the acts of the apostles-第75章
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purity of life； their godly conversation； they are to prove themselves
worthy of their high calling。
The dangers that would assail the church at Ephesus were revealed to the
apostle。 〃I know this；〃 he said； 〃that after my departing shall grievous
wolves enter in among you； not sparing the flock。 Also of your own selves
shall men arise； speaking perverse things； to draw away disciples after
them。〃 Paul trembled for the church as； looking into the future； he saw the
attacks which she must suffer from both external and internal foes。 With
solemn earnestness he bade his brethren guard vigilantly their sacred
trusts。 For an example he pointed them to his own unwearied labors among
them： 〃Therefore watch； and remember； that by the space of three years I
ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears。
〃And now； brethren；〃 he continued； 〃I commend you to God； and to the word of
His grace； which is able to build you up； and to give you an inheritance
among all them which are sanctified。 I have coveted no man's silver； or
gold； or apparel。〃 Some of the Ephesian brethren were wealthy； but Paul had
never sought personal benefit from them。 It was no part of his message to
call attention to his own wants。 〃These hands；〃 he declared； 〃have
ministered unto my necessities； and to them that were with me。〃 Amidst his
arduous labors and extensive journeys for the cause of Christ； he was
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able； not only to supply his own wants； but to spare something for the
support of his fellow laborers and the relief of the worthy poor。 This he
accomplished only by unremitting diligence and the closest economy。 Well
might he point to his own example as he said； 〃I have showed you all things；
how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak； and to remember the words
of the Lord Jesus； how He said； It is more blessed to give than to receive。
〃And when he had thus spoken； he kneeled down； and prayed with them all。 And
they all wept sore； and fell on Paul's neck； and kissed him； sorrowing most
of all for the words which he spake； that they should see his face no more。
And they accompanied him unto the ship。〃
From Miletus the travelers sailed in 〃a straight course unto Coos； and the
day following unto Rhodes； and from thence unto Patara；〃 on the southwest
shore of Asia Minor； where； 〃finding a ship sailing over unto Phoenicia；〃
they 〃went aboard； and set forth。〃 At Tyre； where the ship was unloaded；
they found a few disciples； with whom they were permitted to tarry seven
days。 Through the Holy Spirit these disciples were warned of the perils
awaiting Paul at Jerusalem； and they urged him 〃that he should not go up to
Jerusalem。〃 But the apostle allowed not the fear of affliction and
imprisonment to turn him from his purpose。
At the close of the week spent in Tyre； all the brethren； with their wives
and children； went with Paul to the ship； and before he stepped on board；
they knelt upon the shore and prayed； he for them； and they for him。
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Pursuing their journey southward； the travelers arrived at Caesarea and
〃entered into the house of Philip the evangelist； which was one of the
seven； and abode with him。〃 Here Paul spent a few peaceful； happy daysthe
last of perfect freedom that he was to enjoy for a long time。
While Paul tarried at Caesarea； 〃there came down from Judea a certain
prophet； named Agabus。 And when he was come unto us；〃 Luke says； 〃he took
Paul's girdle； and bound his own hands and feet； and said； Thus saith the
Holy Ghost； So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this
girdle； and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles。〃
〃When we heard these things；〃 Luke continues； 〃both we； and they of that
place； besought him not to go up to Jerusalem。〃 But Paul would not swerve
from the path of duty。 He would follow Christ if need be to prison and to
death。 〃What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart？〃 he exclaimed； 〃for I
am ready not to be bound only； but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of
the Lord Jesus。〃 Seeing that they caused him pain without changing his
purpose； the brethren ceased their importunity； saying only； 〃The will of
the Lord be done。〃
The time soon came for the brief stay at Caesarea to end； and； accompanied
by some of the brethren； Paul and his company set out for Jerusalem； their
hearts deeply shadowed by the presentiment of coming evil。
Never before had the apostle approached Jerusalem with so sad a heart。 He
knew that he would find few friends and
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many enemies。 He was nearing the city which had rejected and slain the Son
of God and over which now hung the threatenings of divine wrath。 Remembering
how bitter had been his own prejudice against the followers of Christ； he
felt the deepest pity for his deluded countrymen。 And yet how little could
he hope that he would be able to help them！ The same blind wrath which had
once burned in his own heart； was now with untold power kindling the hearts
of a whole nation against him。
And he could not count upon the sympathy and support of even his own
brethren in the faith。 The unconverted Jews who had followed so closely upon
his track； had not been slow to circulate the most unfavorable reports at
Jerusalem； both personally and by letter； concerning him and his work； and
some； even of the apostles and elders； had received these reports as truth；
making no attempt to contradict them； and manifesting no desire to harmonize
with him。
Yet in the midst of discouragements the apostle was not in despair。 He
trusted that the Voice which had spoken to his own heart would yet speak to
the hearts of his countrymen； and that the Master whom his fellow disciples
loved and served would yet unite their hearts with his in the work of the
gospel。
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Chapter 38
Paul a Prisoner
When we were come to Jerusalem； the brethren received us gladly。 And the day
following Paul went in with us unto James； and all the elders were present。〃
On this occasion； Paul and his companions formally presented to the leaders
of the work at Jerusalem the contributions forwarded by the Gentile churches
for the support of the poor among their Jewish brethren。 The gathering of
these contributions had cost the apostle and his fellow workers much time；
anxious thought； and wearisome labor。 The sum； which far exceeded the
expectations of the elders at Jerusalem； represented many sacrifices and
even severe privations on the part of the Gentile believers。
These freewill offerings betokened the loyalty of the Gentile converts to
the organized work of God throughout the world and should have been received
by all with grateful
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acknowledgment； yet it was apparent to Paul and his companions that even
among those before whom they now stood were some who were unable to
appreciate the spirit of brotherly love that had prompted the gifts。
In the earlier years of the gospel work among the Gentiles some of the
leading brethren at Jerusalem； clinging to former prejudices and habits of
thought； had not co…operated heartily with Paul and his associates。 In their
anxiety to preserve a few meaningless forms and ceremonies； they had lost
sight of the blessing that would come to them and to the cause they loved；
through an effort to unite in one all parts of the Lord's work。 Although
desirous of safeguarding the best interests of the Christian church； they
had failed to keep step with the advancing providences of God； and in their
human wisdom attempted to throw about workers many unnecessary restrictions。
Thus there arose a group of men who were unacquainted personally with the
changing circumstances and peculiar needs met by laborers in distant fields；
yet who insisted that they had the authority to direct their brethren in
these fields to follow certain specified methods of labor。 They felt as if
the work of preaching the gospel should be carried forward in harmony with
their opinions。
Several years had passed since the brethren in Jerusalem；
