86
The Acts of the Apostles
Upon hearing this, the disciples received him as one of their num-
ber. Soon they had abundant evidence as to the genuineness of his
Christian experience. The future apostle to the Gentiles was now
in the city where many of his former associates lived, and to these
Jewish leaders he longed to make plain the prophecies concerning the
Messiah, which had been fulfilled by the advent of the Saviour. Paul
felt sure that these teachers in Israel, with whom he had once been so
well acquainted, were as sincere and honest as he had been. But he
had miscalculated the spirit of his Jewish brethren, and in the hope
of their speedy conversion he was doomed to bitter disappointment.
Although “he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed
against the Grecians,” those who stood at the head of the Jewish church
refused to believe, but “went about to slay him.” Sorrow filled his heart.
He would willingly have yielded up his life if by that means he might
bring some to a knowledge of the truth. With shame he thought of the
active part he had taken in the martyrdom of Stephen, and now in his
anxiety to wipe out the stain resting upon one so falsely accused, he
sought to vindicate the truth for which Stephen had given his life.
[130]
Burdened in behalf of those who refused to believe, Paul was
praying in the temple, as he himself afterward testified, when he fell
into a trance; whereupon a heavenly messenger appeared before him
and said, “Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they
will not receive thy testimony concerning Me.”
Acts 22:18
.
Paul was inclined to remain at Jerusalem, where he could face
the opposition. To him it seemed an act of cowardice to flee, if by
remaining he might be able to convince some of the obstinate Jews
of the truth of the gospel message, even if to remain should cost him
his life. And so he answered, “Lord, they know that I imprisoned
and beat in every synagogue them that believed on Thee: and when
the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed, I was also standing by,
and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew
him.” But it was not in harmony with the purpose of God that His
servant should needlessly expose his life; and the heavenly messenger
replied, “Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
Acts
22:19-21
.
Upon learning of this vision, the brethren hastened Paul’s secret
escape from Jerusalem, for fear of his assassination. “They brought
him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.” The departure of