the acts of the apostles-第18节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　Ethiopian；　but　this　is　not　God's　way　of　working。　It　is
His　plan　that　men　are　to　work　for　their　fellow　men。

In　the　trust　given　to　the　first　disciples；　believers　in　every　age　have
shared。　Everyone　who　has　received　the　gospel　has　been　given　sacred　truth　to
impart　to　the　world。　God's　faithful　people　have　always　been　aggressive
missionaries；　consecrating　their　resources　to　the　honor　of　His　name　and
wisely　using　their　talents　in　His　service。

The　unselfish　labor　of　Christians　in　the　past　should　be　to　us　an　object
lesson　and　an　inspiration。　The　members　of　God's　church　are　to　be　zealous　of
good　works；　separating　from　worldly　ambition　and　walking　in　the　footsteps　of
Him

110

who　went　about　doing　good。　With　hearts　filled　with　sympathy　and　compassion；
they　are　to　minister　to　those　in　need　of　help；　bringing　to　sinners　a
knowledge　of　the　Saviour's　love。　Such　work　calls　for　laborious　effort；　but
it　brings　a　rich　reward。　Those　who　engage　in　it　with　sincerity　of　purpose
will　see　souls　won　to　the　Saviour；　for　the　influence　that　attends　the
practical　carrying　out　of　the　divine　commission　is　irresistible。

Not　upon　the　ordained　minister　only　rests　the　responsibility　of　going　forth
to　fulfill　this　commission。　Everyone　who　has　received　Christ　is　called　to
work　for　the　salvation　of　his　fellow　men。　〃The　Spirit　and　the　bride　say；
Come。　And　let　him　that　heareth　say；　Come。〃　Revelation　22：17。　The　charge　to
give　this　invitation　includes　the　entire　church。　Everyone　who　has　heard　the
invitation　is　to　echo　the　message　from　hill　and　valley；　saying；　〃Come。〃

It　is　fatal　mistake　to　suppose　that　the　work　of　soul…saving　depends　alone
upon　the　ministry。　The　humble；　consecrated　believer　upon　whom　the　Master　of
the　vineyard　places　a　burden　for　souls　is　to　be　given　encouragement　by　the
men　upon　whom　the　Lord　has　laid　larger　responsibilities。　Those　who　stand　as
leaders　in　the　church　of　God　are　to　realize　that　the　Saviour's　commission　is
given　to　all　who　believe　in　His　name。　God　will　send　forth　into　His　vineyard
many　who　have　n