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Jews Decide to Kill Paul
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The first conception of faith in the true God, and of the worship and
honor due to Him, was being formed in their minds; and as they
were listening to Paul, Satan was urging on the unbelieving Jews of
other cities to follow after Paul to destroy the good work wrought
through him. These Jews stirred up the minds of those idolaters by
false reports against Paul. The wonder and admiration of the people
now changed to hate, and they who a short time before were ready
to worship the disciples, stoned Paul and drew him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead. But as the disciples were standing about
Paul and mourning over him, to their joy he rose up and went with
them into the city.
Again, as Paul and Silas preached Jesus, a certain woman pos-
sessed with a spirit of divination followed them, crying, “These men
are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way
of salvation.” Thus she followed the disciples many days. But Paul
was grieved; for this crying after them diverted the minds of the
people from the truth. Satan’s object in leading her to do this was to
disgust the people and destroy the influence of the disciples. Paul’s
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spirit was stirred within him, and he turned and said to the spirit, “I
command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her”; and
the evil spirit was rebuked, and left her.
Her masters were pleased that she cried after the disciples; but
when the evil spirit left her, and they saw her a meek disciple of
Christ, they were enraged. They had gathered much money by her
fortunetelling, and now the hope of their gain was gone. Satan’s
object was defeated; but his servants caught Paul and Silas, and drew
them into the market place, unto the rulers, and to the magistrates,
saying, “These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city.”
And the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates
rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when
they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison,
charging the jailer to keep them safely, who, having received such a
charge, thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in
the stocks. But the angels of the Lord accompanied them within the
prison walls, and caused their imprisonment to tell to the glory of
God, and show to the people that God was in the work, and with His
chosen servants.