the acts of the apostles-第33部分

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moans；　cursing　and　swearing；　breaking　the　silence　of　the　night；　but　never
before　had　they　heard　words　of　prayer　and　praise　ascending　from　that　gloomy
cell。　Guards　and　prisoners　marveled　and　asked　themselves　who　these　men　could
be；　who；　cold；　hungry；　and　tortured；　could　yet　rejoice。

Meanwhile　the　magistrates　returned　to　their　homes；　congratulating　themselves
that　by　prompt　and　decisive　measures　they　had　quelled　a　tumult。　But　on　the
way　they　heard　further　particulars　concerning　the　character　and　work　of　the
men　they　had　sentenced　to　scourging　and　imprisonment。　They　saw　the　woman　who
had　been　freed　from　satanic　influence　and　were　struck　by　the　change　in　her
countenance　and　demeanor。　In　the　past　she　had　caused　the　city　much　trouble；
now　she　was　quiet　and　peaceable。　As　they　realized　that　in　all　probability
they　had　visited　upon　two　innocent　men　the　rigorous　penalty　of　the　Roman　law
they　were　indignant　with　themselves　and　decided　that　in　the　morning　they
would　command　that　the　apostles　be　privately　released　and

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escorted　from　the　city；　beyond　the　danger　of　violence　from　the　mob。

But　while　men　were　cruel　and　vindictive；　or　criminally　negligent　of　the
solemn　responsibilities　devolving　upon　them；　God　had　not　forgotten　to　be
gracious　to　His　servants。　All　heaven　was　interested　in　the　men　who　were
suffering　for　Christ's　sake；　and　angels　were　sent　to　visit　the　prison。　At
their　tread　the　earth　trembled。　The　heavily　bolted　prison　doors　were　thrown
open；　the　chains　and　fetters　fell　from　the　hands　and　feet　of　the　prisoners；
and　a　bright　light　flooded　the　prison。

The　keeper　of　the　jail　had　heard　with　amazement　the　prayers　and　songs　of　the
imprisoned　apostles。　When　they　were　led　in；　he　had　seen　their　swollen　and
bleeding　wounds；　and　had　himself　caused　their　feet　to　be　fastened　in　the
stocks。　He　had　expected　to　hear　from　them　bitter　groans　and　imprecations；
but　he　heard　instead　songs　of　joy　and　praise。　With　these　sounds　in　his　ears
the　jailer　had　fallen　into　a　sleep　from　which　he　was　awakened　by　the
earthquake　and　the　shaking　of　the　prison　walls。

Starting　up　in　alarm；　he　saw　with　dismay　that　all　the　prison　doors　were
open；　and　the　fear　flashed　upon　him　that　the　prisoners　had　escaped。　He
remembered　with　what　explicit　charge　Paul　and　Silas　had　been　entrusted　to
his　care　the　night　before；　and　he　was　certain　that　death　would　be　the
penalty　of　his　apparent　unfaithfulness。　In　the　bitterness　of　his　spirit　he
felt　that　it　was　better　for　him　to　die　by　his　own　hand　than　to　submit　to　a
disgraceful　execution。　Drawing　his　sword；　he　was　about　to　kill　himself；　when
Paul's

216

voice　was　heard　in　the　words　of　cheer；　〃Do　thyself　no　harm：　for　we　are　all
here。〃　Every　man　was　in　his　place；　restrained　by　the　power　of　God　exerted
through　one　fellow　prisoner。

The　severity　with　which　the　jailer　had　treated　the　apostles　had　not　aroused
their　resentment。　Paul　and　Silas　had　the　spirit　of　Christ；　not　the　spirit　of
revenge。　Their　hearts；　filled　with　the　love　of　the　Saviour；　had　no　room　for
malice　against　their　persecutors。

