the acts of the apostles-第77章
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tenderness toward the weak in the faith； his reverence for the apostles who
had been with Christ； and for James； the brother of the Lord； and his
purpose to become all things to all men so far as he could without
sacrificing principlewhen we think of all this； it is less surprising that
he was constrained to deviate from the firm； decided course that he had
hitherto followed。 But instead of accomplishing the desired object； his
efforts for conciliation only precipitated the crisis； hastened his
predicted sufferings； and resulted in separating him from his brethren；
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depriving the church of one of its strongest pillars； and bringing sorrow to
Christian hearts in every land。
On the following day Paul began to carry out the counsel of the elders。 The
four men who were under the Nazarite vow （Numbers 6）； the term of which had
nearly expired； were taken by Paul into the temple； 〃to signify the
accomplishment of the days of purification； until that an offering should be
offered for every one of them。〃 Certain costly sacrifices for purification
were yet to be offered。
Those who advised Paul to take this step had not fully considered the great
peril to which he would thus be exposed。 At this season； Jerusalem was
filled with worshipers from many lands。 As； in fulfillment of the commission
given him by God； Paul had borne the gospel to the Gentiles； he had visited
many of the world's largest cities； and he was well known to thousands who
from foreign parts had come to Jerusalem to attend the feast。 Among these
were men whose hearts were filled with bitter hatred for Paul； and for him
to enter the temple on a public occasion was to risk his life。 For several
days he passed in and out among the worshipers； apparently unnoticed； but
before the close of the specified period； as he was talking with a priest
concerning the sacrifices to be offered； he was recognized by some of the
Jews from Asia。
With the fury of demons they rushed upon him； crying； 〃Men of Israel； help：
This is the man； that teacheth all men everywhere against the people； and
the law； and this place。〃 And as the people responded to the call for help；
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another accusation was added〃and further brought Greeks also into the
temple； and hath polluted this holy place。〃
By the Jewish law it was a crime punishable with death for an uncircumcised
person to enter the inner courts of the sacred edifice。 Paul had been seen
in the city in company with Trophimus； an Ephesian； and it was conjectured
that he had brought him into the temple。 This he had not done； and being
himself a Jew； his act in entering the temple was no violation of the law。
But though the charge was wholly false； it served to arouse the popular
prejudice。 As the cry was taken up and borne through the temple courts； the
throngs gathered there were thrown into wild excitement。 The news quickly
spread through Jerusalem； 〃and all the city was moved； and the people ran
together。〃
That an apostate from Israel should presume to profane the temple at the
very time when thousands had come there from all parts of the world to
worship； excited the fiercest passions of the mob。 〃They took Paul； and drew
him out of the temple： and forthwith the doors were shut。〃
〃As they went about to kill him； tidings came unto the chief captain of the
band； that all Jerusalem was in an uproar。〃 Claudius Lysias well knew the
turbulent elements with which he had to deal； and he 〃immediately took
soldiers and centurions； and ran down unto them： and when they saw the chief
captain and the soldiers； they left beating of Paul。〃 Ignorant of the cause
of the tumult； but seeing that the rage of the multitude was directed
against Paul； the Roman captain concluded that he must be a certain Egyptian
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rebel of whom he had heard； who had thus far escaped capture。 He therefore
〃took him； and commanded him to be bound with two chains； and demanded who
he was； and what he had done。〃 At once many voices were raised in loud and
angry accusation； 〃some cried one thing； some another； among the multitude：
and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult； he commanded him to
be carried into the castle。 And when he came upon the stairs； so it was；
that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people。 For the
multitude of the people followed after； crying； Away with him。〃
In the midst of the tumult the apostle was calm and self…possessed。 His mind
was stayed upon God； and he knew that angels of heaven were about him。 He
felt unwilling to leave the temple without making an effort to set the truth
before his countrymen。 As he was about to be led into the castle he said to
the chief captain； 〃May I speak unto thee？〃 Lysias responded； 〃Canst thou
speak Greek？ Art not thou that Egyptian； which before these days madest an
uproar； and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were
murderers？〃 In reply Paul said； 〃I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus； a city
in Cilicia； a citizen of no mean city： and； I beseech thee； suffer me to
speak unto the people。〃
The request was granted； and 〃Paul stood on the stairs； and beckoned with
the hand unto the people。〃 The gesture attracted their attention； while his
bearing commanded respect。 〃And when there was made a great silence； he
spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue； saying； Men； brethren； and
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fathers； hear ye my defense which I make now unto you。〃 At the sound of the
familiar Hebrew words； 〃they kept the more silence；〃 and in the universal
hush he continued：
〃I am verily a man which am a Jew； born in Tarsus； a city in Cilicia； yet
brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel； and taught according to the
perfect manner of the law of the fathers； and was zealous toward God； as ye
all are this day。〃 None could deny the apostle's statements； as the facts
that he referred to were well known to many who were still living in
Jerusalem。 He then spoke of his former zeal in persecuting the disciples of
Christ； even unto death； and he narrated the circumstances of his
conversion； telling his hearers how his own proud heart had been led to bow
to the crucified Nazarene。 Had he attempted to enter into argument with his
opponents； they would have stubbornly refused to listen to his words； but
the relation of his experience was attended with a convincing power that for
the time seemed to soften and subdue their hearts。
He then endeavored to show that his work among the Gentiles had not been
entered upon from choice。 He had desired to labor for his own nation； but in
that very temple the voice of God had spoken to him in holy vision；
directing his course 〃far hence upon the Gentiles。〃
Hitherto the people had listened with close attention； but when Paul reached
the point in his history where he was appointed Christ's ambassador to the
Gentiles； their fury broke forth anew。 Accustomed to look upon themselves as
the only people favored by God； they were unwilling to
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permit the despised Gentiles to share the privileges which had hitherto been
regarded as exclusively their own。 Lifting their voices above the voice of
the speaker； they cried； 〃Away with such a fellow from the earth： for it is
not fit that he should live。〃
〃As they cried out； and cast off their clothes； and threw dust into the air；
the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle； and bade that
he should be examined by scourging； that he might know wherefore they cried
so against him。
〃And as they bound him with thongs； Paul said unto the centurion that stood
by； Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman； and uncondemned？
When the centurion heard that； he went and told the chief captain； saying；
Take heed what thou doest： for this man is a Roman。 Then the chief captain
came； and said unto him； Tell me； art thou a Roman？ He said； Yea。 And the
chief captain answered； With a great sum obtained I this freedom。 And Paul
said； But I was freeborn。 Then straightway they departed from him which
should have examined him： and the chief
