the acts of the apostles-第43部分

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grieved　because　of　the　dissension　in　the　church　at　Corinth；　he　took　no
advantage　of　the　preference　shown　to　himself；　nor　did　he　encourage　it；　but
hastily　left　the　field　of　strife。　When　Paul　afterward　urged　him　to　revisit
Corinth；　he　declined　and　did　not　again　labor　there　until　long　afterward　when
the　church　had　reached　a　better　spiritual　state。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　27

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Ephesus


While　Apollos　was　preaching　at　Corinth；　Paul　fulfilled　his　promise　to　return
to　Ephesus。　He　had　made　a　brief　visit　to　Jerusalem　and　had　spent　some　time
at　Antioch；　the　scene　of　his　early　labors。　Thence　he　traveled　through　Asia
Minor；　〃over　all　the　country　of　Galatia　and　Phrygia〃　（Acts　18：23）；　visiting
the　churches　which　he　himself　had　established；　and　strengthening　the　faith
of　the　believers。

In　the　time　of　the　apostles　the　western　portion　of　Asia　Minor　was　known　as
the　Roman　province　of　Asia。　Ephesus；　the　capital；　was　a　great　commercial
center。　Its　harbor　was　crowded　with　shipping；　and　its　streets　were　thronged
with　people　from　every　country。　Like　Corinth；　it　presented　a　promising　field
for　missionary　effort。

The　Jews；　now　widely　dispersed　in　all　civilized　lands；　were　generally
expecting　the　advent　of　the　Messiah。　When　John

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the　Baptist　was　preaching；　many；　in　their　visits　to　Jerusalem　at　the　annual
feasts；　had　gone　out　to　the　banks　of　the　Jordan　to　listen　to　him。　There　they
had　heard　Jesus　proclaimed　as　the　Promised　One；　and　they　had　carried　the
tidings　to　all　parts　of　the　world。　Thus　had　Providence　prepared　the　way　for
the　labors　of　the　apostles。

On　his　arrival　at　Ephesus；　Paul　found　twelve　brethren；　who；　like　Apollos；
had　been　disciples　of　John　the　Baptist；　and　like　him　had　gained　some
knowledge　of　the　mission　of　Christ。　They　had　not　the　ability　of　Apollos；　but
with　the　same　sincerity　and　faith　they　were　seeking　to　spread　abroad　the
knowledge　they　had　received。

These　brethren　knew　nothing　of　the　mission　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　When　asked　by
Paul　if　they　had　received　the　Holy　Ghost；　they　answered；　〃We　have　not　so
much　as　heard　whether　there　be　any　Holy　Ghost。〃　〃Unto　what　then　were　ye
baptized？〃　Paul　inquired；　and　they　said；　〃Unto　John's　baptism。〃

Then　the　apostle　set　before　them　the　great　truths　that　are　the　foundation　of
the　Christian's　hope。　He　told　them　of　Christ's　life　on　this　earth　and　of　His
cruel　death　of　shame。　He　told　them　how　the　Lord　of　life　had　broken　the
barriers　of　the　tomb　and　risen　triumphant　over　death。　He　repeated　the
Saviour's　commission　to　His　disciples：　〃All　power　is　given　unto　Me　in　heaven
and　in　earth。　Go　ye　therefore；　and　teach　all　nations；　baptizing　them　in　the
name　of　the　Father；　and　of　the　Son；　and　of　the　Holy　Ghost。〃　Matthew　28：18；
19。　He　told　them　also　of　Christ's　promise　to　send　the　Comforter；　through
whose　power　mighty　signs　and

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wonders　would　be　wrought；　and　he　described　how　gloriously　this　promise　had
been　fulfilled　on　the　Day　of　Pentecost。

With　deep　interest　and　grateful；　wondering　joy　the　brethren　listened　to
Paul's　words。　By　faith　they　grasped　the　wonderful　truth　of　Christ's　atoning
sacrifice　and　received　Him　as　their　Redeemer。　They　were　then　baptized　in　the
name　of　Jesus；　and　as　Paul　〃laid　his　hands　upon　them；〃　they　received　also
the　baptism　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　by　which　they　were　enabled　to　speak　the
languages　of　other　nations　and　to　prophesy。　Thus　they　were　qualified　to
labor　as　missionaries　in　Ephesus　and　its　vicinity　and　also　to　go　forth　to
proclaim　the　gospel　in　Asia　Minor。

