the acts of the apostles-第30节

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kingdom　among　those　who　had　been　neglected　by　the　teachers　in　Israel。
Constantly　he　exalted　Christ　Jesus　as　〃the　King　of　kings；　and　Lord　of　lords〃
（1　Timothy　6：15）；　and　exhorted　the　believers　to　be　〃rooted　and　built　up　in
Him；　and　stablished　in　the　faith。〃　Colossians　2：7。

To　those　who　believe；　Christ　is　a　sure　foundation。　Upon　this　living　stone；
Jews　and　Gentiles　alike　may　build。　It　is　broad　enough　for　all　and　strong
enough　to　sustain　the　weight　and　burden　of　the　whole　world。　This　is　a　fact

176

plainly　recognized　by　Paul　himself。　In　the　closing　days　of　his　ministry；
when　addressing　a　group　of　Gentile　believers　who　had　remained　steadfast　in
their　love　of　the　gospel　truth；　the　apostle　wrote；　〃Ye　。　。　。are　built　upon
the　foundation　of　the　apostles　and　prophets；　Jesus　Christ　Himself　being　the
chief　cornerstone。〃　Ephesians　2：19；　20。

As　the　gospel　message　spread　in　Pisidia；　the　unbelieving　Jews　of　Antioch　in
their　blind　prejudice　〃stirred　up　the　devout　and　honorable　women；　and　the
chief　men　of　the　city；　and　raised　persecution　against　Paul　and　Barnabas；　and
expelled　them〃　from　that　district。

The　apostles　were　not　discouraged　by　this　treatment；　they　remembered　the
words　of　their　Master：　〃Blessed　are　ye；　when　men　shall　revile　you；　and
persecute　you；　and　shall　say　all　manner　of　evil　against　you　falsely；　for　My
sake。　Rejoice；　and　be　exceeding　glad：　for　great　is　your　reward　in　heaven：
for　so　persecuted　they　the　prophets　which　were　before　you。〃　Matthew　5：11；
12。

The　gospel　message　was　advancing；　and　the　apostles　had　every　reason　for
feeling　encouraged。　Their　labors　had　been　richly　blessed　among　the　Pisidians
at　Antioch；　and　the　believers　whom　they　left　to　carry　forward　the　work　alone
for　a　time；　〃were　filled　with　joy；　and　with　the　Holy　Ghost。〃




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　18

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Preaching　Among　the　Heathen


From　Antioch　in　Pisidia；　Paul　and　Barnabas　went　to　Iconium。　In　this　place；
as　at　Antioch；　they　began　their　labors　in　the　synagogue　of　their　own　people。
They　met　with　marked　success；　〃a　great　multitude　both　of　the　Jews　and　also
of　the　Greeks　believed。〃　But　in　Iconium；　as　in　other　places　where　the
apostles　labored；　〃the　unbelieving　Jews　stirred　up　the　Gentiles；　and　made
their　minds　evil　affected　against　the　brethren。〃

The　apostles；　however；　were　not　turned　aside　from　their　mission；　for　many
were　accepting　the　gospel　of　Christ。　In　the　face　of　opposition；　envy；　and
prejudice　they　went　on　with　their　work；　〃speaking　boldly　in　the　Lord；〃　and
God　〃gave　testimony　unto　the　word　of　His　grace；　and　granted　signs　and
wonders　to　be　done　by　their　hands。〃　These　evidences　of　divine　approval　had　a
powerful　influence　on　those　whose　minds　were　open　to　conviction；　and
converts　to　the　gospel　multiplied。

178


The　increasing　popularity　of　the　message　borne　by　the　apostles；　filled　the
unbelieving　Jews　with　envy　and　hatred；　and　they　determined　to　stop　the
labors　of　Paul　and　Barnabas　at　once。　By　means　of　false　and　exaggerated
reports　they　led　the　authorities　to　fear　that　the　entire　city　was　in　danger
of　being　incited　to　insurrection。　They　declared　that　large　numbers　were
attaching　themselves　to　the　apostles　and　suggested　that　it　was　for　secret
and　dangerous　designs。

In　consequence　of　these　charges　the　disciples　were　repeatedly　brought　before
the　authorities；　but　their　defense　was　so　clear　and　sensible；　and　their
statement　of　what　they　were　teaching　so　calm　and　comprehensive；　that　a
strong　influence　was　exerted　in　their　favor。　Although　the　magistrates　were
prejudiced　against　them　by　the　false　statements　they　had　heard；　they　dared
not　condemn　them。　They　could　but　acknowledge　that　the　teachings　of　Paul　and
Barnabas　tended　to　make　men　virtuous；　law…abiding　citizens；　and　that　the
morals　and　order　of　the　city　would　improve　if　the　truths　taught　by　the
apostles　were　accepted。

Through　the　opposition　that　the　disciples　met；　the　message　of　truth　gained
great　publicity；　the　Jews　saw　that　their　efforts　to　thwart　the　work　of　the
new　teachers　resulted　only　in　adding　greater　numbers　to　the　new　faith。　〃The
multitude　of　the　city　was　divided：　and　part　held　with　the　Jews；　and　part
with　the　apostles。〃

So　enraged　were　the　leaders　among　the　Jews　by　the　turn　that　matters　were
taking；　that　they　determined　to　gain　their　ends　by　violence。　Arousing　the
worst　passions　of　the

