the acts of the apostles-第25部分

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the　work　of　God。

To　the　Jew　this　form　was　a　significant　one。　When　a　Jewish　father　blessed　his
children；　he　laid　his　hands　reverently　upon　their　heads。　When　an　animal　was
devoted　to　sacrifice；　the　hand　of　the　one　invested　with　priestly　authority
was　laid　upon　the　head　of　the　victim。　And　when　the　ministers　of　the　church
of　believers　in　Antioch　laid　their　hands　upon　Paul　and　Barnabas；　they；　by
that　action；　asked　God　to　bestow　His　blessing　upon　the　chosen　apostles　in
their　devotion　to　the　specific　work　to　which　they　had　been　appointed。

At　a　later　date　the　rite　of　ordination　by　the　laying　on　of　hands　was　greatly
abused；　unwarrantable　importance　was　attached　to　the　act；　as　if　a　power　came
at　once　upon　those　who　received　such　ordination；　which　immediately　qualified
them　for　any　and　all　ministerial　work。　But　in　the　setting　apart　of　these　two
apostles；　there　is　no　record　indicating　that　any　virtue　was　imparted　by　the
mere　act　of　laying　on　of　hands。　There　is　only　the　simple　record　of　their
ordination　and　of　the　bearing　that　it　had　on　their　future　work。

The　circumstances　connected　with　the　separation　of　Paul　and　Barnabas　by　the
Holy　Spirit　to　a　definite　line　of　service　show　clearly　that　the　Lord　works
through　appointed　agencies　in　His　organized　church。　Years　before；　when　the
divine　purpose　concerning　Paul　was　first　revealed　to　him　by　the　Saviour
Himself；　Paul　was　immediately　afterward　brought

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into　contact　with　members　of　the　newly　organized　church　at　Damascus。
Furthermore；　the　church　at　that　place　was　not　long　left　in　darkness　as　to
the　personal　experience　of　the　converted　Pharisee。　And　now；　when　the　divine
commission　given　at　that　time　was　to　be　more　fully　carried　out；　the　Holy
Spirit；　again　bearing　witness　concerning　Paul　as　a　chosen　vessel　to　bear　the
gospel　to　the　Gentiles；　laid　upon　the　church　the　work　of　ordaining　him　and
his　fellow　laborer。　As　the　leaders　of　the　church　in　Antioch　〃ministered　to
the　Lord；　and　fasted；　the　Holy　Ghost　said；　Separate　Me　Barnabas　and　Saul　for
the　work　whereunto　I　have　called　them。〃

God　has　made　His　church　on　the　earth　a　channel　of　light；　and　through　it　He
communicates　His　purposes　and　His　will。　He　does　not　give　to　one　of　His
servants　an　experience　independent　of　and　contrary　to　the　experience　of　the
church　itself。　Neither　does　He　give　one　man　a　knowledge　of　His　will　for　the
entire　church　while　the　churchChrist's　body　is　left　in　darkness。　In　His
providence　He　places　His　servants　in　close　connection　with　His　church　in
order　that　they　may　have　less　confidence　in　themselves　and　greater
confidence　in　others　whom　He　is　leading　out　to　advance　His　work。

There　have　ever　been　in　the　church　those　who　are　constantly　inclined　toward
individual　independence。　They　seem　unable　to　realize　that　independence　of
spirit　is　liable　to　lead　the　human　agent　to　have　too　much　confidence　in
himself　and　to　trust　in　his　own　judgment　rather　than　to　respect　the　counsel
and　highly　esteem　the　judgment　of　his　brethren；

164

especially　of　those　in　the　offices　that　God　has　appointed　for　the　leadership
of　His　people。　God　has　invested　His　church　with　special　authority　and　power
which　no　one　can　be　justified　in　disregarding　and　despising；　for　he　who　does
this　despises　the　voice　of　God。

