the acts of the apostles-第25章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
might be able to convince some of the obstinate Jews of the truth of the
gospel message； even if to remain should cost him his life。 And so he
answered； 〃Lord； they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue
them that believed on Thee： and when the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was
shed； I was also standing by； and consenting unto his death； and kept the
raiment of them that slew him。〃 But it was not in harmony with the purpose
of God that His servant should needlessly expose his life； and the heavenly
messenger replied； 〃Depart： for I will send thee far hence unto the
Gentiles。〃 Acts 22：19…21。
Upon learning of this vision； the brethren hastened Paul's secret escape
from Jerusalem； for fear of his assassination。 〃They brought him down to
Caesarea； and sent him forth to Tarsus。〃 The departure of Paul suspended for
a time the violent opposition of the Jews； and the church had a period of
rest； in which many were added to the number of believers。
（131）
Chapter 14
A Seeker for Truth
In the course of his ministry the apostle Peter visited the believers at
Lydda。 Here he healed Aeneas； who for eight years had been confined to his
bed with palsy。 〃Aeneas； Jesus Christ maketh thee whole；〃 the apostle said；
〃arise； and make thy bed。〃 〃He arose immediately。 And all that dwelt at
Lydda and Saron saw him； and turned to the Lord。〃
At Joppa； which was near Lydda； there lived a woman named Dorcas； whose good
deeds had made her greatly beloved。 She was a worthy disciple of Jesus； and
her life was filled with acts of kindness。 She knew who needed comfortable
clothing and who needed sympathy； and she freely ministered to the poor and
the sorrowful。 Her skillful fingers were more active than her tongue。
〃And it came to pass in those days； that she was sick； and died。〃 The church
in Joppa realized their loss； and hearing that Peter was at Lydda； the
believers sent messengers to
132
him； 〃desiring him that he would not delay to come to them。 Then Peter arose
and went with them。 When he was come； they brought him into the upper
chamber： and all the widows stood by him weeping； and showing the coats and
garments which Dorcas made； while she was with them。〃 In view of the life of
service that Dorcas had lived； it is little wonder that they mourned； that
warm teardrops fell upon the inanimate day。
The apostle's heart was touched with sympathy as he beheld their sorrow。
Then； directing that the weeping friends be sent from the room； he kneeled
down and prayed fervently to God to restore Dorcas to life and health。
Turning to the body； he said； 〃Tabitha； arise。 And she opened her eyes： and
when she saw Peter； she sat up。〃 Dorcas had been of great service to the
church； and God saw fit to bring her back from the land of the enemy； that
her skill and energy might still be a blessing to others； and also that by
this manifestation of His power the cause of Christ might be strengthened。
It was while Peter was still at Joppa that he was called by God to take the
gospel to Cornelius； in Caesarea。
Cornelius was a Roman centurion。 He was a man of wealth and noble birth； and
his position was one of trust and honor。 A heathen by birth； training； and
education； through contact with the Jews he had gained a knowledge of God；
and he worshiped Him with a true heart； showing the sincerity of his faith
by compassion to the poor。 He was known far and near for his beneficence；
and his righteous life made him of good repute among both Jews and Gentiles。
133
His influence was a blessing to all with whom he came in contact。 The
inspired record describes him as 〃a devout man； and one that feared God with
all his house； which gave much alms to the people； and prayed to God alway。〃
Believing in God as the Creator of heaven and earth； Cornelius revered Him；
acknowledged His authority； and sought His counsel in all the affairs of
life。 He was faithful to Jehovah in his home life and in his official
duties。 He had erected the altar of God in his home； for he dared not
attempt to carry out his plans or to bear his responsibilities without the
help of God。
Though Cornelius believed the prophecies and was looking for the Messiah to
come； he had not a knowledge of the gospel as revealed in the life and death
of Christ。 He was not a member of the Jewish church and would have been
looked upon by the rabbis as a heathen and unclean。 But the same Holy
Watcher who said of Abraham； 〃I know him；〃 knew Cornelius also； and sent a
message direct from heaven to him。
The angel appeared to Cornelius while he was at prayer。 As the centurion
heard himself addressed by name； he was afraid； yet he knew that the
messenger had come from God； and he said； 〃What is it； Lord？〃 The angel
answered； 〃Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God。
And now send men to Joppa； and call for one Simon； whose surname is Peter：
he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner； whose house is by the seaside。〃
The explicitness of these directions； in which was named even the occupation
of the man with whom Peter was
134
staying； shows that Heaven is acquainted with the history and business of
men in every station of life。 God is familiar with the experience and work
of the humble laborer； as well as with that of the king upon his throne。
〃Send men to Joppa； and call for one Simon。〃 Thus God gave evidence of His
regard for the gospel ministry and for His organized church。 The angel was
not commissioned to tell Cornelius the story of the cross。 A man subject；
even as the centurion himself； to human frailties and temptations； was to be
the one to tell him of the crucified and risen Saviour。
As His representatives among men； God does not choose angels who have never
fallen； but human beings； men of like passions with those they seek to save。
Christ took humanity that He might reach humanity。 A divine…human Saviour
was needed to bring salvation to the world。 And to men and women has been
committed the sacred trust of making known 〃the unsearchable riches of
Christ。〃 Ephesians 3：8。
In His wisdom the Lord brings those who are seeking for truth into touch
with fellow beings who know the truth。 It is the plan of Heaven that those
who have received light shall impart it to those in darkness。 Humanity；
drawing its efficiency from the great Source of wisdom； is made the
instrumentality； the working agency； through which the gospel exercises its
transforming power on mind and heart。
Cornelius was gladly obedient to the vision。 When the angel had gone； the
centurion 〃called two of his household servants； and a devout soldier of
them that waited on him
135
continually； and when he had declared all these things unto them； he sent
them to Joppa。〃
The angel； after his interview with Cornelius； went to Peter； in Joppa。 At
the time； Peter was praying upon the housetop of his lodging； and we read
that he 〃became very hungry； and would have eaten： but while they made
ready； he fell into a trance。〃 It was not for physical food alone that Peter
hungered。 As from the housetop he viewed the city of Joppa and the
surrounding country be hungered for the salvation of his countrymen。 He had
an intense desire to point out to them from the Scriptures the prophecies
relating to the sufferings and death of Christ。
In the vision Peter 〃saw heaven opened； and a certain vessel descending unto
them； as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners； and let down to
the earth： wherein were all manner of four…footed beasts of the earth； and
wild beasts； and creeping things； and fowls of the air。 And there came a
voice to him； Rise； Peter； kill； and eat。 But Peter said； Not so； Lord； for
I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean。 And the voice spake
unto him again the second time； What God hath cleansed； that call not thou
common。 This was done thrice： and the vessel was received up again into
he
