the acts of the apostles-第69部分

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In　the　providence　of　God　this　delay　resulted　in　the　furtherance　of　the
gospel。　Through　the　favor　of　those　who　had　Paul　in　charge；　he　was　permitted
to　dwell　in　a　commodious　house；　where　he　could　meet　freely　with　his　friends
and　also　present　the　truth　daily　to　those　who　came　to　hear。　Thus　for　two
years　he　continued　his　labors；　〃preaching　the　kingdom　of　God；　and　teaching
those　things　which　concern　the　Lord　Jesus　Christ；　will　all　confidence；　no
man　forbidding　him。〃

During　this　time　the　churches　that　he　had　established　in　many　lands　were　not
forgotten。　Realizing　the　dangers　that　threatened　the　converts　to　the　new
faith；　the　apostle　sought　so　far　as　possible　to　meet　their　needs　by　letters
of　warning　and　practical　instruction。　And　from　Rome　he

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sent　out　consecrated　workers　to　labor　not　only　for　these　churches；　but　in
fields　that　he　himself　had　not　visited。　These　workers；　as　wise　shepherds；
strengthened　the　work　so　well　begun　by　Paul；　and　the　apostle；　kept　informed
of　the　condition　and　dangers　of　the　churches　by　constant　communication　with
them；　was　enabled　to　exercise　a　wise　supervision　over　all。

Thus；　while　apparently　cut　off　from　active　labor；　Paul　exerted　a　wider　and
more　lasting　influence　than　if　he　had　been　free　to　travel　among　the　churches
as　in　former　years。　As　a　prisoner　of　the　Lord；　he　had　a　firmer　hold　upon　the
affections　of　his　brethren；　and　his　words；　written　by　one　under　bonds　for
the　sake　of　Christ；　commanded　greater　attention　and　respect　than　they　did
when　he　was　personally　with　them。　Not　until　Paul　was　removed　from　them；　did
the　believers　realize　how　heavy　were　the　burdens　he　had　borne　in　their
behalf。　Heretofore　they　had　largely　excused　themselves　from　responsibility
and　burden　bearing　because　they　lacked　his　wisdom；　tact；　and　indomitable
energy；　but　now；　left　in　their　inexperience　to　learn　the　lessons　they　had
shunned；　they　prized　his　warnings；　counsels；　and　instructions　as　they　had
not　prized　his　personal　work。　And　as　they　learned　of　his　courage　and　faith
during　his　long　imprisonment　they　were　stimulated　to　greater　fidelity　and
zeal　in　the　cause　of　Christ。

Among　Paul's　assistants　at　Rome　were　many　of　his　former　companions　and
fellow　workers。　Luke；　〃the　beloved　physician；〃　who　had　attended　him　on　the
journey　to　Jerusalem；　through　the　two　years'　imprisonment　at　Caesarea；　and
upon　his　perilous　voyage　to　Rome；　was　with　him　still。

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Timothy　also　ministered　to　his　comfort。　Tychicus；　〃a　beloved　brother；　and　a
faithful　minister　and　fellow　servant　in　the　Lord；〃　stood　nobly　by　the
apostle。　Demas　and　Mark　were　also　with　him。　Aristarchus　and　Epaphras　were
his　〃fellow　prisoners。〃　Colossians　4：7…14。

Since　the　earlier　years　of　his　profession　of　faith；　Mark's　Christian
experience　had　deepened。　As　he　had　studied　more　closely　the　life　and　death
of　Christ　he　had　obtained　clearer　views　of　the　Saviour's　mission；　its　toils
and　conflicts。　Reading　in　the　scars　in　Christ's　hands　and　feet　the　marks　of
His　service　for　humanity；　and　the　length　to　which　self…abnegation　leads　to
save　the　lost　and　perishing；　Mark　had　become　willing　to　follow　the　Master　in
the　path　of　self…sacrifice。　Now；　sharing　the　lot　of　Paul　the　prisoner；　he
understood　better　than　ever　before　that　it　is　infinite　gain　to　win　Christ；
infinite　loss　to　win　the　world　and　lose　the　soul　for　whose　redemption　the
blood　of　Christ　was　shed。　In　the　face　of　severe　trial　and　adversity；　Mark
continued　steadfast；　a　wise　and　beloved　helper　of　the　apostle。

Demas；　steadfast　for　a　time；　afterward　forsook　the　cause　of　Christ。　In
referring　to　this；　Paul　wrote；　〃Demas　hath　forsaken　me；　having　loved　this
present　world。〃　2　Timothy　4：10。　For　worldly　gain；　Demas　bartered　every　high
and　noble　consideration。　How　shortsighted　the　exchange！　Possessing　only
worldly　wealth　or　honor；　Demas　was　poor　indeed；　however　much　he　might
proudly　call　his　own；　while　Mark；　choosing　to　suffer　for　Christ's　sake；
possessed　eternal　riches；　being　accounted　in　heaven　an　heir　of　God　and　a
joint　heir　with　His　Son。

