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The revival of the apostle is not less wonderful than the courage exhibited, for he
returned again to Lystra AND to Iconium, AND to Antioch,
"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" (14: 21, 22).
Words were enforced by example, and the confirmation and exhortation must have
been very impressive. So vividly does the writer of the Acts recall the same, that he does
not merely tell us in his own words what Paul said, but suddenly leaves the narrative
form for quotation, "we must", etc., quoting Paul's own words to the disciples.
Chapter 15: introduces another line of assault; the enemy of truth used the hatred of
the Jew to bring about, if possible, the death of the appointed messenger. This failing, he
tries another method; he uses the Jews to attack the apostle's message.
"And certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, that if you are
not circumcised with the rite of Moses you cannot be saved."
Nothing daunted, the apostle and Barnabas "had no small discussion, and disputation
with them." After having suffered so much already at the hands of the Jews, it must have
been exceedingly trying to be punished at the hands of the Gentiles for being Jews, for
that was the charge laid against Paul and Silas, which brought the stripes and
imprisonment (16: 20). Yet they could sing praises unto God in the inner prison!
Leaving Philippi, the apostle reaches Thessalonica, "where there was a synagogue of
the Jews". Do we read that Paul, having received such continual ill-treatment at the
hands of the Jews, avoided their place of worship? No!
"And Paul, AS HIS MANNER WAS, went in unto them."
"The Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows
of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar" (17: 1-5).
The brethren sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming, "went into
the synagogue of the Jews". Oh wondrous faith! Oh stedfast love! May we follow this
example of unflinching faithfulness. The Lord graciously gave the apostle a season of
refreshing at Berea, which, however, lasted only for a short space,
"But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was
preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people" (17: 13).
Paul is the name that is hated, Silas is not mentioned; it is Paul who is sent away "to
go as it were to the sea"; but Silas and Timothy remained. It is also not devoid of
emphasis to read in verse 15 that the brethren "conducted" Paul to Athens.
Chapter 18: finds the apostle at Corinth, reasoning n the synagogue, and testifying
to the Jews, who opposed and blasphemed. When he at length did feel that he must shake
his raiment and say to his disbelieving countrymen, "your blood be upon your own