Monday, February 11, 2019

Through Much Tribulation We Enter the Kingdom of God.


CHAPTER 15  (The Great Controversy)

The Jews Decided to Kill Paul

The chief priests and rulers were moved with hatred against Paul, as they witnessed the effect of the relation of his experience.  They saw that he boldly preached Jesus, and wrought miracles in his name, and that multitudes listened to him, and turned from their traditions, and looked upon them as being the murderers of the Son of God.  Their anger was kindled, and they assembled to consult as to what was best to be done to put down the excitement.  They agreed that the only safe course for them was to put Paul to death.  But God knew of their intention, and angels were commissioned to guard him, that he might live to fulfill his mission, and to suffer for the name of Jesus.

Paul was informed that the Jews were seeking his life.  Satan led the unbelieving Jews to watch the gates of Damascus day and night, that as Paul should pass out of the gates; they might immediately kill him.  But the disciples in the night let him down by the wall in a basket.  Here the Jews were made ashamed of their failure, and Satan's object was defeated.  And Paul went to Jerusalem to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him.  They could not believe that he was a disciple.  His life had been hunted by the Jews in Damascus, and his own brethren would not receive him; 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 preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

But Satan was stirring up the Jews to destroy Paul, and Jesus bade him leave Jerusalem.  And as he went into other cities preaching Jesus, and working miracles, many were converted, and as one man was healed who had always been lame, the people who worshiped idols were about to sacrifice to the disciples.  Paul was grieved, and told them that they were only men, and that they must worship God who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.  Paul exalted God before them; but he could scarcely restrain the people.  The first knowledge of faith in the true God, and the worship and honor due to him, were being formed in their minds; and as they were listening to Paul, Satan urged on the unbelieving Jews of other cities to follow after Paul to destroy the good work wrought through him.  The Jews stirred up, and inflamed the minds of those idolators by false reports against Paul.  The wonder and admiration of the people now changed to hate, and they who a short time before were ready to worship the disciples, stoned Paul, and drew him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.  But as the disciples were standing about Paul, and mourning over him, to their joy he rose up, and went with them into the city.

As Paul preached Jesus, a certain woman possessed with a spirit of divination, followed them, crying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.  Thus she followed the disciples many days.  But Paul was grieved; for this crying after them diverted the minds of the people from the truth.  Satan's object in leading her to do this was to disgust the people, and destroy the influence of the disciples.  But Paul's spirit was stirred within him, and he turned to the woman, and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her, and the evil spirit was rebuked, and left her. 

Her masters were pleased that she cried after the disciples; but when the evil spirit had left her, and they saw her a meek disciple of Christ, they were enraged.  They had gathered much money by her fortune-telling, and now the hope of their gain was gone.  Satan's object was defeated; but his servants caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market place, unto the rulers, and to the magistrates, saying, These men being Jews do exceedingly trouble our city.  And the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks.  But the angels of God accompanied them within the prison walls.  Their imprisonment told to the glory of God, and showed to the people that God was in the work, and with his chosen servants, and that prison walls could be shaken, and strong iron bars could easily be opened by him.

At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sung praises unto God, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and I saw that immediately the angel of God loosed everyone's bands.  The keeper of the prison awoke and was affrighted as he saw the prison doors open.  He thought that the prisoners had escaped, and that he must be punished with death.  As he was about to kill himself, Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.  The power of God convicted the keeper.  He called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  The jailer then assembled his whole household, and Paul preached unto them Jesus.  The jailer's heart was united to those brethren, and he washed their stripes, and he, and all his house, were baptized that night.  He then set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God, with all his house.

The wonderful news was spread abroad of the glorious power of God which had been manifest in opening the prison doors, and the conversion and baptism of the jailer and his family.  The rulers heard of these things, and were afraid, and sent to the jailer, requesting him to let Paul and Silas go.  But Paul would not leave the prison in a private manner.  He said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily?  Nay, verily; but let them come themselves, and fetch us out.  Paul and Silas were not willing that the manifestation of the power of God should be concealed.  The sergeants told these words unto the magistrates; and they feared when they heard that they were Romans.  And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

See Acts chap.14&16

Act 14:1  And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. 
Act 14:2  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 
Act 14:3  Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 
Act 14:4  But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 
Act 14:5  And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 
Act 14:6  They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 
Act 14:7  And there they preached the gospel. 

Act 14:8  And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 
Act 14:9  The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 
Act 14:10  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 
Act 14:11  And 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. 
Act 14:12  And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 
Act 14:13  Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 
Act 14:14  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 
Act 14:15  And saying, 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: 
Act 14:16  Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 
Act 14:17  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. 
Act 14:18  And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. 

Act 14:19  And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 
Act 14:20  Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 
Act 14:21  And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 
Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 
Act 14:23  And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 

Act 14:24  And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 
Act 14:25  And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: 
Act 14:26  And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 
Act 14:27  And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 
Act 14:28  And there they abode long time with the disciples. 

Act 16:1  Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 
Act 16:2  Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 
Act 16:3  Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 
Act 16:4  And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 
Act 16:5  And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. 

Act 16:6  Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 
Act 16:7  After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 
Act 16:8  And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 
Act 16:9  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 
Act 16:10  And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 

Act 16:11  Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 
Act 16:12  And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 
Act 16:13  And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 
Act 16:14  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 
Act 16:15  And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. 

Act 16:16  And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 
Act 16:17  The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 
Act 16:18  And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 
Act 16:19  And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 
Act 16:20  And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 
Act 16:21  And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 
Act 16:22  And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 
Act 16:23  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 
Act 16:24  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 

Act 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 
Act 16:26  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 
Act 16:27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 
Act 16:28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 
Act 16:29  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 
Act 16:30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 
Act 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 
Act 16:32  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 
Act 16:33  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 
Act 16:34  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 
Act 16:35  And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 
Act 16:36  And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 
Act 16:37  But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 
Act 16:38  And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 
Act 16:39  And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 
Act 16:40  And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. 




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