the acts of the apostles-第55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！
together； and burned them before all men： and they counted the price of
them； and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver。 So mightily grew the
word of God and prevailed。〃
By burning their books on magic； the Ephesian converts showed that the
things in which they had once delighted they now abhorred。 It was by and
through magic that they had especially offended God and imperiled their
souls； and it was against magic that they showed such indignation。 Thus they
gave evidence of true conversion。
These treatises on divination contained rules and forms of communication
with evil spirits。 They were the regulations of the worship of
Satandirections for soliciting his
289
help and obtaining information from him。 By retaining these books the
disciples would have exposed themselves to temptation； by selling them they
would have placed temptation in the way of others。 They had renounced the
kingdom of darkness； and to destroy its power they did not hesitate at any
sacrifice。 Thus truth triumphed over men's prejudices and their love of
money。
By this manifestation of the power of Christ； a mighty victory for
Christianity was gained in the very stronghold of superstition。 The
influence of what had taken place was more widespread than even Paul
realized。 From Ephesus the news was widely circulated； and a strong impetus
was given to the cause of Christ。 Long after the apostle himself had
finished his course； these scenes lived in the memory of men and were the
means of winning converts to the gospel。
It is fondly supposed that heathen superstitions have disappeared before the
civilization of the twentieth century。 But the word of God and the stern
testimony of facts declare that sorcery is practiced in this age as verily
as in the days of the old…time magicians。 The ancient system of magic is； in
reality； the same as what is now known as modern spiritualism。 Satan is
finding access to thousands of minds by presenting himself under the guise
of departed friends。 The Scriptures declare that 〃the dead know not
anything。〃 Ecclesiastes 9：5。 Their thoughts； their love； their hatred； have
perished。 The dead do not hold communion with the living。 But true to his
early cunning； Satan employs this device in order to gain control of minds。
290
Through spiritualism many of the sick； the bereaved； the curious； are
communicating with evil spirits。 All who venture to do this are on dangerous
ground。 The word of truth declares how God regards them。 In ancient times He
pronounced a stern judgment on a king who had sent for counsel to a heathen
oracle： 〃Is it not because there is not a God in Israel； that ye go to
inquire of Baal…zebub the god of Ekron？ Now therefore thus saith the Lord；
Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up； but shalt
surely die。〃 2 Kings 1：3； 4。
The magicians of heathen times have their counterpart in the spiritualistic
mediums； the clairvoyants； and the fortune…tellers of today。 The mystic
voices that spoke at Endor and at Ephesus are still by their lying words
misleading the children of men。 Could the veil be lifted from before our
eyes； we should see evil angels employing all their arts to deceive and to
destroy。 Wherever an influence is exerted to cause men to forget God； there
Satan is exercising his bewitching power。 When men yield to his influence；
ere they are aware the mind is bewildered and the soul polluted。 The
apostle's admonition to the Ephesian church should be heeded by the people
of God today： 〃Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness； but
rather reprove them。〃 Ephesians 5：11。
（291）
Chapter 28
Days of Toil and Trial
For over three years Ephesus was the center of Paul's work。 A flourishing
church was raised up here； and from this city the gospel spread throughout
the province of Asia； among both Jews and Gentiles。
The apostle had now for some time had been contemplating another missionary
journey。 He 〃purposed in the spirit； when he had passed through Macedonia
and Achaia； to go to Jerusalem； saying； After I have been there； I must also
see Rome。〃 In harmony with this plan 〃he sent into Macedonia two of them
that ministered unto him； Timotheus and Erastus；〃 but feeling that the cause
in Ephesus still demanded his presence； he decided to remain until after
Pentecost。 An event soon occurred； however； which hastened his departure。
Once a year； special ceremonies were held at Ephesus in honor of the goddess
Diana。 These attracted great numbers of people from all parts of the
province。 Throughout
292
this period； festivities were conducted with the utmost pomp and splendor。
This gala season was a trying time for those who had newly come to the
faith。 The company of believers who met in the school of Tyrannus were an
inharmonious note in the festive chorus； and ridicule； reproach； and insult
were freely heaped upon them。 Paul's labors had given the heathen worship a
telling blow； in consequence of which there was a perceptible falling off in
the attendance at the national festival and in the enthusiasm of the
worshipers。 The influence of his teachings extended far beyond the actual
converts to the faith。 Many who had not openly accepted the new doctrines
became so far enlightened as to lose all confidence in their heathen gods。
There existed also another cause of dissatisfaction。 An extensive and
profitable business had grown up at Ephesus from the manufacture and sale of
small shrines and images； modeled after the temple and the image of Diana。
Those interested in this industry found their gains diminishing； and all
united in attributing the unwelcome change to Paul's labors。
Demetrius； a manufacturer of silver shrines； calling together the workmen of
his craft； said： 〃Sirs； ye know that by this craft we have our wealth。
Moreover ye see and hear； that not alone at Ephesus； but almost throughout
all Asia； this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people； saying that
they be no gods； which are made with hands： so that not only this our craft
is in danger to be set at nought； but also that the temple of the great
goddess
293
Diana should be despised； and her magnificence should be destroyed； whom all
Asia and the world worshipeth。〃 These words roused the excitable passions of
the people。 〃They were full of wrath； and cried out； saying； Great is Diana
of the Ephesians。〃
A report of this speech was rapidly circulated。 〃The whole city was filled
with confusion。〃 Search was made for Paul； but the apostle was not to be
found。 His brethren； receiving an intimation of the danger； had hurried him
from the place。 Angels of God had been sent to guard the apostle； his time
to die a martyr's death had not yet come。
Failing to find the object of their wrath； the mob seized 〃Gaius and
Aristarchus； men of Macedonia； Paul's companions in travel；〃 and with these
〃they rushed with one accord into the theater。〃
Paul's place of concealment was not far distant； and he soon learned of the
peril of his beloved brethren。 Forgetful of his own safety； he desired to go
at once to the theater to address the rioters。 But 〃the disciples suffered
him not。〃 Gaius and Aristarchus were not the prey the people sought； no
serious harm to them was apprehended。 But should the apostle's pale；
care…worn face be seen； it would arouse at once the worst passions of the
mob and there would not be the least human possibility of saving his life。
Paul was still eager to defend the truth before the multitude； but he was at
last deterred by a message of warning from the theater。 〃Certain of the
chief of Asia； which were his friends； sent unto him； desiring him that he
would not adventure himself into the theater。〃
294
The tumult in the theater was continually increasing。 〃Some 。 。 。 cried one
thing； and some another： for the assembly was confused； and the more part
knew not wherefore they w
