the acts of the apostles-第39部分

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office　work；　and　future　glory　of　Christ；　the　〃Lamb　slain　from　the　foundation
of　the　world。〃　Revelation　13：8。　He　exalted　Christ；　the　proper　understanding
of　whose　ministry　is　the　key　that　unlocks　the　Old　Testament　Scriptures；
giving　access　to　their　rich　treasures。

As　the　truths　of　the　gospel　were　thus　proclaimed　in　Thessalonica　with　mighty
power；　the　attention　of　large　congregations　was　arrested。　〃Some　of　them
believed；　and　consorted　with　Paul　and　Silas；　and　of　the　devout　Greeks　a
great　multitude；　and　of　the　chief　women　not　a　few。〃

As　in　the　places　formerly　entered；　the　apostles　met　with　determined
opposition。　〃The　Jews　which　believed　not〃　were　〃moved　with　envy。〃　These　Jews
were　not　then　in　favor　with　the　Roman　power；　because；　not　long　before；　they
had　raised　an　insurrection　in　Rome。　They　were　looked　upon　with　suspicion；
and　their　liberty　was　in　a　measure　restricted。　They　now　saw　an　opportunity
to　take　advantage　of　circumstances　to　re…establish　themselves　in　favor　and
at　the　same　time　to　throw　reproach　upon　the　apostles　and　the　converts　to
Christianity。

This　they　set　about　doing　by　uniting　with　〃certain　lewd　fellows　of　the　baser
sort；〃　by　which　means　they　succeeded　in　setting　〃all　the　city　on　an　uproar。〃
In　the　hope　of　finding　the　apostles；　they　〃assaulted　the　house　of　Jason；〃

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but　they　could　find　neither　Paul　nor　Silas。　And　〃when　they　found　them　not；〃
the　mob　in　their　mad　disappointment　〃drew　Jason　and　certain　brethren　unto
the　rulers　of　the　city；　crying；　These　that　have　turned　the　world　upside　down
are　come　hither　also；　whom　Jason　hath　received：　and　these　all　do　contrary　to
the　decrees　of　Caesar；　saying　that　there　is　another　king；　one　Jesus。〃

As　Paul　and　Silas　were　not　to　be　found；　the　magistrates　put　the　accused
believers　under　bonds　to　keep　the　peace。　Fearing　further　violence；　〃the
brethren　immediately　sent　away　Paul　and　Silas　by　night　unto　Berea。〃

Those　who　today　teach　unpopular　truths　need　not　be　discouraged　if　at　times
they　meet　with　no　more　favorable　reception；　even　from　those　who　claim　to　be
Christians；　than　did　Paul　and　his　fellow　workers　from　the　people　among　whom
they　labored。　The　messengers　of　the　cross　must　arm　themselves　with
watchfulness　and　prayer；　and　move　forward　with　faith　and　courage；　working
always　in　the　name　of　Jesus。　They　must　exalt　Christ　as　man's　mediator　in　the
heavenly　sanctuary；　the　One　in　whom　all　the　sacrifices　of　the　Old　Testament
dispensation　centered；　and　through　whose　atoning　sacrifice　the　transgressors
of　God's　law　may　find　peace　and　pardon。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　23

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Berea　and　Athens


At　Berea　Paul　found　Jews　who　were　willing　to　investigate　the　truths　he
taught。　Luke's　record　declares　of　them：　〃These　were　more　noble　than　those　in
Thessalonica；　in　that　they　received　the　word　with　all　readiness　of　mind；　and
searched　the　Scriptures　daily；　whether　those　things　were　so。　Therefore　many
of　them　believed；　also　of　honorable　women　which　were　Greeks；　and　of　men；　not
a　few。〃

The　minds　of　the　Bereans　were　not　narrowed　by　prejudice。　They　were　willing
to　investigate　the　truthfulness　of　the　doctrines　preached　by　the　apostles。
They　studied　the　Bible；　not　from　curiosity；　but　in　order　that　they　might
learn　what　had　been　written　concerning　the　promised　Messiah。　Daily　they
searched　the　inspired　records；　and　as　they　compared　scripture　with
scripture；　heavenly　angels　were　beside　them；　enlightening　their　minds　and
impressing　their　hearts。

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Wherever　the　truths　of　the　gospel　are　proclaimed；　those　who　honestly　desire
to　do　right　are　led　to　a　diligent　searching　of　the　Scriptures。　If；　in　the
closing　scenes　of　this　earth's　history；　those　to　whom　testing　truths　are
proclaimed　would　follow　the　example　of　the　Bereans；　searching　the　Scriptures
daily；　and　comparing　with　God's　word　the　messages　brought　them；　there　would
today　be　a　large　number　loyal　to　the　precepts　of　God's　law；　where　now　there
are　comparatively　few。　But　when　unpopular　Bible　truths　are　presented；　many
refuse　to　make　this　investigation。　Though　unable　to　controvert　the　plain
teachings　of　Scripture；　they　yet　manifest　the　utmost　reluctance　to　study　the
evidences　offered。　Some　assume　that　even　if　these　doctrines　are　indeed　true；
it　matters　little　whether　or　not　they　accept　the　new　light；　and　they　cling
to　pleasing　fables　which　the　enemy　uses　to　lead　souls　astray。　Thus　their
minds　are　blinded　by　error；　and　they　become　separated　from　heaven。

All　will　be　judged　according　to　the　light　that　has　been　given。　The　Lord
sends　forth　His　ambassadors　with　a　message　of　salvation；　and　those　who　hear
He　will　hold　responsible　for　the　way　in　which　they　treat　the　words　of　His
servants。　Those　who　are　sincerely　seeking　for　truth　will　make　a　careful
investigation；　in　the　light　of　God's　word；　of　the　doctrines　presented　to
them。

The　unbelieving　Jews　of　Thessalonica；　filled　with　jealousy　and　hatred　of　the
apostles；　and　not　content　with　having　driven　them　from　their　own　city；
followed　them　to　Berea　and　aroused　against　them　the　excitable　passions　of
the　lower　class。　Fearing　that　violence　would　be　done　to　Paul　if　he

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remained　there；　the　brethren　sent　him　to　Athens；　accompanied　by　some　of　the
Bereans　who　had　newly　accepted　the　faith。

Thus　persecution　followed　the　teachers　of　truth　from　city　to　city。　The
enemies　of　Christ　could　not　prevent　the　advancement　of　the　gospel；　but　they
succeeded　in　making　the　work　of　the　apostles　exceedingly　hard。　Yet　in　the
face　of　opposition　and　conflict；　Paul　pressed　steadily　forward；　determined
to　carry　out　the　purpose　of　God　as　revealed　to　him　in　the　vision　at
Jerusalem：　〃I　will　send　thee　far　hence　unto　the　Gentiles。〃　Acts　22：21。

Paul's　hasty　departure　from　Berea　deprived　him　of　the　opportunity　he　had
anticipated　of　visiting　the　brethren　at　Thessalonica。

On　arriving　at　Athens；　the　apostle　sent　the　Berean　brethren　back　with　a
message　to　Silas　and　Timothy　to　join　him　immediately。　Timothy　had　come　to
Berea　prior　to　Paul's　departure；　and　with　Silas　had　remained　to　carry　on　the
work　so　well　begun　there；　and　to　instruct　the　new　converts　in　the　principles
of　the　faith。

The　city　of　Athens　was　the　metropolis　of　heathendom。　Here　Paul　did　not　meet
with　an　ignorant；　credulous　populace；　as　at　Lystra；　but　with　a　people　famous
for　their　intelligence　and　culture。　Everywhere　statues　of　their　gods　and　of
the　deified　heroes　of　history　and　poetry　met　the　eye；　while　magnificent
architecture　and　paintings　represented　the　national　glory　and　the　popular
worship　of　heathen　deities。　The　senses　of　the　people　were　entranced　by　the
beauty　and　splendor　of　art。　On　every　had　sanctuaries　and　temples；

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involving　untold　expense；　reared　their　massive　forms。　Victories　of　arms　and
deeds　of　celebrated　men　were　commemorated　by　sculpture；　shrines；　and
tablets。　All　these　made　Athens　a　vast　gallery　of　art。

As　Paul　looked　upon　the　beauty　and　grandeur　surrounding　him；　and　saw　the
city　wholly　given　to　idolatry；　his　spirit　was　stirred　with　jealousy　for　God；
whom　he　saw　dishonored　on　every　side；　and　his　heart　was　drawn　out　in　pity
for　the　people　of　Athens；　who；　notwithstanding　their　intellectual　culture；
were　ignorant　of　the　true　God。

The　apostle　was　not　deceived　by　that　which　he　saw　in　this　center　of
learning。　His　spiritual　nature　was　so　alive　to　the　attraction　of　heavenly
things　that　the　joy　and　glory　of　the　riches　which　will　never　perish　made
valueless　in　his　eyes　the　pomp　and　splendor　with　which　he　was　surrounded。　As
he　saw　the　magnificence　of　Athens　he　realized　its　seductive　power　over
lovers　of　art　and　science；　and　his　mind　was　deeply　impressed　with　the
importance　of　the　work　before　him。

In　this　great　city；　where　God　was　not　worshiped；　Paul　was　oppressed　by　a
feeling　of　solitude；　and　he　longed　for　the　sympathy　and　aid　of　his　fellow
laborers。　So　far　as　human　friendship　was　concerned；　he　felt　himself　to　be
utterly　alone。　In　his　epistle　to　the　Thessalonians　he　expresses　his　feelings
in　the　words；　〃Left　at　the　Athens　alone。〃　1　Thessalonians　3：1。　Obstacles
that　were　apparently　insurmountable　presented　themselves　before　him；　making
it　seem　almost　hopeless　for　him　to　attempt　to　reach　the　hearts　of　the
people。

While　waiting　for　Silas　and　Timothy；　Paul　was　not　idle。

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He　〃disputed　。　。　。　in　the　synagogue　with　the　Jews；　and　with　the　devout
persons；　and　in　the　market　daily　with　them　that　met　with　him。〃　But　his
principal　work　in　Athens　was　to　bear　the　tidings　of　salvation　to　those　who
had　no　intelligent　conception　of　God　and　of　His　purpose　in　behalf　of　the
fallen　race。　The　apostle　was　soon　to　meet　paganism　in　its　most　subtle；
alluring　form。

The　great　men　of　Athens　were　not　long　in　learning　of　the　presence　in　their
city　of　a　singular　teacher　who　was　setting　before　the　people　doctrines　new
and　strange。　Some　of　these　men　sought　Paul　out　and　entered　into　conversation
with　him。　Soon　a　crowd　of　listeners　gathered　about　them。　Some　were　prepared
to　ridicule　the　ap