Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1916 — ST. PAUL A PRISONER IN THE CASTLE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ST. PAUL A PRISONER IN THE CASTLE

Acts t2:B29.—Sept. tl. Preaching the Gospel of Christ—The Mob Again Enraged—Colonel Lysias In Perplexity Orders the Roman Soldiers to Beat St. Paul—Thereupon the Apostle Declares His Citizenship. Lessons From His Experiences. “Be is m) Refuge and my Fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’’—Psalm 91:2. *7l T E might have supposed that £ S I the beating which St. Paul received from the mob, together with the rough treatment which he had. undergone In getting to the castle door, would have cowed the Apostle. But on the contrary, he calmly asked the commandant to grant him the privilege of speaking to the people. Doubtless he intimated that they had misunderstood what he was doing, and that a fewwords from him might pacify them. The Roman officer was astonished; for the Apostle spoke Greek fluently.

He had thought that St. Paul was “that Egyptian,” mentioned by Josephus, who bad a short time before gathered a large body of discontented Jews, to whom he had represented himself as Messiah and who, as his followers, had given the Roman

authorities considerable trouble. St. Paul answered that he was a jew of an honorable city, and again asked the privilege of speaking to the people. His request was granted. Then St. Paul stood on the stairs "and motioned silence, in order to address the mob. Doubtless he considered his thrilling experiences well compensated for by the privilege of telling a large concourse of his countrymen about Jesus. Promptly he preached Christ—that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah, that His sacrificial death constituted the Redemption Sacrifice for Adam’s forfeited life and, incidentally, for all of Adam’s children, who died under his death sentence. Surely also he declared that Messiah was calling a spiritual class to be His associates in His Millennial Kingdom, and that shortly Israel and all the nations would experience the blessings of that Kingdom. Then he proceeded to tell about his missionary tours. He declared that many of the Gentiles were gladly receiving this Message and giving their hearts to the Lord in full consecration. SL Paul’s Defense.

But so strong was the Jewish prejudice that the mere mention of the fact that this great blessing was going upon equal terms to the Gentiles rekindled the flame of hatred and violence; and their shouts and jeers rent the air. Perplexed at the situation, the Roman commandant concluded that where there was so much opposition there must be some cause for it. Thereupon he gave orders that the Apostle be whipped until he confessed what he had done to create such a tumult At once the command began to be carried out by the soldiers, who proceeded to tie St. Paul to the whippingpost. But the Apostle brought the proceedings to a quick termination by inquiring of a centurion who stood by, “Is it Idwful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman and uncondemned?" When the centurion heard the question, he reported it to the colonel, who came and questioned the Apostle. He took St Paul's word for it that he was a Roman citizen; for to have made an untruthful claim to citizenship would have meant death, as soon as the matter had been investigated. The Apostle was held a prisoner for trial. Lessons From St. Paul's Experience. St. Paul was suffering as a Christian —because of loyalty to the Lord and His Word. He was not suffering because of following the admonitions of the brethren in going into the Temple;

for very evidently the hatred in the hearts of their enemies would sooner or later have manifested itself, and they would have sought the Apstle’s life, as on previous occasions. In this incident we see merely that the attempt to create a favorable impres-

slon toward the Apostle Paul and his work amongst the Gentiles probably brought the matter of his arrest more quickly to the front than any other course would have done. The Apostle was not ashamed of his sufferings; for he realized that they were endured for Christ’s sake. One should feel deeply pained at a public arrest and imprisonment as a violator of the law. But when these things are experienced because of faithfulness to the Lord, following l in His footsteps, such may well rejoice in the ignominy, rejoice in what otherwise would be shameful and detestable. Let them glorify God on this behalf, rejoicing that they are accounted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ, and remembering that thus also wai it with our Lord Jesus Himself. He was placed under arrest: He was bound; He was scourged: He was publicly insulted: He was even crucified as a blasphemer against God. Let every instance of religious bigotry and fanatical violence speak to our hearts a lesson in the opposite direction.

“Is it Lawful?”

St. Paul's Defense.