‘STAND FAST IN THE FAITH’

New Zealand Tablet, 20 August 1914, Page 3

‘STAND FAST IN THE FAITH ’

(A Weekly Instruction specially written for the N.Z. Tablet by ‘Ghimel.’)

EARLY HISTORY OF THE CHURCH (XL)

(Continued.)

. As it would be impossible to treat of St. Paul’s journeys in detail, we must content ourselves with touching on some of the more prominent incidents. Turning to the sixteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles we find that some time a'fter the Council of Jerusalem, St. Paul, with two disciples (Silas and Timothy), visited the churches which he already founded in Syria and Asia Minor. He would have continued his work of ‘ opening the door of belief to the Nations along the great central route of the Empire, were he not forbidden to do so by the Spirit of God. He was then led across Asia from the extreme south-east to the extreme north-west corner, and yet prevented by the Spirit of Jesus from preaching in it; everything seemed dark and perplexing, until at last a vision in Troas explained the purpose of this apparently useless journey. In the vision a certain Macedonian, who was personally known to Paul (possibly Luke, the author of the Acts, whom Paul had recently met), appeared, and called luma cross the sea to Macedonia : ‘ Come over into Macedonia, and help us.’

Two days’ sailing brought the missionaries to the harbor, Neapolis, but as usual, St. Paul, pushed on to the great city of Philippi. The Gospel,’ writes Bishop Burton,’ was now entering the most refined and civilised country in the world. The Greeks, though conquered by the iron courage and endurance of the Romans, were still regarded as the instructors of the world in science and philosophy. The Greek language was the polite language of nearly the whole Roman Empire. Greek learning and poetry took the lead, and found imitators and disciples among the finest intellects of Rome. But the pride of reason, when unilluminated with divine light, has always been the most, formidable opponent of the Gospel. The Greeks were unwilling to listen to it unless it were connected with some system of philosophy. The Romans were very jealous of the introduction of any now religion, and were opposed to any kind of proselytising. It may well be supposed, therefore, that the Gospel would be soon subjected to most severe trials when it came into contact with both these prejudices in combination as they were at Philippi.’ On the Sabbath St. Paul and his companions went along the river bank to the regular place where the Jews in Philippi, and those non-Jews who had been attracted to Jewish customs, were wont to meet in prayer. Here a certain woman named Lydia received the Word of God preached by Paul. She sold the purple-dyed garments from Thyatira (famous for its dyeing), and she had, no doubt, a regular connection with a firm in Thyatira (her native city), whose agent she was. She had probably become addicted to Jewish religious practices in her native city, and now, after becoming a regular hearer at Paul’s preaching, was baptised with her household. But trouble soon arose. A certain slave-girl of the city was possessed by a ' spirit of Python,’ that is to say, was a ventriloquist and was consequently supposed to possess the power of foretelling the future. She saw in the strange preachers inspired servants of the most high God, and openly proclaimed what she felt. St. Paul ordered the evil spirit to come forth from her in the name of his Master. And then the girl lost faith in herself and with it her power. ‘ When next she tried to speak as she had formerly done, she was unable to do so; and in a few days.it became apparent that she had lost her power. Along with her power, her hold on the superstitions of the populace disappeared and. the people ceased to come to her to have their fortunes read, to get help in finding things they had lost, and so on. Thus the

comfortable income that she had earned for her owners was lost; and these, knowing who had : done the mischief, sought revenge.’ ” * ■■■ - ■s’-.-. £, Paul and -Silas ; were seized and accused in the magistrate’s court of treason, or ‘impiety.’ A horrible crime, indeed, and the people rose as one man, like, tnle Romans, to defend their country against her insidious enemies ! Paul claimed his right of Roman citizenship, but the fussy, consequential Praetors had to yield to the disorderly rabble, and the two culprits were scourged and cast into prison. : :■ Suffering in their Master’s cause was a source of deep joy to the prisoners, and at midnight the praises of God were heard, for the first time, no doubt, in the dungeons of - Philippi. Then an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison; the bars across the doors slipped from their hold and the doors swung open; the chains and stocks by which the prisoners were fastened to the wall became detached, and the prisoners were free. The jailor was responsible with his life for the safety of his prisoners; and, concluding from the sight of the open door that they had managed. to set themselves free and escape, he thought of killing himself, for death by his own hand was preferable to exposure, disgrace, and a dishonorable death. He was stopped in his mad determination by the reassuring voice of St. Paul. ‘He called for a light, and now the Holy Spirit darted a ray of divine light into his soul, he felt himself in the presence of the living God, whose servants were here calm in the midst of all this confusion, and trembling he cast himself at their feet, saying, ‘Masters, what must Idoto be saved? It ■was a heart-broken cry of a contrite sinner, and the answer came back, meeting him on his own ground, satisfying every want of his terrified conscience: ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.’

Next day, at the earnest and personal request of the. frightened and aplogetic magistrates, Paul and his companions left Philippi, and pushed on to Thessalonica, where there was a fair number of Jewish settlers.