the acts of the apostles-第16部分

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Gospel　in　Samaria


After　the　death　of　Stephen　there　arose　against　the　believers　in　Jerusalem　a
persecution　so　relentless　that　〃they　were　all　scattered　abroad　throughout
the　regions　of　Judea　and　Samaria。〃　Saul　〃made　havoc　of　the　church；　entering
into　every　house；　and　haling　men　and　women　committed　them　to　prison。〃　Of　his
zeal　in　this　cruel　work　he　said　at　a　later　date：　〃I　verily　thought　with
myself；　that　I　ought　to　do　many　things　contrary　to　the　name　of　Jesus　of
Nazareth。　Which　thing　I　also　did　in　Jerusalem：　and　many　of　the　saints　did　I
shut　up　in　prison。　。　。　。　And　I　punished　them　oft　in　every　synagogue；　and
compelled　them　to　blaspheme；　and　being　exceedingly　mad　against　them；　I
persecuted　them　even　unto　strange　cities。〃　That　Stephen　was　not　the　only　one
who　suffered　death　may　be　seen　from　Saul's　own　words；　〃And　when　they　were
put　to　death；　I　gave　my　voice　against　them。〃　Acts　26：9…11。

104


At　this　time　of　peril　Nicodemus　came　forward　in　fearless　avowal　of　his　faith
in　the　crucified　Saviour。　Nicodemus　was　a　member　of　the　Sanhedrin　and　with
others　had　been　stirred　by　the　teaching　of　Jesus。　As　he　had　witnessed
Christ's　wonderful　works；　the　conviction　had　fastened　itself　upon　his　mind
that　this　was　the　Sent　of　God。　Too　proud　openly　to　acknowledge　himself　in
sympathy　with　the　Galilean　Teacher；　he　had　sought　a　secret　interview。　In
this　interview　Jesus　had　unfolded　to　him　the　plan　of　salvation　and　His
mission　to　the　world；　yet　still　Nicodemus　had　hesitated。　He　hid　the　truth　in
his　heart；　and　for　three　years　there　was　little　apparent　fruit。　But　while
Nicodemus　had　not　publicly　acknowledged　Christ；　he　had　in　the　Sanhedrin
council　repeatedly　thwarted　the　schemes　of　the　priests　to　destroy　Him。　When
at　last　Christ　had　been　lifted　up　on　the　cross；　Nicodemus　remembered　the
words　that　He　had　spoken　to　him　in　the　night　interview　on　the　Mount　of
Olives；　〃As　Moses　lifted　up　the　serpent　in　the　wilderness；　even　so　must　the
Son　of　man　be　lifted　up〃　（John　3：14）；　and　he　saw　in　Jesus　the　world's
Redeemer。

With　Joseph　of　Arimathea；　Nicodemus　had　borne　the　expense　of　the　burial　of
Jesus。　The　disciples　had　been　afraid　to　show　themselves　openly　as　Christ's
followers；　but　Nicodemus　and　Joseph　had　come　boldly　to　their　aid。　The　help
of　these　rich　and　honored　men　was　greatly　needed　in　that　hour　of　darkness。
They　had　been　able　to　do　for　their　dead　Master　what　it　would　have　been
impossible　for　the　poor　disciples　to　do；　and　their　wealth　and　influence　had
protected　them；　in　a　great　measure；　from　the　malice　of　the　priests　and
rulers。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　105


Now；　when　the　Jews　were　trying　to　destroy　the　infant　church；　Nicodemus　came
forward　in　its　defense。　No　longer　cautious　and　questioning；　he　encouraged
the　faith　of　the　disciples　and　used　his　wealth　in　helping　to　sustain　the
church　at　Jerusalem　and　in　advancing　the　work　of　the　gospel。　Those　who　in
other　days　had　paid　him　reverence；　now　scorned　and　persecuted　him；　and　he
became　poor　in　this　world's　goods；　yet　he　faltered　not　in　the　defense　of　his
faith。

