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Sketches from the Life of Paul
telling his hearers how his own proud heart had been brought to bow
to the crucified Nazarene. Had he attempted to enter into argument
with his opponents, they would have stubbornly refused to listen to
his words; but this relation of his experience was attended with a
convincing power that for the time seemed to soften and subdue their
hearts.
He then endeavored to show that his work among the Gentiles had
not been from choice. He had desired to labor for his own nation; but
in that very temple the voice of God had spoken to him in holy vision,
directing his course “far hence, unto the Gentiles.” Hitherto the people
had given close attention, but when he reached the point in his history
where he was appointed Christ’s ambassador to the Gentiles, their fury
broke forth anew. Accustomed to look upon themselves as the only
people favored of God, they could not endure the thought that the de-
spised Gentiles should share the privilege which had hitherto belonged
exclusively to themselves. National pride bore down every argument
which could influence their reason or command their reverence. An
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outburst of rage interrupted his speech, as all with one voice cried out,
“Away with such a fellow from the earth; for it is not fit that he should
live!” In their excitement they flung off their garments, as they had
done years before at the martyrdom of Stephen, and threw dust into
the air with frantic violence.
This fresh outbreak threw the Roman captain into great perplexity.
He had not understood Paul’s Hebrew address, and concluded from the
general excitement that his prisoner must be guilty of some great crime.
The loud demands of the people that Paul be delivered into their hands
made the commander tremble. He ordered him to be immediately
taken unto the barracks and examined by scourging, that he might be
forced to confess his guilt.
The body of the apostle was stretched out, like that of a common
malefactor, to receive the lashes. There was no friend to stand by him.
He was in a Roman barrack, surrounded only by brutal soldiers. But,
as on a former occasion at Philippi, he now rescued himself from this
degradation, and gained advantage for the gospel, by appealing to his
rights as a Roman citizen.
He quietly said to the centurion who had been appointed to super-
intend this examination, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is
a Roman, and uncondemned?” The centurion immediately went and