the acts of the apostles-第87章
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The servant who had defrauded his master had nothing with which to make
restitution。 The sinner who has robbed God of years of service has no means
of canceling the debt。 Jesus interposes between the sinner and God； saying；
I will pay the debt。 Let the sinner be spared； I will suffer in his stead。
After offering to assume the debt of Onesimus； Paul reminded Philemon how
greatly he himself was indebted to the apostle。 He owed him his own self；
since God had made Paul the instrument of his conversion。 Then； in a tender；
earnest appeal； he besought Philemon that as he had by his liberalities
refreshed the saints； so he would refresh the spirit of the apostle by
granting him this cause of rejoicing。 〃Having confidence in thy obedience；〃
he
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added； 〃I wrote unto thee； knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say。〃
Paul's letter to Philemon shows the influence of the gospel upon the
relation between master and servant。 Slave…holding was an established
institution throughout the Roman Empire； and both masters and slaves were
found in most of the churches for which Paul labored。 In the cities； where
slaves often greatly outnumbered the free population； laws of terrible
severity were regarded as necessary to keep them in subjection。 A wealthy
Roman often owned hundreds of slaves； of every rank； of every nation； and of
every accomplishment。 With full control over the souls and bodies of these
helpless beings； he could inflict upon them any suffering he chose。 If one
of them in retaliation or self…defense ventured to raise a hand against his
owner； the whole family of the offender might be inhumanly sacrificed。 The
slightest mistake； accident； or carelessness was often punished without
mercy。
Some masters； more humane than others； were more indulgent toward their
servants； but the vast majority of the wealthy and noble； given up without
restraint to the indulgence of lust； passion； and appetite； made their
slaves the wretched victims of caprice and tyranny。 The tendency of the
whole system was hopelessly degrading。
It was not the apostle's work to overturn arbitrarily or suddenly the
established order of society。 To attempt this would be to prevent the
success of the gospel。 But he taught principles which struck at the very
foundation of slavery and which； if carried into effect； would surely
undermine
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the whole system。 〃Where the Spirit of the Lord is； there is liberty；〃 he
declared。 2 Corinthians 3：17。 When converted； the slave became a member of
the body of Christ； and as such was to be loved and treated as a brother； a
fellow heir with his master to the blessings of God and the privileges of
the gospel。 On the other hand； servants were to perform their duties； 〃not
with eyeservice； as men pleasers； but as the servants of Christ； doing the
will of God from the heart。〃 Ephesians 6：6。
Christianity makes a strong bond of union between master and slave； king and
subject； the gospel minister and the degraded sinner who has found in Christ
cleansing from sin。 They have been washed in the same blood； quickened by
the same Spirit； and they are made one in Christ Jesus。
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Chapter 44
Caesar's Household
The gospel has ever achieved its greatest success among the humbler classes。
〃Not many wise men after the flesh； not many mighty； not many noble； are
called。〃 1 Corinthians 1：26。 It could not be expected that Paul； a poor and
friendless prisoner； would be able to gain the attention of the wealthy and
titled classes of Roman citizens。 To them vice presented all its glittering
allurements and held them willing captives。 But from among the toilworn；
want…stricken victims of their oppression； even from among the poor slaves；
many gladly listened to the words of Paul and in the faith of Christ found a
hope and peace that cheered them under the hardships of their lot。
Yet while the apostle's work began with the humble and the lowly； its
influence extended until it reached the very palace of the emperor。
Rome was at this time the metropolis of the world。 The haughty Caesars were
giving laws to nearly every nation
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upon the earth。 King and courtier were either ignorant of the humble
Nazarene or regarded Him with hatred and derision。 And yet in less than two
years the gospel found its way from the prisoner's lowly home into the
imperial halls。 Paul is in bonds as an evildoer； but 〃the word of God is not
bound。〃 2 Timothy 2：9。
In former years the apostle had publicly proclaimed the faith of Christ with
winning power； and by signs and miracles he had given unmistakable evidence
of its divine character。 With noble firmness he had risen up before the
sages of Greece and by his knowledge and eloquence had put to silence the
arguments of proud philosophy。 With undaunted courage he had stood before
kings and governors； and reasoned of righteousness； temperance； and judgment
to come； until the haughty rulers trembled as if already beholding the
terrors of the day of God。
No such opportunities were now granted the apostle； confined as he was to
his own dwelling； and able to proclaim the truth to those only who sought
him there。 He had not； like Moses and Aaron； a divine command to go before
the profligate king and in the name of the great I AM rebuke his cruelty and
oppression。 Yet it was at this very time； when its chief advocate was
apparently cut off from public labor； that a great victory was won for the
gospel； for from the very household of the king； members were added to the
church。
Nowhere could there exist an atmosphere more uncongenial to Christianity
than in the Roman court。 Nero seemed to have obliterated from his soul the
last trace of the divine； and even of the human； and to bear the impress
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of Satan。 His attendants and courtiers were in general of the same character
as himselffierce； debased； and corrupt。 To all appearance it would be
impossible for Christianity to gain a foothold in the court and palace of
Nero。
Yet in this case； as in so many others； was proved the truth of Paul's
assertion that the weapons of his warfare were 〃mighty through God to the
pulling down of strongholds；〃
2 Corinthians 10：4。 Even in Nero's household；
trophies of the cross were won。 From the vile attendants of a viler king
were gained converts who became sons of God。 These were not Christians
secretly； but openly。 They were not ashamed of their faith。
And by what means was an entrance achieved and a firm footing gained for
Christianity where even its admission seemed impossible？ In his epistle to
the Philippians； Paul ascribed to his own imprisonment his success in
winning converts to the faith from Nero's household。 Fearful lest it might
be thought that his afflictions had impeded the progress of the gospel； he
assured them： 〃I would ye should understand； brethren； that the things which
happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel。〃
Philippians 1：12。
When the Christian churches first learned that Paul was to visit Rome； they
looked forward to a signal triumph of the gospel in that city。 Paul had
borne the truth to many lands； he had proclaimed it in great cities。 Might
not this champion of the faith succeed in winning souls to Christ even in
the metropolis of the world？ But their hopes were crushed by the tidings
that Paul had gone to Rome as a
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prisoner。 They had confidently hoped to see the gospel； once established at
this great center； extend rapidly to all nations and become a prevailing
power in the earth。 How great their disappointment！ Human expectations had
failed； but not the purpose of God。
Not by Paul's sermon's； but by his bonds； was the attention of the court
attracted to Christianity。 It was as a captive that he broke from so many
souls the bonds that held them in the slavery of sin。 Nor was this all。 He
declared： 〃Many of the brethren in the Lord； waxing confide
