the acts of the apostles-第42章
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labor。 〃We wrestle not against flesh and blood；〃 declares Paul； 〃but against
principalities； against powers； against the rulers of the darkness of this
world。〃 Ephesians 6：12。 Till the close of time there will be a conflict
between the church of God and those who are under the control of evil
angels。
The early Christians were often called to meet the powers of darkness face
to face。 By sophistry and by persecution the enemy endeavored to turn them
from the true faith。 At the present time； when the end of all things earthly
is rapidly approaching； Satan is putting forth desperate efforts to ensnare
the world。 He is devising many plans to occupy minds and to divert attention
from the truths essential to salvation。 In every city his agencies are
busily organizing into parties those who are opposed to the law of God。 The
archdeceiver is at work to introduce elements of confusion and rebellion；
and men are being fired with a zeal that is not according to knowledge。
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Wickedness is reaching a height never before attained； and yet many
ministers of the gospel are crying； 〃Peace and safety。〃 But God's faithful
messengers are to go steadily forward with their work。 Clothed with the
panoply of heaven； they are to advance fearlessly and victoriously； never
ceasing their warfare until every soul within their reach shall have
received the message of truth for this time。
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Chapter 22
Thessalonica
After leaving Philippi； Paul and Silas made their way to Thessalonica。 Here
they were given the privilege of addressing large congregations in the
Jewish synagogue。 Their appearance bore evidence of the shameful treatment
they had recently received； and necessitated an explanation of what had
taken place。 This they made without exalting themselves； but magnified the
One who had wrought their deliverance。
In preaching to the Thessalonians； Paul appealed to the Old Testament
prophecies concerning the Messiah。 Christ in His ministry had opened the
minds of His disciples to these prophecies； 〃beginning at Moses and all the
prophets； He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning
Himself。〃 Luke 24：27。 Peter in preaching Christ had produced his evidence
from the Old Testament。 Stephen had pursued the same course。 And Paul also
in his ministry appealed to the scriptures foretelling the birth；
sufferings；
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death； resurrection； and ascension of Christ。 By the inspired testimony of
Moses and the prophets he clearly proved the identity of Jesus of Nazareth
with the Messiah and showed that from the days of Adam it was the voice of
Christ which had been speaking through patriarchs and prophets。
Plain and specific prophecies had been given regarding the appearance of the
Promised One。 To Adam was given an assurance of the coming of the Redeemer。
The sentence pronounced on Satan； 〃I will put enmity between thee and the
woman； and between thy seed and her seed； it shall bruise thy head； and thou
shalt bruise his heel〃 （Genesis 3：15）； was to our first parents a promise of
the redemption to be wrought out through Christ。
To Abraham was given the promise that of his line of Saviour of the world
should come： 〃In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed。〃
〃He saith not； And to seeds； as of many； but as of one； And to thy seed；
which is Christ。〃 Genesis 22：18； Galatians 3：16。
Moses； near the close of his work as a leader and teacher of Israel； plainly
prophesied of the Messiah to come。 〃The Lord thy God；〃 he declared to the
assembled hosts of Israel； 〃will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst
of thee； of thy brethren； like unto me； unto Him ye shall hearken。〃 And
Moses assured the Israelites that God Himself had revealed this to him while
in Mount Horeb； saying； 〃I will raise them up a Prophet from among their
brethren； like unto thee； and will put My words in His mouth； and He shall
speak unto them all that I shall command Him。〃 Deuteronomy 18：15； 18。
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The Messiah was to be of the royal line； for in the prophecy uttered by
Jacob the Lord said； 〃The scepter shall not depart from Judah； nor a
lawgiver from between his feet； until Shiloh come； and unto Him shall the
gathering of the people be。〃 Genesis 49：10。
Isaiah prophesied： 〃There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse；
and a Branch shall grow out of his roots。〃 〃Incline your ear； and come unto
Me： hear； and your soul shall live； and I will make an everlasting covenant
with you； even the sure mercies of David。 Behold； I have given Him for a
witness to the people； a leader and commander to the people。 Behold； thou
shalt call a nation that thou knowest not； and nations that knew not thee
shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God； and for the Holy One of
Israel； for He hath glorified thee。〃 Isaiah 11：1； 55：3…5。
Jeremiah also bore witness of the coming Redeemer as a Prince of the house
of David： 〃Behold； the days come； saith the Lord； that I will raise unto
David a righteous Branch； and a King shall reign and prosper； and shall
execute judgment and justice in the earth。 In His days Judah shall be saved；
and Israel shall dwell safely： and this is His name whereby He shall be
called； The Lord Our Righteousness。〃 And again： 〃Thus saith the Lord： David
shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel；
neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before Me to offer burnt
offerings； and to kindle meat offerings； and to do sacrifice continually。〃
Jeremiah 23：5； 6； 33：17； 18。
Even the birthplace of the Messiah was foretold： 〃Thou； Bethlehem Ephratah；
though thou be little among the thousands
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of Judah； yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in
Israel； whose goings forth have been from of old； from everlasting。〃 Micah
5：2。
The work that the Saviour was to do on the earth had been fully outlined：
〃The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him； the spirit of wisdom and
understanding； the spirit of counsel and might； the spirit of knowledge and
of the fear of the Lord； and shall make Him of quick understanding in the
fear of the Lord。〃 The One thus anointed was 〃to preach good tidings unto
the meek； 。 。 。 to bind up the brokenhearted； to proclaim liberty to the
captives； and the opening of the prison to them that are bound； to proclaim
the acceptable year of the Lord； and the day of vengeance of our God； to
comfort all that mourn； to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion； to give
unto them beauty for ashes； the oil of joy for mourning； the garment of
praise for the spirit of heaviness； that they might be called trees of
righteousness； the planting of the Lord； that He might be glorified。〃 Isaiah
11：2； 3； 61：1…3。
〃Behold My servant； whom I uphold； Mine elect； in whom My soul delighteth； I
have put My Spirit upon Him： He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles。
He shall not cry； nor lift up； nor cause His voice to be heard in the
street。 A bruised reed shall He not break； and the smoking flax shall He not
quench： He shall bring forth judgment unto truth。 He shall not fail nor be
discouraged； till He have set judgment in the earth： and the isles shall
wait for His law。〃 Isaiah 42：1…4。
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With convincing power Paul reasoned from the Old Testament Scriptures that
〃Christ must needs have suffered； and risen again from the dead。〃 Had not
Micah prophesied； 〃They shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the
cheek〃？ Micah 5：1。 And had not the Promised One； through Isaiah； prophesied
of Himself； 〃I gave My back to the smiters； and My cheeks to them that
plucked off the hair： I hid not My face from shame and spitting〃？ Isaiah
50：6。 Through the psalmist Christ had foretold the treatment that He should
receive from men： 〃I am 。 。 。 a reproach of men； and despised of the people。
All they that see Me laugh Me to scorn： they shoot out the lip； they shake
the head； saying； He trusted on the