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Among　those　who　gave　their　hearts　to　God　through　the　labors　of　Paul　in　Rome
was　Onesimus；　a　pagan　slave　who　had　wronged　his　master；　Philemon；　a
Christian　believer　in　Colosse；　and　had　escaped　to　Rome。　In　the　kindness　of
his　heart；　Paul　sought　to　relieve　the　poverty　and　distress　of　the　wretched
fugitive　and　then　endeavored　to　shed　the　light　of　truth　into　his　darkened
mind。　Onesimus　listened　to　the　words　of　life；　confessed　his　sins；　and　was
converted　to　the　faith　of　Christ。

Onesimus　endeared　himself　to　Paul　by　his　piety　and　sincerity；　no　less　than
by　his　tender　care　for　the　apostle's　comfort；　and　his　zeal　in　promoting　the
work　of　the　gospel。　Paul　saw　in　him　traits　of　character　that　would　render
him　a　useful　helper　in　missionary　labor；　and　he　counseled　him　to　return
without　delay　to　Philemon；　beg　his　forgiveness；　and　plan　for　the　future。　The
apostle　promised　to　hold　himself　responsible　for　the　sum　of　which　Philemon
had　been　robbed。　Being　about　to　dispatch　Tychicus　with　letters　to　various
churches　in　Asia　Minor；　he　sent　Onesimus　with　him。　It　was　a　severe　test　for
this　servant　thus　to　deliver　himself　up　to　the　master　he　had　wronged；　but　he
had　been　truly　converted；　and　he　did　not　turn　aside　from　his　duty。

Paul　made　Onesimus　the　bearer　of　a　letter　to　Philemon；　in　which；　with　his
usual　tact　and　kindness；　the　apostle　pleaded　the　cause　of　the　repentant
slave　and　expressed　a　desire　to　retain　his　services　in　the　future。　The
letter　began　with　an　affectionate　greeting　to　Philemon　as　a　friend　and
fellow　laborer：

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〃Grace　to　you；　and　peace；　from　God　our　Father　and　the　Lord　Jesus　Christ。　I
thank　my　God；　making　mention　of　thee　always　in　my　prayers；　hearing　of　thy
love　and　faith；　which　thou　hast　toward　the　Lord　Jesus；　and　toward　all
saints；　that　the　communication　of　thy　faith　may　become　effectual　by　the
acknowledging　of　every　good　thing　which　is　in　you　in　Christ　Jesus。〃　The
apostle　reminded　Philemon　that　every　good　purpose　and　trait　of　character
which　he　possessed　was　due　to　the　grace　of　Christ；　this　alone　made　him
different　from　the　perverse　and　the　sinful。　The　same　grace　could　make　the
debased　criminal　a　child　of　God　and　a　useful　laborer　in　the　gospel。

Paul　might　have　urged　upon　Philemon　his　duty　as　a　Christian；　but　he　chose
rather　the　language　of　entreaty：　〃As　Paul　the　aged；　and　now　also　a　prisoner
of　Jesus　Christ；　I　beseech　thee　for　my　son　Onesimus；　whom　I　have　begotten　in
my　bonds；　which　in　time　past　was　to　thee　unprofitable；　but　now　profitable　to
thee　and　to　me。〃

The　apostle　asked　Philemon；　in　view　of　the　conversion　of　Onesimus；　to
receive　the　repentant　slave　as　his　own　child；　showing　him　such　affection
that　he　would　choose　to　dwell　with　his　former　master；　〃not　now　as　a　servant；
but　above　a　servant；　a　brother　beloved。〃　He　expressed　his　desire　to　retain
Onesimus　as　one　who　could　minister　to　him　in　his　bonds　as　Philemon　himself
would　have　done；　though　he　did　not　desire　his　services　unless　Philemon
should　of　his　own　accord　set　the　slave　free。

The　apostle　well　knew　the　severity　which　masters　exercised　toward　their
slaves；　and　he　knew　also　that　Philemon

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was　greatly　incensed　because　of　the　conduct　of　his　servant。　He　tried　to
write　to　him　in　a　way　that　would　arouse　his　deepest　and　tenderest　feelings
as　a　Christian。　The　conversion　of　Onesimus　had　made　him　a　brother　in　the
faith；　and　any　punishment　inflicted　on　this　new　convert　would　be　regarded　by
Paul　as　inflicted　on　himself。

Paul　voluntarily　proposed　to　assume　the　debt　of　Onesimus　in　order　that　the
guilty　one　might　be　spared　the　disgrace　of　punishment；　and　might　again　enjoy
the　privileges　he　had　forfeited。　〃If　thou　count　me　therefore　a　partner；〃　he
wrote　to　Philemon；　〃receive　him　as　myself。　If　he　hath　wronged　thee；or　oweth
thee　aught；　put　that　on　mine　account；　I　Paul　have　written　it　with　mine　own
hand；　I　will　repay　it。〃

How　fitting　an　illustration　of　the　love　of　Christ　for　the　repentant　sinner！
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