It　was　by　cherishing　a　humble；　teachable　spirit　that　these　men　gained　the
experience　that　enabled　them　to　go　out　as　workers　into　the　harvest　field。
Their　example　presents　to　Christians　a　lesson　of　great　value。　There　are　many
who　make　but　little　progress　in　the　divine　life　because　they　are　too
self…sufficient　to　occupy　the　position　of　learners。　They　are　content　with　a
superficial　knowledge　of　God's　word。　They　do　not　wish　to　change　their　faith
or　practice　and　hence　make　no　effort　to　obtain　greater　light。

If　the　followers　of　Christ　were　but　earnest　seekers　after　wisdom；　they　would
be　led　into　rich　fields　of　truth　as　yet　wholly　unknown　to　them。　He　who　will
give　himself　fully　to　God　will　be　guided　by　the　divine　hand。　He　may　be　lowly
and　apparently　ungifted；　yet　if　with　a　loving；　trusting　heart　he　obeys　every
intimation　of　God's　will；　his　powers　will　be　purified；　ennobled；　energized；
and　his　capabilities　will　be　increased。　As　he　treasures　the　lessons　of
divine　wisdom；　a

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sacred　commission　will　be　entrusted　to　him；　he　will　be　enabled　to　make　his
life　an　honor　to　God　and　a　blessing　to　the　world。　〃The　entrance　of　Thy　words
giveth　light；　it　giveth　understanding　unto　the　simple。〃　Psalm　119：130。

There　are　today　many　as　ignorant　of　the　Holy　Spirit's　work　upon　the　heart　as
were　those　believers　in　Ephesus；　yet　no　truth　is　more　clearly　taught　in　the
word　of　God。　Prophets　and　apostles　have　dwelt　upon　this　theme。　Christ
Himself　calls　our　attention　to　the　growth　of　the　vegetable　world　as　an
illustration　of　the　agency　of　His　Spirit　in　sustaining　spiritual　life。　The
sap　of　the　vine；　ascending　from　the　root；　is　diffused　to　the　branches；
sustaining　growth　and　producing　blossoms　and　fruit。　So　the　life…giving　power
of　the　Holy　Spirit；　proceeding　from　the　Saviour；　pervades　the　soul；　renews
the　motives　and　affections；　and　brings　even　the　thoughts　into　obedience　to
the　will　of　God；　enabling　the　receiver　to　bear　the　precious　fruit　of　holy
deeds。

The　Author　of　this　spiritual　life　is　unseen；　and　the　exact　method　by　which
that　life　is　imparted　and　sustained；　it　is　beyond　the　power　of　human
philosophy　to　explain。　Yet　the　operations　of　the　Spirit　are　always　in
harmony　with　the　written　word。　As　in　the　natural；　so　in　the　spiritual　world。
The　natural　life　is　preserved　moment　by　moment　by　divine　power；　yet　it　is
not　sustained　by　a　direct　miracle；　but　through　the　use　of　blessings　placed
within　our　reach。　So　the　spiritual　life　is　sustained　by　the　use　of　those
means　that　Providence　has　supplied。　If　the　follower　of　Christ　would　grow　up
〃unto　a　perfect　man；　unto　the　measure　of　the　stature　of　the

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fullness　of　Christ〃　（Ephesians　4：13）；　he　must　eat　of　the　bread　of　life　and
drink　of　the　water　of　salvation。　He　must　watch　and　pray　and　work；　in　all
things　giving　heed　to　the　instructions　of　God　in　His　word。

