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Spiritual Gifts. Volume 1
The Lord revealed to Paul that he must again go up to Jerusalem;
that he would there be bound and suffer for his name. And although
he was a prisoner for a great length of time, yet the Lord was carry-
ing forward his special work through him. Paul’s bonds were to be
the means of spreading the knowledge of Christ, and thus glorifying
God. As he was sent from city to city for his trial, the testimony
concerning Jesus, and the interesting incidents of his conversion were
related before kings and governors, that they should not be left without
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testimony concerning Jesus. Thousands believed on him and rejoiced
in his name. I saw that God’s special purpose was fulfilled in the
journey of Paul upon the water, that the ship’s crew might witness
the power of God through Paul, and that the heathen also might hear
the name of Jesus, and many be converted through his teaching, and
by witnessing the miracles he wrought. Kings and governors were
charmed by his reasoning, and as, with zeal and the power of the Holy
Spirit, he preached Jesus, and related the interesting events of his
experience, conviction fastened upon them that Jesus was the Son of
God; and while some wondered with amazement as they listened to
Paul, one cried out. Almost thou persuadest me to be a christian. Yet
they thought that at some future time they would consider what they
had heard. Satan took advantage of the delay, and as they neglected
that opportunity when their hearts were softened, it was forever. Their
hearts became hardened.
I was shown the work of Satan in first blinding the eyes of the
Jews so that they would not receive Jesus as their Saviour; and next
in leading them, through envy because of his mighty works, to desire
his life. Satan entered one of Jesus’ own followers, and led him on
to betray him into their hands, and they crucified the Lord of life and
glory. After Jesus arose from the dead, the Jews added sin to sin as
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they sought to hide the fact of the resurrection, by hiring for money the
Roman guard to testify to a falsehood. But the resurrection of Jesus
was made doubly sure by the resurrection of a multitude of witnesses
who arose with him. Jesus appeared to his disciples, and to above five
hundred at once, while those whom he brought up with him appeared
unto many declaring that Jesus had risen.
Satan had caused the Jews to rebel against God, by refusing to
receive his Son, and in staining their hands with most precious blood in
crucifying him. No matter how powerful the evidence given of Jesus’