Jews Decided to Kill Paul
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listening to Paul, Satan urged on the unbelieving Jews of other cities
to follow after Paul to destroy the good work wrought through him.
The Jews stirred up, and inflamed the minds of those idolaters by
false reports against Paul. The wonder and admiration of the people
now changed to hate, and they who a short time before were ready
to worship the disciples, stoned Paul, and drew him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead. But as the disciples were standing about
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Paul, and mourning over him, to their joy he rose up, and went with
them into the city.
As Paul preached Jesus, a certain woman possessed with a spirit of
divination, followed them, crying, These men are the servants of the
most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. Thus she
followed the disciples many days. But Paul was grieved; for this crying
after them diverted the minds of the people from the truth. Satan’s
object in leading her to do this was to disgust the people, and destroy
the influence of the disciples. But Paul’s spirit was stirred within him,
and he turned to the woman, and said to the spirit, I command thee
in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her, and the evil spirit was
rebuked, and left her.
Her masters were pleased that she cried after the disciples; but
when the evil spirit had left her, and they saw her a meek disciple of
Christ, they were enraged. They had gathered much money by her
fortune-telling, and now the hope of their gain was gone. Satan’s
object was defeated; but his servants caught Paul and Silas, and drew
them into the market place, unto the rulers, and to the magistrates,
saying, These men being Jews do exceedingly trouble our city. And
the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore
off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had
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laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the
jailer to keep them safely, who, having received such a charge, thrust
them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks. But
the angels of God accompanied them within the prison walls. Their
imprisonment told to the glory of God, and showed to the people that
God was in the work, and with his chosen servants, and that prison
walls could be shaken, and strong iron bars could easily be opened by
him.
At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sung praises unto God,
and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations