommendation　uttered　by　this　woman　were　an　injury　to　the　cause　of　truth；
distracting　the　minds　of　the　people　from　the　teachings　of　the　apostles　and
bringing　disrepute　upon　the　gospel；　and　by　them　many　were　led　to　believe
that　the　men　who　spoke　with　the　Spirit　and　power　of　God　were　actuated　by　the
same　spirit　as　this　emissary　of　Satan。

For　some　time　the　apostles　endured　this　opposition；　then　under　the
inspiration　of　the　Holy　Ghost　Paul　commanded　the　evil　spirit　to　leave　the
woman。　Her　immediate　silence

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　213

testified　that　the　apostles　were　the　servants　of　God　and　that　the　demon　had
acknowledged　them　to　be　such　and　had　obeyed　their　command。

Dispossessed　of　the　evil　spirit　and　restored　to　her　right　mind；　the　woman
chose　to　become　a　follower　of　Christ。　Then　her　masters　were　alarmed　for
their　craft。　They　saw　that　all　hope　of　receiving　money　from　her　divinations
and　soothsayings　was　at　an　end　and　that　their　source　of　income　would　soon　be
entirely　cut　off　if　the　apostles　were　allowed　to　continue　the　work　of　the
gospel。

Many　others　in　the　city　were　interested　in　gaining　money　through　satanic
delusions；　and　these；　fearing　the　influence　of　a　power　that　could　so
effectually　stop　their　work；　raised　a　mighty　cry　against　the　servants　of
God。　They　brought　the　apostles　before　the　magistrates　with　the　charge：
〃These　men；　being　Jews；　do　exceedingly　trouble　our　city；　and　teach　customs；
which　are　not　lawful　for　us　to　receive；　neither　to　observe；　being　Romans。〃

Stirred　by　a　frenzy　of　excitement；　the　multitude　rose　against　the　disciples。
A　mob　spirit　prevailed　and　was　sanctioned　by　the　authorities；　who　tore　the
outer　garments　from　the　apostles　and　commanded　that　they　should　be　scourged。
〃And　when　they　had　laid　many　stripes　upon　them；　they　cast　them　into　prison；
charging　the　jailer　to　keep　them　safely：　who；　having　received　such　a　charge；
thrust　them　into　the　inner　prison；　and　made　their　feet　fast　in　the　stocks。〃

The　apostles　suffered　extreme　torture　because　of　the　painful　position　in
which　they　were　left；　but　they　did　not　murmur。　Instead；　in　the　utter
darkness　and　desolation　of　the

214

dungeon；　they　encouraged　each　other　by　words　of　prayer　and　sang　praises　to
God　because　they　were　found　worthy　to　suffer　shame　for　His　sake。　Their
hearts　were　cheered　by　a　deep　and　earnest　love　for　the　cause　of　their
Redeemer。　Paul　thought　of　the　persecution　he　had　been　instrumental　in
bringing　upon　the　disciples　of　Christ；　and　he　rejoiced　that　his　eyes　had
been　opened　to　see；　and　his　heart　to　feel；　the　power　of　the　glorious　truths
which　once　he　despised。

With　astonishment　the　other　prisoners　heard　the　sound　of　prayer　and　singing
issuing　from　the　inner　prison。　They　had　been　accustomed　to　hear　shrieks　and
moans；　cursing　and　swearing；　breaking　the　silence　of　the　night；　but　never
before　had　they　heard　words　of　prayer　and　praise　ascending　from　that　gloomy
cell。　Guards　and　prisoners　marveled　and　asked　themselves　who　these　men　could
be；　who；　cold；　hungry；　and　tortured；　could　yet　rejoice。

Meanwhile　the　magistrates　returned　to　their　homes；　congratulating　themselves
that　by　prompt　and　decisive　measures　they　had　quelled　a　tumult。　But　on　the
way　they　heard　further　particulars　concerning　the　character　and　work　of　the
men　they　had　sentenced　to　scourging　and　imprisonment。　They　saw　the　woman　who
had　been　freed　from　satanic　influence　and　were　struck　by　the　change　in　her
countenance　and　demeanor。　In　the　past　she　had　caused　the　city　much　trouble；
now　she　was　quiet　and　peaceable。　As　they　realized　that　in　all　probability
they　had　visited　upon　two　innocent　men　the　rigorous　penalty　of　the　Roman　law
they　were　indignant　with　themselves　and　decided　that　in　the　morning　they
would　command　that　the　apostles　be　privately　released　and

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　215

escorted　from　the　city；　beyond　the　danger　of　violence　from　the　mob。

But　while　men　were　cruel　and　vindictive；　or　criminally　negligent　of　the
solemn　responsibilities　devolving　upon　them；　God　had　not　forgotten　to　be
gracious　to　His　servants。　All　heaven　was　interested　in　the　men　who　were
suffering　for　Christ's　sake；　and　angels　were　sent　to　visit　the　prison。　At
their　tread　the　earth　trembled。　The　heavily　bolted　prison　doors　were　thrown
open；　the　chains　and　fetters　fell　from　the　hands　and　feet　of　the　prisoners；
and　a　bright　light　flooded　the　prison。

The　keeper　of　the　jail　had　heard　with　amazement　the　prayers　and　songs　of　the
imprisoned　apostles。　When　they　were　led　in；　he　had　seen　their　swollen　and
bleeding　wounds；　and　had　himself　caused　their　feet　to　be　fastened　in　the
stocks。　He　had　expected　to　hear　from　them　bitter　groans　and　imprecations；
but　he　heard　instead　songs　of　joy　and　praise。　With　these　sounds　in　his　ears
the　jailer　had　fallen　into　a　sleep　from　which　he　was　awakened　by　the
earthquake　and　the　shaking　of　the　prison　walls。

Starting　up　in　alarm；　he　saw　with　dismay　that　all　the　prison　doors　were
open；　and　the　fear　flashed　upon　him　that　the　prisoners　had　escaped。　He
remembered　with　what　explicit　charge　Paul　and　Silas　had　been　entrusted　to
his　care　the　night　before；　and　he　was　certain　that　death　would　be　the
penalty　of　his　apparent　unfaithfulness。　In　the　bitterness　of　his　spirit　he
felt　that　it　was　better　for　him　to　die　by　his　own　hand　than　to　submit　to　a
disgraceful　execution。　Drawing　his　sword；　he　was　about　to　kill　himself；　when
Paul's

216

voice　was　heard　in　the　words　of　cheer；　〃Do　thyself　no　harm：　for　we　are　all
here。〃　Every　man　was　in　his　place；　restrained　by　the　power　of　God　exerted
through　one　fellow　prisoner。

The　severity　with　which　the　jailer　had　treated　the　apostles　had　not　aroused
their　resentment。　Paul　and　Silas　had　the　spirit　of　Christ；　not　the　spirit　of
revenge。　Their　hearts；　filled　with　the　love　of　the　Saviour；　had　no　room　for
malice　against　their　persecutors。

The　jailer　dropped　his　sword　and；　calling　for　lights；　hastened　into　the
inner　dungeon。　He　would　see　what　manner　of　men　these　were　who　repaid　with
kindness　the　cruelty　with　which　they　had　been　treated。　Reaching　the　place
where　the　apostles　were；　and　casting　himself　before　them；　he　asked　their
forgiveness。　Then；　bringing　them　out　into　the　open　court；　he　inquired；
〃Sirs；　what　must　I　do　to　be　saved？〃

The　jailer　had　trembled　as　he　beheld　the　wrath　of　God　manifested　in　the
earthquake；　when　he　thought　that　the　prisoners　had　escaped　he　had　been　ready
to　die　by　his　own　hand；　but　now　all　these　things　seemed　of　little
consequence　compared　with　the　new；　strange　dread　that　agitated　his　mind；　and
his　desire　to　possess　the　tranquillity　and　cheerfulness　shown　by　the
apostles　under　suffering　and　abuse。　He　saw　in　their　countenances　the　light
of　heaven；　he　knew　that　God　had　interposed　in　a　miraculous　manner　to　save
their　lives；　and　with　peculiar　force　the　words　of　the　spirit…possessed　woman
came　to　his　mind：　〃Thes