the acts of the apostles-第25章

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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　〃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。

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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