There　is　still　another　lesson　for　us　in　the　experience　of　those　Jewish
converts。　When　they　received　baptism　at　the　hand　of　John　they　did　not　fully
comprehend　the　mission　of　Jesus　as　the　Sin　Bearer。　They　were　holding　serious
errors。　But　with　clearer　light；　they　gladly　accepted　Christ　as　their
Redeemer；　and　with　this　step　of　advance　came　a　change　in　their　obligations。
As　they　received　a　purer　faith；　there　was　a　corresponding　change　in　their
life。　In　token　of　this　change；　and　as　an　acknowledgment　of　their　faith　in
Christ；　they　were　rebaptized　in　the　name　of　Jesus。

As　was　his　custom；　Paul　had　begun　his　work　at　Ephesus　by　preaching　in　the
synagogue　of　the　Jews。　He　continued　to　labor　there　for　three　months；
〃disputing　and　persuading　the　things　concerning　the　kingdom　of　God。〃　At
first　he　met　with　a　favorable　reception；　but　as　in　other　fields；　he　was　soon
violently　opposed。　〃Divers　were　hardened；　and　believed　not；　but　spake　evil
of　that　way　before　the　multitude。〃　As　they　persisted　in　their　rejection　of
the　gospel；　the　apostle　ceased　to　preach　in　the　synagogue。

The　Spirit　of　God　had　wrought　with　and　through　Paul　in　his　labors　for　his
countrymen。　Sufficient　evidence　had　been　presented　to　convince　all　who
honestly　desired　to　know　the　truth。　But　many　permitted　themselves　to　be
controlled　by　prejudice　and　unbelief；　and　refused　to　yield

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to　the　most　conclusive　evidence。　Fearing　that　the　faith　of　the　believers
would　be　endangered　by　continued　association　with　these　opposers　of　the
truth；　Paul　separated　from　them　and　gathered　the　disciples　into　a　distinct
body；　continuing　his　public　instructions　in　the　school　of　Tyrannus；　a
teacher　of　some　note。

Paul　saw　that　〃a　great　door　and　effectual〃　was　opening　before　him；　although
there　were　〃many　adversaries。〃
1　Corinthians　16：9。　Ephesus　was　not　only　the　most
magnificent；　but　the　most　corrupt；　of　the　cities　of　Asia。　Superstition　and
sensual　pleasure　held　sway　over　her　teeming　population。　Under　the　shadow　of
her　temples；　criminals　of　every　grade　found　shelter；　and　the　most　degrading
vices　flourished。

Ephesus　was　a　popular　center　for　the　worship　of　Diana。　The　fame　of　the
magnificent　temple　of　〃Diana　of　the　Ephesians〃　extended　throughout　all　Asia
and　the　world。　Its　surpassing　splendor　made　it　the　pride；　not　only　of　the
city；　but　of　the　nation。　The　idol　within　the　temple　was　declared　by
tradition　to　have　fallen　from　the　sky。　Upon　it　were　inscribed　symbolic
characters；　which　were　believed　to　possess　great　power。　Books　had　been
written　by　the　Ephesians　to　explain　the　meaning　and　use　of　these　symbols。

Among　those　who　gave　close　study　to　these　costly　books　were　many　magicians；
who　wielded　a　powerful　influence　over　the　minds　of　the　superstitious
worshipers　of　the　image　within　the　temple。

The　apostle　Paul；　in　his　labors　at　Ephesus；　was　given　special　tokens　of
divine　favor。　The　power　of　God　accompanied　his　efforts；　and　many　were　healed
of　physical

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maladies。　〃God　wrought　special　miracles　by　the　hands　of　Paul：　so　that　from
his　body　were　brought　unto　the　sick　handkerchiefs　or　aprons；　and　the
diseases　departed　from　them；　and　the　evil　spirits　went　out　of　them。〃　These
manifestations　of　supernatural　power　were　far　more　potent　than　had　ever
before　been　witnessed　in　Ephesus；　and　were　of　such　a　character　that　they
could　not　be　imitated　by　the　skill　of　the　juggler　or　the　enchantments　of　the
sorcerer。　As　these　miracles　were　wrought　in　the　name　of　Jesus　of　Nazareth；
the　people　had　opportunity　to　see　that　the　God　of　heaven　was　more　powerful
t