Chapter 29—The Final Arrest
Though Paul’s labors were chiefly among the churches, he could
not escape the observation of his enemies. Since Nero’s persecution,
Christians were everywhere the objects of hatred and suspicion. Any
evil-disposed person could easily secure the arrest and imprisonment
of one of the proscribed sect. And now the Jews conceived the idea
[305]
of seeking to fasten upon Paul the crime of instigating the burning
of Rome. Not one of them for a moment believed him guilty; but
they knew that such a charge, made with the faintest show of plausi-
bility, would seal his doom. An opportunity soon offered to execute
their plans. At the house of a disciple in the city of Troas, Paul was
again seized, and from this place he was hurried away to his final
imprisonment.
The arrest was affected by the efforts of Alexander the coppersmith,
who had so unsuccessfully opposed the apostle’s work at Ephesus,
and who now seized the opportunity to be revenged on one whom
he could not defeat. Paul in his second Epistle to Timothy afterward
referred to the machinations of this enemy of the faith: “Alexander
the coppersmith did me much evil. The Lord reward him according
to his works.” In his first epistle he spoke in a similar manner of
Hymeneus and Alexander as among those who “concerning faith have
made shipwreck;” “whom,” he says, “I have delivered unto Satan, that
they may learn not to blaspheme.” These men had departed from the
faith of the gospel, and furthermore had done despite to the Spirit of
grace by attributing to the power of Satan the wonderful revelations
made to Paul. Having rejected the truth, they were filled with hatred
against it, and sought to destroy its faithful advocate.
Reformatory action is always attended with loss, sacrifice, and
peril. It always rebukes love of ease, selfish interests, and lustful
ambition. Hence, whoever initiates or prosecutes such action must
encounter opposition, calumny, and hatred from those who are un-
[306]
willing to submit to the conditions of reform. It is no easy matter to
overcome sinful habits and practices. The work can be accomplished
217