the acts of the apostles-第40章
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above bodily infirmities and to present Jesus as the sinner's only hope。
Those who heard him knew that he had been with Jesus。 Endued with power from
on high； he was able to compare spiritual things with spiritual and to tear
down the strongholds of Satan。 Hearts were broken by his presentation of the
love of God； as revealed in the sacrifice of His only…begotten Son； and many
were led to inquire； What must I do to be saved？
This method of presenting the gospel characterized the labors of the apostle
throughout his ministry among the Gentiles。 Always he kept before them the
cross of Calvary。 〃We preach not ourselves；〃 he declared in the later years
of his experience； 〃but Christ Jesus the Lord； and ourselves your servants
for Jesus' sake。 For God； who commanded the light to shine out of darkness；
hath shined in our hearts； to give
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the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ。〃
2 Corinthians 4：5； 6。
The consecrated messengers who in the early days of Christianity carried to
a perishing world the glad tidings of salvation； allowed no thought of
self…exaltation to mar their presentation of Christ and Him crucified。 They
coveted neither authority nor pre…eminence。 Hiding self in the Saviour； they
exalted the great plan of salvation； and the life of Christ； the Author and
Finisher of this plan。 Christ； the same yesterday； today； and forever； was
the burden of their teaching。
If those who today are teaching the word of God； would uplift the cross of
Christ higher and still higher； their ministry would be far more successful。
If sinners can be led to give one earnest look at the cross； if they can
obtain a full view of the crucified Saviour； they will realize the depth of
God's compassion and the sinfulness of sin。
Christ's death proves God's great love for man。 It is our pledge of
salvation。 To remove the cross from the Christian would be like blotting the
sun from the sky。 The cross brings us near to God； reconciling us to Him。
With the relenting compassion of a father's love； Jehovah looks upon the
suffering that His Son endured in order to save the race from eternal death；
and accepts us in the Beloved。
Without the cross； man could have no union with the Father。 On it depends
our every hope。 From it shines the light of the Saviour's love； and when at
the foot of the cross the sinner looks up to the One who died to save him；
he
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may rejoice with fullness of joy； for his sins are pardoned。 Kneeling in
faith at the cross； he has reached the highest place to which man can
attain。
Through the cross we learn that the heavenly Father loves us with a love
that is infinite。 Can we wonder that Paul exclaimed； 〃God forbid that I
should glory； save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ〃？ Galatians 6：14。
It is our privilege also to glory in the cross； our privilege to give
ourselves wholly to Him who gave Himself for us。 Then； with the light that
streams from Calvary shining in our faces； we may go forth to reveal this
light to those in darkness。
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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。〃
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〃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
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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
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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 a
