the acts of the apostles-第31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！



The　Lystrians；　eager　to　show　their　gratitude；　prevailed　upon　the　priest　of
Jupiter　to　do　the　apostles　honor；　and　he　〃brought　oxen　and　garlands　unto　the
gates；　and　would　have　done　sacrifice　with　the　people。〃　Paul　and　Barnabas；
who　had　sought　retirement　and　rest；　were　not　aware　of

182

these　preparations。　Soon；　however；　their　attention　was　attracted　by　the
sound　of　music　and　the　enthusiastic　shouting　of　a　large　crowd　who　had　come
to　the　house　where　they　were　staying。

When　the　apostles　ascertained　the　cause　of　this　visit　and　its　attendant
excitement；　〃they　rent　their　clothes；　and　ran　in　among　the　people〃　in　the
hope　of　preventing　further　proceedings。　In　a　loud；　ringing　voice；　which　rose
above　the　shouting　of　the　people；　Paul　demanded　their　attention；　and　as　the
tumult　suddenly　ceased；　he　said：　〃Sirs；　why　do　ye　these　things？　We　also　are
men　of　like　passions　with　you；　and　preach　unto　you　that　ye　should　turn　from
these　vanities　unto　the　living　God；　which　made　heaven；　and　earth；　and　the
sea；　and　all　things　that　are　therein：　who　in　times　past　suffered　all　nations
to　walk　in　their　own　ways。　Nevertheless　He　left　not　Himself　without　witness；
in　that　He　did　good；　and　gave　us　rain　from　heaven；　and　fruitful　seasons；
filling　our　hearts　with　food　and　gladness。〃

Notwithstanding　the　positive　denial　of　the　apostles　that　they　were　divine；
and　notwithstanding　Paul's　endeavors　to　direct　the　minds　of　the　people　to
the　true　God　as　the　only　object　worthy　of　adoration；　it　was　almost
impossible　to　turn　the　heathen　from　their　intention　to　offer　sacrifice。　So
firm　had　been　their　belief　that　these　men　were　indeed　gods；　and　so　great
their　enthusiasm；　that　they　were　loath　to　acknowledge　their　error。　The
record　says　that　they　were　〃scarce　restrained。〃

The　Lystrians　reasoned　that　they　had　beheld　with　their　own　eyes　the
miraculous　power　exercised　by　the　apostles。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　183

They　had　seen　a　cripple　who　had　never　before　been　able　to　walk；made　to
rejoice　in　perfect　health　and　strength。　It　was　only　after　much　persuasion　on
the　part　of　Paul；　and　careful　explanation　regarding　the　mission　of　himself
and　Barnabas　as　representatives　of　the　God　of　heaven　and　of　His　Son；　the
great　Healer；　that　the　people　were　persuaded　to　give　up　their　purpose。

The　labors　of　Paul　and　Barnabas　at　Lystra　were　suddenly　checked　by　the
malice　of　〃certain　Jews　from　Antioch　and　Iconium；〃　who；　upon　learning　of　the
success　of　the　apostles'　work　among　the　Lycaonians；　had　determined　to　follow
them　and　persecute　them。　On　arriving　at　Lystra；　these　Jews　soon　succeeded　in
inspiring　the　people　with　the　same　bitterness　of　spirit　that　actuated　their
own　minds。　By　words　of　misrepresentation　and　calumny　those　who　had　recently
regarded　Paul　and　Barnabas　as　divine　beings　were　persuaded　that　in　reality
the　apostles　were　worse　than　murderers　and　were　deserving　of　death。

The　disappointment　that　the　Lystrians　had　suffered　in　being　refused　the
privilege　of　offering　sacrifice　to　the　apostles；　prepared　them　to　turn
against　Paul　and　Barnabas　with　an　enthusiasm　approaching　that　with　which
they　had　hailed　them　as　gods。　Incited　by　the　Jews；　they　planned　to　attack
the　apostles　by　force。　The　Jews　charged　them　not　to　allow　Paul　an
opportunity　to　speak；　alleging　that　if　they　were　to　grant　him　this
privilege；　he　would　bewitch　the　people。

Soon　the　murderous　designs　of　the　enemies　of　the　gospel　were　carried　out。
Yielding　to　the　influence　of　evil；　the　Lystrians　became　possessed　with　a
satanic　fury　and；　seizing　Paul；

184

mercilessly　stoned　him。　The　apostle　thought　that　his　end　had　come。　The
martyrdom　of　Stephen；　and　the　cruel　part　that　he　himself　had　acted　upon　that
occasion；　came　vividly　to　his　mind。　Covered　with　bruises　and　faint　with
pain；　he　fell　to　the　ground；　and　the　infuriated　mob　〃drew　him　out　of　the
city；　supposing　he　had　been　dead。〃

In　this　dark　and　trying　hour　the　company　of　Lystrian　believers；　who　through
the　ministry　of　Paul　and　Barnabas　had　been　converted　to　the　faith　of　Jesus；
remained　loyal　and　true。　The　unreasoning　opposition　and　cruel　persecution　by
their　enemies　served　only　to　confirm　the　faith　of　these　devoted　brethren；
and　now；　in　the　face　of　danger　and　scorn；　they　showed　their　loyalty　by
gathering　sorrowfully　about　the　form　of　him　whom　they　believed　to　be　dead。