Those　who　are　inclined　to　regard　their　individual　judgment　as　supreme　are　in
grave　peril。　It　is　Satan's　studied　effort　to　separate　such　ones　from　those
who　are　channels　of　light；　through　whom　God　has　wrought　to　build　up　and
extend　His　work　in　the　earth。　To　neglect　or　despise　those　whom　God　has
appointed　to　bear　the　responsibilities　of　leadership　in　connection　with　the
advancement　of　the　truth；　is　to　reject　the　means　that　He　has　ordained　for
the　help；　encouragement；　and　strength　of　His　people。　For　any　worker　in　the
Lord's　cause　to　pass　these　by；　and　to　think　that　his　light　must　come　through
no　other　channel　than　directly　from　God；　is　to　place　himself　in　a　position
where　he　is　liable　to　be　deceived　by　the　enemy　and　overthrown。　The　Lord　in
His　wisdom　has　arranged　that　by　means　of　the　close　relationship　that　should
be　maintained　by　all　believers；　Christian　shall　be　united　to　Christian　and
church　to　church。　Thus　the　human　instrumentality　will　be　enabled　to
co…operate　with　the　divine。　Every　agency　will　be　subordinate　to　the　Holy
Spirit；　and　all　the　believers　will　be　united　in　an　organized　and
well…directed　effort　to　give　to　the　world　the　glad　tidings　of　the　grace　of
God。

Paul　regarded　the　occasion　of　his　formal　ordination　as　marking　the　beginning
of　a　new　and　important　epoch　in　his　lifework。　It　was　from　this　time　that　he
afterward

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dated　the　beginning　of　his　apostleship　in　the　Christian　church。

While　the　light　of　the　gospel　was　shining　brightly　at　Antioch；　an　important
work　was　continued　by　the　apostles　who　had　remained　in　Jerusalem。　Every
year；　at　the　time　of　the　festivals；　many　Jews　from　all　lands　came　to
Jerusalem　to　worship　at　the　temple。　Some　of　these　pilgrims　were　men　of
fervent　piety　and　earnest　students　of　the　prophecies。　They　were　looking　and
longing　for　the　advent　of　the　promised　Messiah；　the　hope　of　Israel。　While
Jerusalem　was　filled　with　these　strangers；　the　apostles　preached　Christ　with
unflinching　courage；　though　they　knew　that　in　so　doing　they　were　placing
their　lives　in　constant　jeopardy。　The　Spirit　of　God　set　its　seal　upon　their
labors；　many　converts　to　the　faith　were　made；　and　these；　returning　to　their
homes　in　different　parts　of　the　world；　scattered　the　seeds　of　truth　through
all　nations　and　among　all　classes　of　society。

Prominent　among　the　apostles　who　engaged　in　this　work　were　Peter；　James；　and
John；　who　felt　confident　that　God　had　appointed　them　to　preach　Christ　among
their　countrymen　at　home。　Faithfully　and　wisely　they　labored；　testifying　of
the　things　they　had　seen　and　heard；　and　appealing　to　〃a　more　sure　word　of
prophecy〃　（2　Peter　1：19）；　in　an　effort　to　persuade　〃the　house　of　Israel。　。　。
that　God　hath　made　that　same　Jesus；　whom〃　the　Jews　〃crucified；　both　Lord　and
Christ〃　（Acts　2：36）。




（166）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　17

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Heralds　of　the　Gospel


〃Sent　forth　by　the　Holy　Ghost；〃　Paul　and　Barnabas；　after　their　ordination　by
the　brethren　in　Antioch；　〃departed　unto　Seleucia；　and　from　thence　they
sailed　to　Cyprus。〃　Thus　the　apostles　began　their　first　missionary　journey。

Cyprus　was　one　of　the　places　to　which　the　believers　had　fled　from　Jerusalem
because　of　the　persecution　following　the　death　of　Stephen。　It　was　from
Cyprus　that　certain　men　had　journeyed　to　Antioch；　〃preaching　the　Lord
Jesus。〃　Acts　11：20。　Barnabas　himself　was　〃of　the　country　of　Cyprus〃　（Acts
4：36）；　and　now　he　and　Paul；　accompanied　by　John　Mark；　a　kinsman　of　Barnabas；
visited　this　island　field。