The　jailer　dropped　his　sword　and；　calling　for　lights；　hastened　into　the
inner　dungeon。　He　would　see　what　manner　of　men　these　were　who　repaid　with
kindness　the　cruelty　with　which　they　had　been　treated。　Reaching　the　place
where　the　apostles　were；　and　casting　himself　before　them；　he　asked　their
forgiveness。　Then；　bringing　them　out　into　the　open　court；　he　inquired；
〃Sirs；　what　must　I　do　to　be　saved？〃

The　jailer　had　trembled　as　he　beheld　the　wrath　of　God　manifested　in　the
earthquake；　when　he　thought　that　the　prisoners　had　escaped　he　had　been　ready
to　die　by　his　own　hand；　but　now　all　these　things　seemed　of　little
consequence　compared　with　the　new；　strange　dread　that　agitated　his　mind；　and
his　desire　to　possess　the　tranquillity　and　cheerfulness　shown　by　the
apostles　under　suffering　and　abuse。　He　saw　in　their　countenances　the　light
of　heaven；　he　knew　that　God　had　interposed　in　a　miraculous　manner　to　save
their　lives；　and　with　peculiar　force　the　words　of　the　spirit…possessed　woman
came　to　his　mind：　〃These　men　are　the　servants　of　the　most　high　God；　which
show　unto　us　the　way　of　salvation。

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With　deep　humility　he　asked　the　apostles　to　show　him　the　way　of　life。
〃Believe　on　the　Lord　Jesus　Christ；　and　thou　shalt　be　saved；　and　thy　house；〃
they　answered；　and　〃they　spake　unto　him　the　word　of　the　Lord；　and　to　all
that　were　in　his　house。〃　The　jailer　then　washed　the　wounds　of　the　apostles
and　ministered　to　them；　after　which　he　was　baptized　by　them；　with　all　his
household。　A　sanctifying　influence　diffused　itself　among　the　inmates　of　the
prison；　and　the　minds　of　all　were　opened　to　listen　to　the　truths　spoken　by
the　apostles。　They　were　convinced　that　the　God　whom　these　men　served　had
miraculously　released　them　from　bondage。

The　citizens　of　Philippi　had　been　greatly　terrified　by　the　earthquake；　and
when　in　the　morning　the　officers　of　the　prison　told　the　magistrates　of　what
had　occurred　during　the　night；　they　were　alarmed　and　sent　the　sergeants　to
liberate　the　apostles。　But　Paul　declared；　〃They　have　beaten　us　openly
uncondemned；　being　Romans；　and　have　cast　us　into　prison；　and　now　do　they
thrust　us　out　privily？　nay　verily；　but　let　them　come　themselves　and　fetch　us
out。〃

The　apostles　were　Roman　citizens；　and　it　was　unlawful　to　scourge　a　Roman；
save　for　the　most　flagrant　crime；　or　to　deprive　him　of　his　liberty　without　a
fair　trial。　Paul　and　Silas　had　been　publicly　imprisoned；　and　they　now
refused　to　be　privately　released　without　the　proper　explanation　on　the　part
of　the　magistrates。

When　this　word　was　brought　to　the　authorities；　they　were　alarmed　for　fear
that　the　apostles　would　complain　to　the　emperor；　and　going　at　once　to　the
prison；　they　apologized

218

to　Paul　and　Silas　for　the　injustice　and　cruelty　done　them　and　personally
conducted　them　out　of　the　prison；　entreating　them　to　depart　from　the　city。
The　magistrates　feared　the　apostles'　influence　over　the　people；　and　they
also　feared　the　Power　that　had　interposed　in　behalf　of　these　innocent　men。

Acting　upon　the　instruction　given　by　Christ；　the　apostles　would　not　urge
their　presence　where　it　was　not　desired。　〃They　went　out　of　the　prison；　and
entered　into　the　house　of　Lydia：　and　when　they　had　seen　the　brethren；　they
comforted　them；　and　departed。〃

