the acts of the apostles-第59节

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at　Thessalonica。　Referring　later　to　his　experiences　in　that　city；　he　wrote
to　the　Philippian　believers　in　acknowledgment　of　the　gifts　he　had　received
from　them　while　there；　saying；　〃Even　in　Thessalonica　ye　sent　once　and　again
unto　my　necessity。〃　Philippians　4：16。　Notwithstanding　the　fact　that　he
received　this　help　he　was

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careful　to　set　before　the　Thessalonians　an　example　of　diligence；　so　that
none　could　rightfully　accuse　him　of　covetousness；　and　also　that　those　who
held　fanatical　views　regarding　manual　labor　might　be　given　a　practical
rebuke。

When　Paul　first　visited　Corinth；　he　found　himself　among　a　people　who　were
suspicious　of　the　motives　of　strangers。　The　Greeks　on　the　seacoast　were　keen
traders。　So　long　had　they　trained　themselves　in　sharp　business　practices；
that　they　had　come　to　believe　that　gain　was　godliness；　and　that　to　make
money；　whether　by　fair　means　or　foul；　was　commendable。　Paul　was　acquainted
with　their　characteristics；　and　he　would　give　them　no　occasion　for　saying
that　he　preached　the　gospel　in　order　to　enrich　himself。　He　might　justly　have
claimed　support　from　his　Corinthian　hearers；　but　this　right　he　was　willing
to　forgo；　lest　his　usefulness　and　success　as　a　minister　should　be　injured　by
the　unjust　suspicion　that　he　was　preaching　the　gospel　for　gain。　He　would
seek　to　remove　all　occasion　for　misrepresentation；　that　the　force　of　his
message　might　not　be　lost。

Soon　after　his　arrival　at　Corinth；　Paul　found　〃a　certain　Jew　named　Aquila；
born　in　Pontus；　lately　come　from　Italy；　with　his　wife　Priscilla。〃　These　were
〃of　the　same　craft〃　with　himself。　Banished　by　the　decree　of　Claudius；　which
commanded　all　Jews　to　leave　Rome；　Aquila　and　Priscilla　had　come　to　Corinth；
where　they　established　a　business　as　manufacturers　of　tents。　Paul　made
inquiry　concerning　them；　and　learning　that　they　feared　God　and　were　seeking
to　avoid　the　contaminating　influences　with　which　they　were

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surrounded；　〃he　abode　with　them；　and　wrought。　。　。　。　And　he　reasoned　in　the
synagogue　every　Sabbath；　and　persuaded　the　Jews　and　the　Greeks。〃　Acts
18：2…4。

Later；　Silas　and　Timothy　joined　Paul　at　Corinth。　These　brethren　brought　with
them　funds　from　the　churches　in　Macedonia；　for　the　support　of　the　work。

In　his　second　letter　to　the　believers　in　Corinth；　written　after　he　had
raised　up　a　strong　church　there；　Paul　reviewed　his　manner　of　life　among
them。　〃Have　I　committed　an　offense；〃　he　asked；　〃in　abasing　myself　that　ye
might　be　exalted；　because　I　have　preached　to　you　the　gospel　of　God　freely？　I
robbed　other　churches；　taking　wages　of　them；　to　do　you　service。　And　when　I
was　present　with　you；　and　wanted；　I　was　chargeable　to　no　man：　for　that　which
was　lacking　to　me　the　brethren　which　came　from　Macedonia　supplied：　and　in
all　things　I　have　kept　myself　from　being　burdensome　unto　you；　and　so　will　I
keep　myself。　As　the　truth　of　Christ　is　in　me；　no　man　shall　stop　me　of　this
boasting　in　the　regions　of　Achaia。〃　2　Corinthians　11：7…10。

Paul　tells　why　he　had　followed　this　course　in　Corinth。　It　was　that　he　might
give　no　cause　for　reproach　to　〃them　which　desire　occasion。〃　2　Corinthians
11：12。　While　he　had　worked　at　tentmaking　he　had　also　labored　faithfully　in
the　proclamation　of　the　gospel。　He　himself　declares　of　his　labors；　〃Truly
the　signs　of　an　apostle　were　wrought　among　you　in　all　patience；　in　signs；
and　wonders；　and　mighty　deeds。〃　And　he　adds；　〃For　what　is　it　wherein　ye　were
inferior　to　other　churches；　except　it　be　that　I　myself　was　not　burdensome　to
you？　Forgive　me　this　wrong。　Behold；

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the　third　time　I　am　ready　to　come　to　you；　and　I　will　not　be　burdensome　to
you：　for　I　seek　not　yours；　but　you。　。　。　。　And　I　will　very　gladly　spend　and
be　spent　for　you。〃　2　Corinthians　12：12…15。

During　the　long　period　of　his　ministry　in　Ephesus；　where　for　three　years　he
carried　forward　an　aggressive　evangelistic　effort　throughout　that　region；
Paul　again　worked　at　his　trade。　In　Ephesus；　as　in　Corinth；　the　apostle　was
cheered　by　the　presence　of　Aquila　and　Priscilla；　who　had　accompanied　him　on
his　return　to　Asia　at　the　close　of　his　second　missionary　journey。

There　were　some　who　objected　to　Paul's　toiling　with　his　hands；　declaring
that　it　was　inconsistent　with　the　work　of　a　gospel　minister。　Why　should
Paul；　a　minister　of　the　highest　rank；　thus　connect　mechanical　work　with　the
preaching　of　the　word？　Was　not　the　laborer　worthy　of　his　hire？　Why　should　he
spend　in　making　tents　time　that　to　all　appearance　could　be　put　to　better
account？

