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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
the circumstances attending his conversion, his vision in the temple at
Jerusalem, his appointment by God to preach to the Gentiles, and the
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success which had already crowned his efforts among them.
When Paul and Barnabas turned from the Jews who derided them,
they addressed them boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the Word of
God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing ye it from you,
and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the
Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee
to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto
the ends of the earth.”
This gathering in of the Gentiles to the church of God had been
traced by the pen of inspiration, but had been but faintly understood.
Hosea had said, “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as
the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it
shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye
are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of
the living God.” And again, “I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I
will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say
to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall
say, Thou art my God.”
During the life of Christ on earth he had sought to lead the Jews
out of their exclusiveness. The conversion of the centurion, and that
of the Syrophenician woman, were instances of his direct work out-
side of the acknowledged people of Israel. The time had now come
for active and continued work among the Gentiles, of whom whole
communities received the gospel gladly, and glorified God for the light
of an intelligent faith. The unbelief and malice of the Jews did not turn
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aside the purpose of God; for a new Israel was being grafted into the
old olive-tree. The synagogues were closed against the apostles; but
private houses were thrown open for their use, and public buildings of
the Gentiles were also used in which to preach the Word of God.
The Jews, however, were not satisfied with closing their syna-
gogues against the apostles, but desired to banish them from that
region. To effect this purpose they sought to prejudice certain devout
and honorable women, who had great influence with the government,
and also men of influence. This they accomplished by subtle arts, and
false reports. These persons of good ree complained to the authorities