Paul a Prisoner
157
brutal jests and revolting blasphemy the only sounds that fell upon his
ear. He was not now nerved up by the presence of his enemies, nor
was he supported by the sympathy of his friends. The future seemed
[224]
enveloped in darkness. He feared that his course might not have been
pleasing to God. Could it be that he had made a mistake after all in
this visit to Jerusalem? Had his great desire to be in union with his
brethren led to this disastrous result?
The position which the Jews as God’s professed people occupied
before an unbelieving world, caused the apostle intense anguish of
spirit. How would those heathen officers look upon their conduct,—
claiming to be worshipers of Jehovah, and assuming sacred office,
yet giving themselves up to the control of blind, unreasoning passion,
seeking to destroy even their brethren who dared to differ from them
in religious faith, and turning their most solemn deliberative council
into a scene of strife and wild confusion such as Roman senators or
magistrates would not stoop to engage in. The cause of his God had
been reproached, his national religion brought into disrepute.
And now he was in prison, and his enemies, in their desperate
malice, would resort to any means to put him to death. Could it be that
his work for the churches was closed, and that ravening wolves were
to enter in, not sparing the flock? The cause of Christ was near his
heart, and with deep anxiety he contemplated the perils of the scattered
churches, exposed to the persecutions of just such men as he had
encountered in the Sanhedrim council. In distress and discouragement
he wept and prayed. The Lord was not unmindful of his servant. He
had guarded him from the murderous throng in the temple courts,
he had been with him before the Sanhedrim council, he was with
him in the fortress, and was pleased to reveal himself to his faithful
witness. As on trying occasions several times before, Paul was now
[225]
comforted and encouraged by a vision in the night season. Such as
visitation had been granted him in the house of Aquila and Priscilla at
Corinth, when he was contemplating leaving the city for a more safe
and prosperous field. And now the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of
good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must
thou bear witness also at Rome.” Paul had long looked forward to a
visit to Rome; he greatly desired to witness for Christ there, but had
felt that his purposes were frustrated by the enmity of the Jews. He