What　was　their　surprise　when　in　the　midst　of　their　lamentations　the　apostle
suddenly　lifted　up　his　head　and　rose　to　his　feet　with　the　praise　of　God　upon
his　lips。　To　the　believers　this　unexpected　restoration　of　God's　servant　was
regarded　as　a　miracle　of　divine　power　and　seemed　to　set　the　signet　of　Heaven
upon　their　change　of　belief。　They　rejoiced　with　inexpressible　gladness　and
praised　God　with　renewed　faith。

Among　those　who　had　been　converted　at　Lystra；　and　who　were　eyewitnesses　of
the　sufferings　of　Paul；　was　one　who　was　afterward　to　become　a　prominent
worker　for　Christ　and　who　was　to　share　with　the　apostle　the　trials　and　the
joys　of　pioneer　service　in　difficult　fields。　This　was　a　young　man　named
Timothy。　When　Paul　was　dragged　out　of　the　city；　this　youthful　disciple　was
among　the　number　who　took　their　stand　beside　his　apparently　lifeless　body
and　who　saw　him

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　185

arise；　bruised　and　covered　with　blood；　but　with　praises　upon　his　lips
because　he　had　been　permitted　to　suffer　for　the　sake　of　Christ。

The　day　following　the　stoning　of　Paul；　the　apostles　departed　for　Derbe；
where　their　labors　were　blessed；　and　many　souls　were　led　to　receive　Christ
as　the　Saviour。　But　〃when　they　had　preached　the　gospel　to　that　city；　and　had
taught　many；〃　neither　Paul　nor　Barnabas　was　content　to　take　up　work
elsewhere　without　confirming　the　faith　of　the　converts　whom　they　had　been
compelled　to　leave　alone　for　a　time　in　the　places　where　they　had　recently
labored。　And　so；　undaunted　by　danger；　〃they　returned　again　to　Lystra；　and　to
Iconium；　and　Antioch；　confirming　the　souls　of　the　disciples；　and　exhorting
them　to　continue　in　the　faith。〃　Many　had　accepted　the　glad　tidings　of　the
gospel　and　had　thus　exposed　themselves　to　reproach　and　opposition。　These　the
apostles　sought　to　establish　in　the　faith　in　order　that　the　work　done　might
abide。

As　an　important　factor　in　the　spiritual　growth　of　the　new　converts　the
apostles　were　careful　to　surround　them　with　the　safeguards　of　gospel　order。
Churches　were　duly　organized　in　all　places　in　Lycaonia　and　Pisidia　where
there　were　believers。　Officers　were　appointed　in　each　church；　and　proper
order　and　system　were　established　for　the　conduct　of　all　the　affairs
pertaining　to　the　spiritual　welfare　of　the　believers。

This　was　in　harmony　with　the　gospel　plan　of　uniting　in　one　body　all
believers　in　Christ；　and　this　plan　Paul　was　careful　to　follow　throughout　his
ministry。　Those　who　in

186

any　place　were　by　his　labor　led　to　accept　Christ　as　the　Saviour　were　at　the
proper　time　organized　into　a　church。　Even　when　the　believers　were　but　few　in
number；　this　was　done。　The　Christians　were　thus　taught　to　help　one　another；
remembering　the　promise；　〃Where　two　or　three　are　gathered　together　in　My
name；　there　am　I　in　the　midst　of　them。〃　Matthew　18：20。

And　Paul　did　not　forget　the　churches　thus　established。　The　care　of　these
churches　rested　on　his　mind　as　an　ever…increasing　burden。　However　small　a
company　might　be；　it　was　nevertheless　the　object　of　his　constant　solicitude。
He　watched　over　the　smaller　churches　tenderly；　realizing　that　they　were　in
need　of　special　care　in　order　that　the　members　might　be　thoroughly
established　in　the　truth　and　taught　to　put　forth　earnest；　unselfish　efforts
for　those　around　them。

In　all　their　missionary　endeavors　Paul　and　Barnabas　sought　to　follow
Christ's　example　of　willing　sacrifice　and　faithful；　earnest　labor　for　souls。
Wide…awake；　zealous；　untiring；　they　did　not　consult　inclination　or　personal
ease；　but　with　prayerful　anxiety　and　unceasing　activity　they　sowed　the　seed
of　truth。　And　with　the　sowing　of　the　seed；　the　apostles　were　careful　to　give
to　all　who　took　their　stand　for　the　gospel；　practical　instruction　that　was
of　untold　value。　This　spirit　of　earnestness　and　godly　fear　made　upon　the
minds　of　the　new　disciples　a　lasting　impression　regarding　the　importance　of
the　gospel　message。

When　men　of　promise　and　ability　were　converted；　as　in　the　case　of　Timothy；
Paul　and　Barnabas　sought　earnestly

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　187

to　show　them　the　necessity　of　laboring　in　the　vineyard。　And　when　the
apostles　left　for　another　place；　the　faith　of　these　men　did　not　fail；　but
rather　increased。　They　had　been　faithfully　instructed　in　the　way　of　the
Lord；　and　had　been　taught　how　to　labor　unselfishly；　earnestly；
perseveringly；　for　the　salvation　of　their　fellow　men。　This　careful　training
of　new　converts　was　an　important　factor　in　the　remarkable　success　that
attended　Paul　and　Barnabas　as　they　preached　the　gospel　in　heathen　lands。

The　first　missionary　journey　was　fast　drawing　to　a　close。　Commending　the
newly　organized　churches　to　the　Lord；　the　apostles　went　to　Pamphylia；　〃and
when　they　had　preached　the　word　in　Pe