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Paul Exalts the Cross, December 1
Acts 17:15-33 to Acts 18:4
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ,
and him crucified.... And my speech and my preaching was not with
enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of
power.
1 Corinthians 2:2-4
.
It had been Paul’s custom to adopt an oratorical style in his preaching. He
was a man fitted to speak before kings, before the great and learned men of
Athens, and his intellectual acquirements were often of value to him in preparing
the way for the gospel. He tried to do this in Athens, meeting eloquence with
eloquence, philosophy with philosophy, and logic with logic; but he failed to
meet with the success he had hoped for. His aftersight led him to understand
that there was something needed above human wisdom.... He must receive his
power from a higher source. In order to convict and convert sinners, the Spirit of
God must come into his work and sanctify every spiritual development
To Paul the cross was the one object of supreme interest. Ever since he had
been arrested in his career of persecution against the followers of the crucified
Nazarene he had never ceased to glory in the cross.... He knew by personal
experience that when a sinner once beholds the love of the Father, as seen in the
sacrifice of His Son, and yields to the divine influence, a change of heart takes
place, and henceforth Christ is all and in all.
At the time of his conversion, Paul was inspired with a longing desire to help
his fellow men to behold Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of the living God, mighty
to transform and to save. Henceforth his life was wholly devoted to an effort to
portray the love and power of the Crucified One.... The apostle’s efforts were not
confined to public speaking; there were many who could not have been reached
in that way.... He visited the sick and the sorrowing, comforted the afflicted, and
lifted up the oppressed. And in all that he said and did he magnified the name of
Jesus....
Paul realized that his sufficiency was not in himself, but in the presence of
the Holy Spirit, whose gracious influence filled his heart.... Self was hidden;
Christ was revealed and exalted
[342]
1
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 6:1084
.
2
The Acts of the Apostles, 245-251
.
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