Saul the Persecutor
7
priests could not deny the reasonableness of his views. They very
reluctantly released their prisoners, after beating them with rods, and
charging them again and again to preach no more in the name of Jesus
or their lives would pay the penalty of their boldness.
[14]
But punishments and threats were alike unheeded. The apostles
“departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple
and in every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
Despite all opposition, “the number of the disciples was multiplied.”
And now occurred a series of events, which, though seeming to
bring only defeat and loss to the cause of Christ, were to result in its
triumph, giving to the world one of the noblest examples of Christian
faith, and winning from the ranks of its opposers their most active and
successful champion. Most of the early believers were cut off from
family and friends by the zealous bigotry of the Jews. Many of the
converts had been thrown out of business and exiled from their homes,
because they had espoused the cause of Christ. It was necessary to
provide this large number, congregated at Jerusalem, with homes and
sustenance. Those having money and possessions cheerfully sacrificed
them to meet the existing emergency. Their means were laid at the feet
of the apostles, who made distribution to every man according as he
had need.
Among the believers were not only those who were Jews by birth
and spoke the Hebrew tongue, but also residents of other countries,
who used the Greek language. Between these two classes there had
long existed distrust, and even antagonism; and though their hearts
were now softened and united by Christian love, yet the old jealousies
were easily rekindled. Thus it came to pass that as disciples were
multiplied, “there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the
Hebrews.” The cause of complaint was an alleged neglect of the Greek
[15]
widows in the distribution of the fund set apart for the poor. Such
inequality would have been contrary to the spirit of the gospel, and
prompt measures were taken to remove all occasion for dissatisfaction.
Summoning a meeting of the believers, the apostles stated that the time
had come when they should be relieved from the task of apportioning
to the poor, and from similar burdens, so that they could be left free to
preach Christ. “Wherefore, brethren,” said they, “look ye out among
you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom,