the acts of the apostles-第78部分

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to　come；　until　the　haughty　rulers　trembled　as　if　already　beholding　the
terrors　of　the　day　of　God。

No　such　opportunities　were　now　granted　the　apostle；　confined　as　he　was　to
his　own　dwelling；　and　able　to　proclaim　the　truth　to　those　only　who　sought
him　there。　He　had　not；　like　Moses　and　Aaron；　a　divine　command　to　go　before
the　profligate　king　and　in　the　name　of　the　great　I　AM　rebuke　his　cruelty　and
oppression。　Yet　it　was　at　this　very　time；　when　its　chief　advocate　was
apparently　cut　off　from　public　labor；　that　a　great　victory　was　won　for　the
gospel；　for　from　the　very　household　of　the　king；　members　were　added　to　the
church。

Nowhere　could　there　exist　an　atmosphere　more　uncongenial　to　Christianity
than　in　the　Roman　court。　Nero　seemed　to　have　obliterated　from　his　soul　the
last　trace　of　the　divine；　and　even　of　the　human；　and　to　bear　the　impress

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of　Satan。　His　attendants　and　courtiers　were　in　general　of　the　same　character
as　himselffierce；　debased；　and　corrupt。　To　all　appearance　it　would　be
impossible　for　Christianity　to　gain　a　foothold　in　the　court　and　palace　of
Nero。

Yet　in　this　case；　as　in　so　many　others；　was　proved　the　truth　of　Paul's
assertion　that　the　weapons　of　his　warfare　were　〃mighty　through　God　to　the
pulling　down　of　strongholds；〃
2　Corinthians　10：4。　Even　in　Nero's　household；
trophies　of　the　cross　were　won。　From　the　vile　attendants　of　a　viler　king
were　gained　converts　who　became　sons　of　God。　These　were　not　Christians
secretly；　but　openly。　They　were　not　ashamed　of　their　faith。

And　by　what　means　was　an　entrance　achieved　and　a　firm　footing　gained　for
Christianity　where　even　its　admission　seemed　impossible？　In　his　epistle　to
the　Philippians；　Paul　ascribed　to　his　own　imprisonment　his　success　in
winning　converts　to　the　faith　from　Nero's　household。　Fearful　lest　it　might
be　thought　that　his　afflictions　had　impeded　the　progress　of　the　gospel；　he
assured　them：　〃I　would　ye　should　understand；　brethren；　that　the　things　which
happened　unto　me　have　fallen　out　rather　unto　the　furtherance　of　the　gospel。〃
Philippians　1：12。

When　the　Christian　churches　first　learned　that　Paul　was　to　visit　Rome；　they
looked　forward　to　a　signal　triumph　of　the　gospel　in　that　city。　Paul　had
borne　the　truth　to　many　lands；　he　had　proclaimed　it　in　great　cities。　Might
not　this　champion　of　the　faith　succeed　in　winning　souls　to　Christ　even　in
the　metropolis　of　the　world？　But　their　hopes　were　crushed　by　the　tidings
that　Paul　had　gone　to　Rome　as　a

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prisoner。　They　had　confidently　hoped　to　see　the　gospel；　once　established　at
this　great　center；　extend　rapidly　to　all　nations　and　become　a　prevailing
power　in　the　earth。　How　great　their　disappointment！　Human　expectations　had
failed；　but　not　the　purpose　of　God。

Not　by　Paul's　sermon's；　but　by　his　bonds；　was　the　attention　of　the　court
attracted　to　Christianity。　It　was　as　a　captive　that　he　broke　from　so　many
souls　the　bonds　that　held　them　in　the　slavery　of　sin。　Nor　was　this　all。　He
declared：　〃Many　of　the　brethren　in　the　Lord；　waxing　confident　by　my　bonds；
are　much　more　bold　to　speak　the　word　without　fear。〃　Philippians　1：14。

Paul's　patience　and　cheerfulness　during　his　long　and　unjust　imprisonment；
his　courage　and　faith；　were　a　continual　sermon。　His　spirit；　so　unlike　the
spirit　of　the　world；　bore　witness　that　a　power　higher　than　that　of　earth　was
abiding　with　him。　And　by　his　example；　Christians　were　impelled　to　greater
energy　as　advocates　of　the　cause　from　the　public　labors　of　which　Paul　had
been　withdrawn。　In　these　ways　were　the　apostle's　bonds　influential；　so　that
when　his　power　and　usefulness　seemed　cut　off；　and　to　all　appearance　he　could
do　the　least；　then　it　was　that　he　gathered　sheaves　for　Christ　in　fields　from
which　he　seemed　wholly　excluded。

Before　the　close　of　that　two　years'　imprisonment；　Paul　was　able　to　say；　〃My
bonds　in　Christ　are　manifest　in　all　the　palace；　and　in　all　other　places；〃
and　among　those　who　sent　greetings　to　the　Philippians　he　mentions　chiefly
them　〃that　are　of　Caesar's　household。〃　Verse　13；　4：22。

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Patience　as　well　as　courage　has　its　victories。　By　meekness　under　trial；　no
less　than　by　boldness　in　enterprise；　souls　may　be　won　to　Christ。　The
Christian　who　manifests　patience　and　cheerfulness　under　bereavement　and
suffering；　who　meets　even　death　itself　with　the　peace　and　calmness　of　an
unwavering　faith；　may　accomplish　for　the　gospel　more　than　he　could　have
effected　by　a　long　life　of　faithful　labor。　Often　when　the　servant　of　God　is
withdrawn　from　active　duty；　the　mysterious　providence　which　our　shortsighted
vision　would　lament　is　designed　by　God　to　accomplish　a　work　that　otherwise
would　never　have　been　done。