The　persecution　that　came　upon　the　church　in　Jerusalem　resulted　in　giving　a
great　impetus　to　the　work　of　the　gospel。　Success　had　attended　the　ministry
of　the　word　in　that　place；　and　there　was　danger　that　the　disciples　would
linger　there　too　long；　unmindful　of　the　Saviour's　commission　to　go　to　all
the　world。　Forgetting　that　strength　to　resist　evil　is　best　gained　by
aggressive　service；　they　began　to　think　that　they　had　no　work　so　important
as　that　of　shielding　the　church　in　Jerusalem　from　the　attacks　of　the　enemy。
Instead　of　educating　the　new　converts　to　carry　the　gospel　to　those　who　had
not　heard　it；　they　were　in　danger　of　taking　a　course　that　would　lead　all　to
be　satisfied　with　what　had　been　accomplished。　To　scatter　His　representatives
abroad；　where　they　could　work　for　others；　God　permitted　persecution　to　come
upon　them。　Driven　from　Jerusalem；　the　believers　〃went　everywhere　preaching
the　word。〃

Among　those　to　whom　the　Saviour　had　given　the　commission；　〃Go　ye　therefore；
and　teach　all　nations〃　（Matthew　28：19）；　were　many　from　the　humbler　walks　of
lifemen　and　women　who　had　learned　to　love　their　Lord　and　who　had
determined　to　follow　His　example　of　unselfish　service。

106

To　these　lowly　ones；　as　well　as　to　the　disciples　who　had　been　with　the
Saviour　during　His　earthly　ministry；　had　been　given　a　precious　trust。　They
were　to　carry　to　the　world　the　glad　tidings　of　salvation　through　Christ。

When　they　were　scattered　by　persecution　they　went　forth　filled　with
missionary　zeal。　They　realized　the　responsibility　of　their　mission。　They
knew　that　they　held　in　their　hands　the　bread　of　life　for　a　famishing　world；
and　they　were　constrained　by　the　love　of　Christ　to　break　this　bread　to　all
who　were　in　need。　The　Lord　wrought　through　them。　Wherever　they　went；　the
sick　were　healed　and　the　poor　had　the　gospel　preached　unto　them。

Philip；　one　of　the　seven　deacons；　was　among　those　driven　from　Jerusalem。　He
〃went　down　to　the　city　of　Samaria；　and　preached　Christ　unto　them。　And　the
people　with　one　accord　gave　heed　unto　those　things　which　Philip　spake；
hearing　and　seeing　the　miracles　while　he　did。　For　unclean　spirits　。　。　。　came
out　of　many　that　were　possessed　with　them：　and　many　taken　with　palsies；　and
that　were　lame；　were　healed。　And　there　was　great　joy　in　that　city。〃

Christ's　message　to　the　Samaritan　woman　with　whom　He　had　talked　at　Jacob's
well　had　borne　fruit。　After　listening　to　His　words；　the　woman　had　gone　to
the　men　of　the　city；　saying；　〃Come；　see　a　man；　which　told　me　all　things　that
ever　I　did：　is　not　this　the　Christ？　They　went　with　her；　heard　Jesus；　and
believed　on　Him。　Anxious　to　hear　more；　they　begged　Him　to　remain。　For　two
days　He　stayed　with　them；　〃and　many　more　believed　because　of　His　own　word。〃
John　4：29；　41。

And　when　His　disciples　were　driven　from　Jerusalem；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　107

some　found　in　Samaria　a　safe　asylum。　The　Samaritans　welcomed　these
messengers　of　the　gospel；　and　the　Jewish　converts　gathered　a　precious
harvest　from　among　those　who　had　once　been　their　bitterest　enemies。

Philip's　work　in　Samaria　was　marked　with　great　success；　and；　thus
encouraged；　he　sent　to　Jerusalem　for　help。　The　apostles　now　perceived　more
fully　the　meaning　of　the　words　of　Christ；　〃Ye　shall　be　witnesses　unto　Me
both　in　Jerusalem；　and　in　all　Judea；　and　in　Samaria；　and　unto　the　uttermost
part　of　the　earth。〃　Acts　1：8。

While　Philip　was　still　in　Samaria；　he　was　directed　by　a　heavenly　messenger
to　〃go　toward　the　south　unto　the　way　that　goeth　down　from　Jerusalem　unto
Gaza。　。　。　。　And　he　arose　and　went。〃　He　did　not　question　the　call；　nor　did　he
hesitate　to　obey；　for　he　had　learned　the　lesson　of　conformity　to　God's　will。