Mark's　mother　was　a　convert　to　the　Christian　religion；　and　her　home　at
Jerusalem　was　an　asylum　for　the　disciples。　There　they　were　always　sure　of　a
welcome　and　a　season　of　rest。　It　was　during　one　of　these　visits　of　the
apostles　to　his

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mother's　home；　that　Mark　proposed　to　Paul　and　Barnabas　that　he　should
accompany　them　on　their　missionary　tour。　He　felt　the　favor　of　God　in　his
heart　and　longed　to　devote　himself　entirely　to　the　work　of　the　gospel
ministry。

Arriving　at　Salamis；　the　apostles　〃preached　the　word　of　God　in　the
synagogues　of　the　Jews。　。　。　。　And　when　they　had　gone　through　the　isle　unto
Paphos；　they　found　a　certain　sorcerer；　a　false　prophet；　a　Jew；　whose　name
was　Bar…Jesus：　which　was　with　the　deputy　of　the　country；　Sergius　Paulus；　a
prudent　man；　who　called　for　Barnabas　and　Saul；　and　desired　to　hear　the　word
of　God。　But　Elymas　the　sorcerer　（for　so　is　his　name　by　interpretation）
withstood　them；　seeking　to　turn　away　the　deputy　from　the　faith。〃

Not　without　a　struggle　does　Satan　allow　the　kingdom　of　God　to　be　built　up　in
the　earth。　The　forces　of　evil　are　engaged　in　unceasing　warfare　against　the
agencies　appointed　for　the　spread　of　the　gospel；　and　these　powers　of
darkness　are　especially　active　when　the　truth　is　proclaimed　before　men　of
repute　and　sterling　integrity。　Thus　it　was　when　Sergius　Paulus；　the　deputy
of　Cyprus；　was　listening　to　the　gospel　message。　The　deputy　had　sent　for　the
apostles；　that　he　might　be　instructed　in　the　message　they　had　come　to　bear；
and　now　the　forces　of　evil；　working　through　the　sorcerer　Elymas；　sought　with
their　baleful　suggestions　to　turn　him　from　the　faith　and　so　thwart　the
purpose　of　God。

Thus　the　fallen　foe　ever　works　to　keep　in　his　ranks　men　of　influence　who；　if
converted；　might　render　effective　service　in　God's　cause。　But　the　faithful
gospel　worker　need　not

168

fear　defeat　at　the　hand　of　the　enemy；　for　it　is　his　privilege　to　be　endued
with　power　from　above　to　withstand　every　satanic　influence。

Although　sorely　beset　by　Satan；　Paul　had　the　courage　to　rebuke　the　one
through　whom　the　enemy　was　working。　〃Filled　with　the　Holy　Ghost；〃　the
apostle　〃set　his　eyes　on　him；　and　said；　O　full　of　all　subtlety　and　all
mischief；　thou　child　of　the　devil；　thou　enemy　of　all　righteousness；　wilt
thou　not　cease　to　pervert　the　right　ways　of　the　Lord？　And　now；　behold；　the
hand　of　the　Lord　is　upon　thee；　and　thou　shalt　be　blind；　not　seeing　the　sun
for　a　season。　And　immediately　there　fell　on　him　a　mist　and　a　darkness；　and
he　went　about　seeking　some　to　lead　him　by　the　hand。　Then　the　deputy；　when　he
saw　what　was　done；　believed；　being　astonished　at　the　doctrine　of　the　Lord。〃

The　sorcerer　had　closed　his　eyes　to　the　evidences　of　gospel　truth；　and　the
Lord；　in　righteous　anger；　caused　his　natural　eyes　to　be　closed；　shutting　out
from　him　the　light　of　day。　This　blindness　was　not　permanent；　but　only　for　a
season；　that　he　might　be　warned　to　repent　and　seek　pardon　of　the　God　whom　he
had　so　grievously　offended。　The　confusion　into　which　he　was　thus　brought
made　of　no　effect　his　subtle　arts　against　the　doctrine　of　Christ。　The　fact
that　he　was　obliged　to　grope　about　in　blindness　proved　to　all　that　the
miracles　which　the　apostles　had　performed；　and　which　Elyma