But　Paul　did　not　regard　as　lost　the　time　thus　spent。　As　he　worked　with
Aquila　he　kept　in　touch　with　the　Great　Teacher；　losing　no　opportunity　of
witnessing　for　the　Saviour；　and　of　helping　those　who　needed　help。　His　mind
was　ever　reaching　out　for　spiritual　knowledge。　He　gave　his　fellow　workers
instruction　in　spiritual　things；　and　he　also　set　an　example　of　industry　and
thoroughness。　He　was　a　quick；　skillful　worker；　diligent　in　business；
〃fervent　in　spirit；　serving　the　Lord。〃　Romans　12：11。　As　he　worked　at　his
trade；　the　apostle　had　access　to　a　class　of　people　that　he　could　not
otherwise　have　reached。　He　showed　his　associates

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that　skill　in　the　common　arts　is　a　gift　from　God；　who　provides　both　the　gift
and　the　wisdom　to　use　it　aright。　He　taught　that　even　in　everyday　toil　God　is
to　be　honored。　His　toil…hardened　hands　detracted　nothing　from　the　force　of
his　pathetic　appeals　as　a　Christian　minister。

Paul　sometimes　worked　night　and　day；　not　only　for　his　own　support；　but　that
he　might　assist　his　fellow　laborers。　He　shared　his　earnings　with　Luke；　and
he　helped　Timothy。　He　even　suffered　hunger　at　times；　that　he　might　relieve
the　necessities　of　others。　His　was　an　unselfish　life。　Toward　the　close　of
his　ministry；　on　the　occasion　of　his　farewell　talk　to　the　elders　of　Ephesus；
at　Miletus；　he　could　lift　up　before　them　his　toilworn　hands；　and　say；　〃I
have　coveted　no　man's　silver；　or　gold；　or　apparel。　Yea；　ye　yourselves　know；
that　these　hands　have　ministered　unto　my　necessities；　and　to　them　that　were
with　me。　I　have　showed　you　all　things；　how　that　so　laboring　ye　ought　to
support　the　weak；　and　to　remember　the　words　of　the　Lord　Jesus；　how　He　said；
It　is　more　blessed　to　give　than　to　receive。〃　Acts　20：33…35。

If　ministers　feel　that　they　are　suffering　hardship　and　privation　in　the
cause　of　Christ；　let　them　in　imagination　visit　the　workshop　where　Paul
labored。　Let　them　bear　in　mind　that　while　this　chosen　man　of　God　is
fashioning　the　canvas；　he　is　working　for　bread　which　he　has　justly　earned　by
his　labors　as　an　apostle。

Work　is　a　blessing；　not　a　curse。　A　spirit　of　indolence　destroys　godliness
and　grieves　the　Spirit　of　God。　A　stagnant　pool　is　offensive；　but　a　pure；
flowing　stream　spreads　health

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and　gladness　over　the　land。　Paul　knew　that　those　who　neglect　physical　work
soon　become　enfeebled。　He　desired　to　teach　young　ministers　that　by　working
with　their　hands；　by　bringing　into　exercise　their　muscles　and　sinews；　they
would　become　strong　to　endure　the　toils　and　privations　that　awaited　them　in
the　gospel　field。　And　he　realized　that　his　own　teachings　would　lack　vitality
and　force　if　he　did　not　keep　all　parts　of　the　system　properly　exercised。

The　indolent　forfeit　the　invaluable　experience　gained　by　a　faithful
performance　of　the　common　duties　of　life。　Not　a　few；　but　thousands　of　human
beings　exist　only　to　consume　the　benefits　which　God　in　His　mercy　bestows
upon　them。　They　forget　to　bring　to　the　Lord　gratitude　offerings　for　the
riches　He　has　entrusted　to　them。　They　forget　that　by　trading　wisely　on　the
talents　lent　them　they　are　to　be　producers　as　well　as　consumers。　If　they
comprehended　the　work　that　the　Lord　desires　them　to　do　as　His　helping　hand
they　would　not　shun　responsibility。

The　usefulness　of　young　men　who　feel　that　they　are　called　by　God　to　preach；
depends　much　upon　the　manner　in　which　they　enter　upon　their　labors。　Those
who　are　chosen　of　God　for　the　work　of　the　ministry　will　give　proof　of　their
high　calling　and　by　every　possible　means　will　seek　to　develop　into　able
workmen。　They　will　endeavor　to　gain　an　experience　that　will　fit　them　to
plan；　organize；　and　execute。　Appreciating　the　sacredness　of　their　calling；
they　will；　by　self…discipline；　become　more　and　still　more　like　their　Master；
revealing　His　goodness；　love；　and　truth。　And　as　they　manifest

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earnestness　in　improving　the　talents　entrusted　to　them；　the　church　should
help　them　judiciously。

Not　all　who　feel　that　they　have　been　called　to　preach；　should　be　encouraged
to　throw　themselves　and　their　families　at　once　upon　the　church　for
continuous　financial　support。　There　is　danger　that　some　of　limited
experience　may　be　spoiled　by　flattery；　and　by　unwise　encouragement　to　expect
full　support　independent　of　any　serious　effort　on　their　part。　The　means
dedicated　to　the　extension　of　the　work　of　God　should　not　be　consumed　by　men
who　desire　to　preach　only　that　they　may　receive　support　and　thus　gratify　a
selfish　ambition　for　an　easy　life。

Young　men　who　desire　t