The　apostles　did　not　regard　as　in　vain　their　labors　in　Philippi。　They　had
met　much　opposition　and　persecution；　but　the　intervention　of　Providence　in
their　behalf；　and　the　conversion　of　the　jailer　and　his　household；　more　than
atoned　for　the　disgrace　and　suffering　they　had　endured。　The　news　of　their
unjust　imprisonment　and　miraculous　deliverance　became　known　through　all　that
region；　and　this　brought　the　work　of　the　apostles　to　the　notice　of　a　large
number　who　otherwise　would　not　have　been　reached。

Paul's　labors　at　Philippi　resulted　in　the　establishment　of　a　church　whose
membership　steadily　increased。　His　zeal　and　devotion；　and；　above　all；　his
willingness　to　suffer　for　Christ's　sake；　exerted　a　deep　and　lasting
influence　upon　the　converts。　They　prized　the　precious　truths　for　which　the
apostles　had　sacrificed　so　much；　and　gave　themselves　with　wholehearted
devotion　to　the　cause　of　their　Redeemer。

That　this　church　did　not　escape　persecution　is　shown　by　an　expression　in
Paul's　letter　to　them。　He　says；　〃Unto　you

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it　is　given　in　the　behalf　of　Christ；　not　only　to　believe　on　Him；　but　also　to
suffer　for　His　sake；　having　the　same　conflict　which　ye　saw　in　me。〃　Yet　such
was　their　steadfastness　in　the　faith　that　he　declares；　〃I　thank　my　God　upon
every　remembrance　of　you；　always　in　every　prayer　of　mine　for　you　all　making
request　with　joy；　for　your　fellowship　in　the　gospel　from　the　first　day　until
now。〃　Philippians　1：29；
30；　3…5。

Terrible　is　the　struggle　that　takes　place　between　the　forces　of　good　and　of
evil　in　important　centers　where　the　messengers　of　truth　are　called　upon　to
labor。　〃We　wrestle　not　against　flesh　and　blood；〃　declares　Paul；　〃but　against
principalities；　against　powers；　against　the　rulers　of　the　darkness　of　this
world。〃　Ephesians　6：12。　Till　the　close　of　time　there　will　be　a　conflict
between　the　church　of　God　and　those　who　are　under　the　control　of　evil
angels。

The　early　Christians　were　often　called　to　meet　the　powers　of　darkness　face
to　face。　By　sophistry　and　by　persecution　the　enemy　endeavored　to　turn　them
from　the　true　faith。　At　the　present　time；　when　the　end　of　all　things　earthly
is　rapidly　approaching；　Satan　is　putting　forth　desperate　efforts　to　ensnare
the　world。　He　is　devising　many　plans　to　occupy　minds　and　to　divert　attention
from　the　truths　essential　to　salvation。　In　every　city　his　agencies　are
busily　organizing　into　parties　those　who　are　opposed　to　the　law　of　God。　The
archdeceiver　is　at　work　to　introduce　elements　of　confusion　and　rebellion；
and　men　are　being　fired　with　a　zeal　that　is　not　according　to　knowledge。

220


Wickedness　is　reaching　a　height　never　before　attained；　and　yet　many
ministers　of　the　gospel　are　crying；　〃Peace　and　safety。〃　But　God's　faithful
messengers　are　to　go　steadily　forward　with　their　work。　Clothed　with　the
panoply　of　heaven；　they　are　to　advance　fearlessly　and　victoriously；　never
ceasing　their　warfare　until　every　soul　within　their　reach　shall　have
received　the　message　of　truth　for　this　time。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　22

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Thessalonica


After　leaving　Philippi；　Paul　and　Silas　made　their　way　to　Thessalonica。　Here
they　were　given　the　privilege　of　addressing　large　congregations　in　the
Jewish　synagogue。　Their　appearance　bore　evidence　of　the　shameful　treatment
they　had　recently　received；　and　necessitated　an　explanation　of　what　had
taken　place。　This　they　made　without　exalting　themselves；　but　magnified　the
One　who　had　wrought　their　deliverance。

In　preaching　to　the　Thessalonians；　Paul　appealed　to　the　Old　Testament
prophecies　concerning　the　Messi