the acts of the apostles-第24章
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As Paul continued to appeal to his astonished hearers to 〃repent and turn to
God； and do works meet for repentance〃 （Acts 26：20）； he 〃increased the more
in strength； and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus； proving that
this is very Christ。〃 But many hardened their hearts； refusing to respond to
his message； and soon their astonishment at his conversion was changed into
intense hatred like that which they had shown toward Jesus。
The opposition grew so fierce that Paul was not allowed to continue his
labors at Damascus。 A messenger from heaven bade him leave for a time； and
he 〃went into Arabia〃 （Galatians 1：17）； where he found a safe retreat。
Here； in the solitude of the desert； Paul had ample opportunity for quiet
study and meditation。 He calmly reviewed his past experience and made sure
work of repentance。 He sought God with all his heart； resting not until he
knew for a certainty that his repentance was accepted and his sin pardoned。
He longed for the assurance that Jesus would be with him in his coming
ministry。 He emptied his soul of
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the prejudices and traditions that had hitherto shaped his life； and
received instruction from the Source of truth。 Jesus communed with him and
established him in the faith； bestowing upon him a rich measure of wisdom
and grace。
When the mind of man is brought into communion with the mind of God； the
finite with the Infinite； the effect on body and mind and soul is beyond
estimate。 In such communion is found the highest education。 It is God's own
method of development。 〃Acquaint now thyself with Him〃 （Job 22：21）； is His
message to mankind。
The solemn charge that had been given Paul on the occasion of his interview
with Ananias； rested with increasing weight upon his heart。 When； in
response to the word； 〃Brother Saul； receive thy sight；〃 Paul had for the
first time looked upon the face of this devout man； Ananias under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit said to him： 〃The God of our fathers hath
chosen thee； that thou shouldest know His will； and see that Just One； and
shouldest hear the voice of His mouth。 For thou shalt be His witness unto
all men of what thou hast seen and heard。 And now why tarriest thou？ arise；
and be baptized； and wash away thy sins； calling on the name of the Lord。〃
Acts 22：13…16。
These words were in harmony with the words of Jesus Himself； who； when He
arrested Saul on the journey to Damascus； declared： 〃I have appeared unto
thee for this purpose； to make thee a minister and a witness both of these
things which thou hast seen； and of those things in the which I will appear
unto thee； delivering thee from the people；
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and from the Gentiles； unto whom now I send thee； to open their eyes； and to
turn them from darkness to light； and from the power of Satan unto God； that
they may receive forgiveness of sins； and inheritance among them which are
sanctified by faith that is in Me。〃 Acts 26：16…18。
As he pondered these things in his heart； Paul understood more and more
clearly the meaning of his call 〃to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through
the will of God。〃 1 Corinthians 1：1。 His call had come； 〃not of men； neither
by man； but by Jesus Christ； and God the Father。〃 Galatians 1：1。 The
greatness of the work before him led him to give much study to the Holy
Scriptures； in order that he might preach the gospel 〃not with wisdom of
words； lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect；〃 〃but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power；〃 that the faith of all who heard
〃should not stand in the wisdom of men； but in the power of God。〃 1
Corinthians 1：17； 2：4； 5。
As Paul searched the Scriptures； he learned that throughout the ages 〃not
many wise men after the flesh； not many mighty； not many noble； are called：
but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise；
and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things
which are mighty； and base things of the world； and things which are
despised； hath God chosen； yea； and things which are not； to bring to nought
things that are： that no flesh should glory in His presence。〃 1 Corinthians
1：26…29。 And so； viewing the wisdom of the world in the light of the cross；
Paul 〃determined not to know anything；
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。 。 。 save Jesus Christ； and Him crucified。〃 1 Corinthians 2：2。
Throughout his later ministry； Paul never lost sight of the Source of his
wisdom and strength。 Hear him； years afterward； still declaring； 〃For to me
to live is Christ。〃 Philippians 1：21。 And again： 〃I count all things but
loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord： for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things； 。 。 。 that I may win Christ； and be
found in Him； not having mine own righteousness； which is of the law； but
that which is through the faith of Christ； the righteousness which is of God
by faith： that I may know Him； and the power of His resurrection； and the
fellowship of His sufferings。〃 Philippians 3：8…10。
From Arabia Paul 〃returned again unto Damascus〃 （Galatians 1：17）； and
〃preached boldly 。 。 。 in the name of Jesus。〃 Unable to withstand the wisdom
of his arguments； 〃the Jews took counsel to kill him。〃 The gates of the city
were diligently guarded day and night to cut off his escape。 This crisis led
the disciples to seek God earnestly； and finally they 〃took him by night；
and let him down through the wall； lowering him in a basket。〃 Acts 9：25；
R。V。
After his escape from Damascus； Paul went to Jerusalem； about three years
having passed since his conversion。 His chief object in making this visit；
as he himself declared afterward； was 〃to see Peter。〃 Galatians 1：18。 Upon
arriving in the city where he had once been well known as 〃Saul the
persecutor；〃 〃he assayed to join himself to the disciples： but they were all
afraid of him； and believed not that he
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was a disciple。〃 It was difficult for them to believe that so bigoted a
Pharisee； and one who had done so much to destroy the church； could become a
sincere follower of Jesus。 〃But Barnabas took him； and brought him to the
apostles； and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way； and
that He had spoken to him； and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the
name of Jesus。〃
Upon hearing this； the disciples received him as one of their number。 Soon
they had abundant evidence as to the genuineness of his Christian
experience。 The future apostle to the Gentiles was now in the city where
many of his former associates lived； and to these Jewish leaders he longed
to make plain the prophecies concerning the Messiah； which had been
fulfilled by the advent of the Saviour。 Paul felt sure that these teachers
in Israel； with whom he had once been so well acquainted； were as sincere
and honest as he had been。 But he had miscalculated the spirit of his Jewish
brethren； and in the hope of their speedy conversion he was doomed to bitter
disappointment。 Although 〃he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus； and
disputed against the Grecians；〃 those who stood at the head of the Jewish
church refused to believe； but 〃went about to slay him。〃 Sorrow filled his
heart。 He would willingly have yielded up his life if by that means he might
bring some to a knowledge of the truth。 With shame he thought of the active
part he had taken in the martyrdom of Stephen； and now in his anxiety to
wipe out the stain resting upon one so falsely accused； he sought to
vindicate the truth for which Stephen had given his life。
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Burdened in behalf of those who refused to believe； Paul was praying in the
temple； as he himself afterward testified； when he fell into a trance；
whereupon a heavenly messenger appeared before him and said； 〃Make haste；
and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem： for they will not receive thy
testimony concerning Me。〃 Acts 22：18。
Paul was inclined to remain at Jerusalem； where he could face the
opposition。 To him it seemed an act of cowardice to flee； if by remaining he
might be able to convince some of the obstinate Jews of the truth of