Let　not　the　follower　of　Christ　think；　when　he　is　no　longer　able　to　labor
openly　and　actively　for　God　and　His　truth；　that　he　has　no　service　to　render；
no　reward　to　secure。　Christ's　true　witnesses　are　never　laid　aside。　In　health
and　sickness；　in　life　and　death；　God　uses　them　still。　When　through　Satan's
malice　the　servants　of　Christ　have　been　persecuted；　their　active　labors
hindered；　when　they　have　been　cast　into　prison；　or　dragged　to　the　scaffold
or　to　the　stake；　it　was　that　truth　might　gain　a　greater　triumph。　As　these
faithful　ones　sealed　their　testimony　with　their　blood；　souls　hitherto　in
doubt　and　uncertainty　were　convinced　of　the　faith　of　Christ　and　took　their
stand　courageously　for　Him。　From　the　ashes　of　the　martyrs　has　sprung　an
abundant　harvest　for　God。

The　zeal　and　fidelity　of　Paul　and　his　fellow　workers；　no　less　than　the　faith
and　obedience　of　these　converts　to　Christianity；　under　circumstances　so
forbidding；　rebuke　slothfulness　and　lack　of　faith　in　the　minister　of　Christ。
The　apostle

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and　his　associate　workers　might　have　argued　that　it　would　be　vain　to　call　to
repentance　and　faith　in　Christ　the　servants　of　Nero；　subjected；　as　they
were；　to　fierce　temptations；　surrounded　by　formidable　hindrances；　and
exposed　to　bitter　opposition。　Even　should　they　be　convinced　of　the　truth；
how　could　they　render　obedience？　But　Paul　did　not　reason　thus；　in　faith　he
presented　the　gospel　to　these　souls；　and　among　those　who　heard　were　some　who
decided　to　obey　at　any　cost。　Notwithstanding　obstacles　and　dangers；　they
would　accept　the　light；　and　trust　God　to　help　them　let　their　light　shine
forth　to　others。

Not　only　were　converts　won　to　the　truth　in　Caesar's　household；　but　after
their　conversion　they　remained　in　that　household。　They　did　not　feel　at
liberty　to　abandon　their　post　of　duty　because　their　surroundings　were　no
longer　congenial。　The　truth　had　found　them　there；　and　there　they　remained；
by　their　changed　life　and　character　testifying　to　the　transforming　power　of
the　new　faith。

Are　any　tempted　to　make　their　circumstances　an　excuse　for　failing　to　witness
for　Christ？　Let　them　consider　the　situation　of　the　disciples　in　Caesar's
householdthe　depravity　of　the　emperor；　the　profligacy　of　the　court。　We　can
hardly　imagine　circumstances　more　unfavorable　to　a　religious　life；　and
entailing　greater　sacrifice　or　opposition；　than　those　in　which　these
converts　found　themselves。　Yet　amidst　difficulties　and　dangers　they
maintained　their　fidelity。　Because　of　obstacles　that　seem　insurmountable；
the　Christian　may　seek　to　excuse　himself　from　obeying　the　truth　as　it　is　in
Jesus；

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but　he　can　offer　no　excuse　that　will　bear　investigation。　Could　he　do　this　he
would　prove　God　unjust　in　that　He　had　made　for　His　children　conditions　of
salvation　with　which　they　could　not　comply。

He　whose　heart　is　fixed　to　serve　God　will　find　opportunity　to　witness　for
Him。　Difficulties　will　be　powerless　to　hinder　him　who　is　determined　to　seek
first　the　kingdom　of　God　and　His　righteousness。　In　the　strength　gained　by
prayer　and　a　study　of　the　word；　he　will　seek　virtue　and　forsake　vice。
Looking　to　Jesus；　the　Author　and　Finisher　of　the　faith；　who　endured　the
contradiction　of　sinners　against　Himself；　the　believer　will　willingly　brave
contempt　and　derision。　And　help　and　grace　sufficient　for　every　circumstances
are　promised　by　Him　whose　word　is　truth。　His　everlasting　arms　encircle　the
soul　that　turns　to　Him　for　aid。　In　His　care　we　may　rest　safely；　saying；
〃What　time　I　am　afraid；　I　will　trust　in　Thee。〃　Psalm　56：3。　To　all　who　put
their　trust　in　Him；　God　will　fulfill　His　promise。

By　His　own　example　the　Saviour　has　shown　that　His　followers　can　be　in　the
world　and　yet　not　of　the　world。　He　came　not　to　partake　of　its　delusive
pleasures；　to　be　swayed　by　its　customs；　and　to　follow　its　practices；　but　to
do　His　Father's　will；　to　seek　and　save　the　lost。　With　this　object　before　him
the　Christian　may　stand　uncontaminated　in　any　surroundings。　Whatever　his
station　or　circumstances；　exalted　or　humble；　he　will　manifest　the　power　of
true　religion　in　the　faithful　performance　of　duty。

Not　in　freedom　from　trial；　but　in　the　midst　of　it；　is　Christian

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character　developed。　Exposure　to　rebuffs　and　opposition　leads　the　follower
of　Christ　to　greater　watchfulness　and　more　earnest　prayer　to　the　mighty
Helper。