〃And；　behold；　a　man　of　Ethiopia；　a　eunuch　of　great　authority　under　Candace
queen　of　the　Ethiopians；　who　had　the　charge　of　all　her　treasure；　and　had
come　to　Jerusalem　for　to　worship；　was　returning；　and　sitting　in　his　chariot
read　Esaias　the　prophet。〃　This　Ethiopian　was　a　man　of　good　standing　and　of
wide　influence。　God　saw　that　when　converted　he　would　give　others　the　light
he　had　received　and　would　exert　a　strong　influence　in　favor　of　the　gospel。
Angels　of　God　were　attending　this　seeker　for　light；　and　he　was　being　drawn
to　the　Saviour。　By　the　ministration　of　the　Holy　Spirit　the　Lord　brought　him
into　touch　with　one　who　could　lead　him　to　the　light。

Philip　was　directed　to　go　to　the　Ethiopian　and　explain　to　him　the　prophecy
that　he　was　reading。　〃Go　near；〃　the

108

Spirit　said；　〃and　join　thyself　to　this　chariot。〃　As　Philip　drew　near；　he
asked　the　eunuch；　〃Understandest　thou　what　thou　readest？　And　he　said；　How
can　I；　except　some　man　should　guide　me？　And　he　desired　Philip　that　he　would
come　up　and　sit　with　him。〃　The　scripture　that　he　was　reading　was　the
prophecy　of　Isaiah　relating　to　Christ：　〃He　was　led　as　a　sheep　to　the
slaughter；　and　like　a　lamb　dumb　before　his　shearer；　so　opened　He　not　His
mouth：　in　His　humiliation　His　judgment　was　taken　away：　and　who　shall　declare
His　generation？　for　His　life　is　taken　from　the　earth。〃

〃Of　whom　speaketh　the　prophet　this？〃　the　eunuch　asked；　〃of　himself；　or　of
some　other　man？〃　Then　Philip　opened　to　him　the　great　truth　of　redemption。
Beginning　at　the　same　scripture；　he　〃preached　unto　him　Jesus。〃

The　man's　heart　thrilled　with　interest　as　the　Scriptures　were　explained　to
him；　and　when　the　disciple　had　finished；　he　was　ready　to　accept　the　light
given。　He　did　not　make　his　high　worldly　position　an　excuse　for　refusing　the
gospel。　〃As　they　went　on　their　way；　they　came　unto　a　certain　water：　and　the
eunuch　said；　See；　here　is　water；　what　doth　hinder　me　to　be　baptized？　And
Philip　said；　If　thou　believest　with　all　thine　heart；　thou　mayest。　And　he
answered　and　said；　I　believe　that　Jesus　Christ　is　the　Son　of　God。　And　he
commanded　the　chariot　to　stand　still：　and　they　went　down　both　into　the
water；　both　Philip　and　the　eunuch；　and　he　baptized　him。

〃And　when　they　were　come　up　out　of　the　water；　the　Spirit　of　the　Lord　caught
away　Philip；　that　the　eunuch　saw　him　no　more：　and　he　went　on　his　way
rejoicing。　But　Philip

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　109

was　found　at　Azotus：　and　passing　through　he　preached　in　all　the　cities；　till
he　came　to　Caesarea。〃

This　Ethiopian　represented　a　large　class　who　need　to　be　taught　by　such
missionaries　as　Philipmen　who　will　hear　the　voice　of　God　and　go　where　He
sends　them。　There　are　many　who　are　reading　the　Scriptures　who　cannot
understand　their　true　import。　All　over　the　world　men　and　women　are　looking
wistfully　to　heaven。　Prayers　and　tears　and　inquiries　go　up　from　souls
longing　for　light；　for　grace；　for　the　Holy　Spirit。　Many　are　on　the　verge　of
the　kingdom；　waiting　only　to　be　gathered　in。

An　angel　guided　Philip　to　the　one　who　was　seeking　for　light　and　who　was
ready　to　receive　the　gospel；　and　today　angels　will　guide　the　footsteps　of
those　workers　who　will　allow　the　Holy　Spirit　to　sanctify　their　tongues　and
refine　and　ennoble　their　hearts。　The　angel　sent　to　Philip　could　himself　have
done　the　work　for　the　E