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ignorant；　noisy　mob；　they　succeeded　in　creating　a　tumult；　which　they
attributed　to　the　teaching　of　the　disciples。　By　this　false　charge　they　hoped
to　gain　the　help　of　the　magistrates　in　carrying　out　their　purpose。　They
determined　that　the　apostles　should　have　no　opportunity　to　vindicate
themselves　and　that　the　mob　should　interfere　by　stoning　Paul　and　Barnabas；
thus　putting　an　end　to　their　labors。

Friends　of　the　apostles；　though　unbelievers；　warned　them　of　the　malicious
designs　of　the　Jews　and　urged　them　not　to　expose　themselves　needlessly　to
the　fury　of　the　mob；　but　to　escape　for　their　lives。　Paul　and　Barnabas
accordingly　departed　in　secret　from　Iconium；　leaving　the　believers　to　carry
on　the　work　alone　for　a　time。　But　they　by　no　means　took　final　leave；　they
purposed　to　return　after　the　excitement　had　abated；　and　complete　the　work
begun。

In　every　age　and　in　every　land；　God's　messengers　have　been　called　upon　to
meet　bitter　opposition　from　those　who　deliberately　chose　to　reject　the　light
of　heaven。　Often；　by　misrepresentation　and　falsehood；　the　enemies　of　the
gospel　have　seemingly　triumphed；　closing　the　doors　by　which　God's　messengers
might　gain　access　to　the　people。　But　these　doors　cannot　remain　forever
closed；　and　often；　as　God's　servants　have　returned　after　a　time　to　resume
their　labors；　the　Lord　has　wrought　mightily　in　their　behalf；　enabling　them
to　establish　memorials　to　the　glory　of　His　name。

Driven　by　persecution　from　Iconium；　the　apostles　went　to　Lystra　and　Derbe；
in　Lycaonia。　These　towns　were　inhabited　largely　by　a　heathen；　superstitious
people；　but　among

180

them　were　some　who　were　willing　to　hear　and　accept　the　gospel　message。　In
these　places　and　in　the　surrounding　country　the　apostles　decided　to　labor；
hoping　to　avoid　Jewish　prejudice　and　persecution。

In　Lystra　there　was　no　Jewish　synagogue；　though　a　few　Jews　were　living　in
the　town。　Many　of　the　inhabitants　of　Lystra　worshiped　at　a　temple　dedicated
to　Jupiter。　When　Paul　and　Barnabas　appeared　in　the　town　and；　gathering　the
Lystrians　about　them；　explained　the　simple　truths　of　the　gospel；　many　sought
to　connect　these　doctrines　with　their　own　superstitious　belief　in　the
worship　of　Jupiter。

The　apostles　endeavored　to　impart　to　these　idolaters　a　knowledge　of　God　the
Creator　and　of　His　Son；　the　Saviour　of　the　human　race。　They　first　directed
attention　to　the　wonderful　works　of　Godthe　sun；　the　moon；　and　the　stars；
the　beautiful　order　of　the　recurring　seasons；　the　mighty　snow…capped
mountains；　the　lofty　trees；　and　other　varied　wonders　of　nature；　which　showed
a　skill　beyond　human　comprehension。　Through　these　works　of　the　Almighty；　the
apostles　led　the　minds　of　the　heathen　to　a　contemplation　of　the　great　Ruler
of　the　universe。

Having　made　plain　these　fundamental　truths　concerning　the　Creator；　the
apostles　told　the　Lystrians　of　the　Son　of　God；　who　came　from　heaven　to　our
world　because　He　loved　the　children　of　men。　They　spoke　of　His　life　and
ministry；　His　rejection　by　those　He　came　to　save；　His　trial　and　crucifixion；
His　resurrection；　and　His　ascension　to　heaven；　there　to　act　as　man's
advocate。　Thus；　in　the　Spirit

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and　power　of　God；　Paul　and　Barnabas　preached　the　gospel　in　Lystra。

At　one　time；　while　Paul　was　telling　the　people　of　Christ's　work　as　a　healer
of　the　sick　and　afflicted；　he　saw　among　his　hearers　a　cripple　whose　eyes
were　fastened　on　him　and　who　received　and　believed　his　words。　Paul's　heart
went　out　in　sympathy　toward　the　afflicted　man；　in　whom　he　discerned　one　who
〃had　faith　to　be　healed。〃　In　the　presence　of　the　idolatrous　assembly　Paul
commanded　the　cripple　to　stand　upright　on　his　feet。　Heretofore　the　sufferer
had　been　able　to　take　a　sitting　posture　only；　but　now　he　instantly　obeyed
Paul's　command　and　for　the　first　time　in　his　life　stood　on　his　feet。
Strength　came　with　this　effort　of　faith；　and　he　who　had　been　a　cripple
〃leaped　and　walked。〃

〃When　the　people　saw　what　Paul　had　done；　they　lifted　up　their　voices；　saying
in　the　speech　of　Lycaonia；　The　gods　are　come　down　to　us　in　the　likeness　of
men。〃　This　statement　was　in　harmony　with　a　tradition　of　theirs　that　the　gods
occasionally　visited　the　earth。　Barnabas　they　called　Jupiter；　the　father　of
gods；　because　of　his　venerable　appearance；　his　dignified　bearing；　and　the
mildness　and　benevolence　expressed　in　his　countenance。　Paul　they　believe　to
be　Mercury；　〃because　he　was　the　chief　speaker；〃　earnest　and　active；　and
eloquent　with　words　of　warning　and　exhortation。

The　Lystrians；　eager　to　show　their　gratitude；　prevailed　upon　the　priest　of
Jupiter　to　do　the　apostles　honor；　and　he　〃br