328
The Acts of the Apostles
to share the throne of God. By angel messengers, earth is connected
with heaven, and all the deeds of men, whether good or evil, are open
to the eye of Infinite Justice.
Thus pleads the advocate of truth. Faithful among the faithless,
loyal among the disloyal, he stands as God’s representative, and his
voice is as a voice from heaven. There is no fear, no sadness, no dis-
couragement in word or look. Strong in a consciousness of innocence,
clothed in the panoply of truth, he rejoices that he is a son of God. His
words are as a shout of victory above the roar of battle. He declares
the cause to which he has devoted his life, to be the only cause that
can never fail. Though he may perish, the gospel will not perish. God
lives, and His truth will triumph.
Many who that day looked upon him “saw his face as it had been
the face of an angel.”
Acts 6:15
.
Never before had that company listened to words like these. They
struck a cord that vibrated in the hearts of even the most hardened.
[496]
Truth, clear and convincing, overthrew error. Light shone into the
minds of many who afterward gladly followed its rays. The truths
spoken on that day were destined to shake nations and to live through
all time, influencing the hearts of men when the lips that had uttered
them should be silent in a martyr’s grave.
Never before had Nero heard the truth as he heard it on this oc-
casion. Never before had the enormous guilt of his own life been so
revealed to him. The light of heaven pierced the sin-polluted chambers
of his soul, and he trembled with terror at the thought of a tribunal
before which he, the ruler of the world, would finally be arraigned, and
his deeds receive their just award. He feared the apostle’s God, and he
dared not pass sentence upon Paul, against whom no accusation had
been sustained. A sense of awe restrained for a time his bloodthirsty
spirit.
For a moment, heaven was opened to the guilty and hardened Nero,
and its peace and purity seemed desirable. That moment the invitation
of mercy was extended even to him. But only for a moment was the
thought of pardon welcomed. Then the command was issued that
Paul be taken back to his dungeon; and as the door closed upon the
messenger of God, the door of repentance closed forever against the
emperor of Rome. No ray of light from heaven was ever again to