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The Story of Redemption
with Stephen was heard in the same synagogue fearlessly proclaim-
ing that Jesus was the Son of God—advocating the same cause
that Stephen had died to vindicate. He related his own wonderful
experience, and with a heart filled with yearning for his brethren
and former associates, presented the evidences from prophecy, as
Stephen had done, that Jesus, who had been crucified, was the Son
of God.
But Paul had miscalculated the spirit of his Jewish brethren.
The same fury that had burst forth upon Stephen was visited upon
himself. He saw that he must separate from his brethren, and sorrow
filled his heart. He would willingly have yielded up his life if by
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that means they might have been brought to a knowledge of the
truth. The Jews began to lay plans to take his life, and the disciples
urged him to leave Jerusalem; but he lingered, unwilling to leave the
place, and anxious to labor a little longer for his Jewish brethren. He
had taken so active a part in the martyrdom of Stephen that he was
deeply anxious to wipe out the stain by boldly vindicating the truth
which had cost Stephen his life. It looked to him like cowardice to
flee from Jerusalem.
Flight From Jerusalem
While Paul, braving all the consequences of such a step, was
praying earnestly to God in the temple, the Saviour appeared to him
in vision, saying, “Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem:
for they will not receive thy testimony concerning Me.” Paul even
then hesitated to leave Jerusalem without convincing the obstinate
Jews of the truth of his faith; he thought that, even if his life should
be sacrificed for the truth, it would not more than settle the fearful
account which he held against himself for the death of Stephen. He
answered, “Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every
synagogue them that believed on Thee: and when the blood of Thy
martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting
unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.” But the
reply was more decided than before: “Depart: for I will send thee
far hence unto the Gentiles.”
When the brethren learned of the vision of Paul, and the care
which God had over him, their anxiety on his behalf was increased;