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The Acts of the Apostles
civilized world. More than this, he was made the recipient of divine
honors and was worshiped as a god.
From the viewpoint of human judgment, Paul’s condemnation
before such a judge was certain. But the apostle felt that so long as he
was loyal to God, he had nothing to fear. The One who in the past had
been his protector could shield him still from the malice of the Jews
and from the power of Caesar.
And God did shield His servant. At Paul’s examination the charges
against him were not sustained, and, contrary to the general expecta-
tion, and with a regard for justice wholly at variance with his character,
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Nero declared the prisoner guiltless. Paul’s bonds were removed; he
was again a free man.
Had his trial been longer deferred, or had he from any cause been
detained in Rome until the following year, he would doubtless have
perished in the persecution which then took place. During Paul’s
imprisonment the converts to Christianity had become so numerous
as to attract the attention and arouse the enmity of the authorities.
The anger of the emperor was especially excited by the conversion of
members of his own household, and he soon found a pretext to make
the Christians the objects of his merciless cruelty.
About this time a terrible fire occurred in Rome by which nearly
one half of the city was burned. Nero himself, it was rumored, had
caused the flames to be kindled, but to avert suspicion he made a
pretense of great generosity by assisting the homeless and destitute.
He was, however, accused of the crime. The people were excited and
enraged, and in order to clear himself, and also to rid the city of a
class whom he feared and hated, Nero turned the accusation upon the
Christians. His device succeeded, and thousands of the followers of
Christ—men, women, and children—were cruelly put to death.
From this terrible persecution Paul was spared, for soon after his
release he had left Rome. This last interval of freedom he diligently
improved in laboring among the churches. He sought to establish
a firmer union between the Greek and the Eastern churches and to
fortify the minds of the believers against the false doctrines that were
[488]
creeping in to corrupt the faith.
The trials and anxieties that Paul had endured had preyed upon his
physical powers. The infirmities of age were upon him. He felt that
he was now doing his last work, and, as the time of his labor grew