Paul Enters Upon His Ministry
23
This first interview was of great consequence to both these apostles,
but it was of short duration, for Paul was eager to get about his Master’s
[37]
business. Soon the voice which had so earnestly disputed with Stephen,
was heard in the same synagogue fearlessly proclaiming that Jesus was
the Son of God—advocating the same cause that Stephen had died to
vindicate. He related his own wonderful experience, and with a heart
filled with yearning for his brethren and former associates, presented
the evidences from prophecy, as Stephen had done, that Jesus, who
had been crucified, was the Son of God.
But Paul had miscalculated the spirit of his Jewish brethren. The
same fury that had burst forth upon Stephen was visited upon himself.
He saw that he must separate from his brethren, and sorrow filled his
heart. He would willingly have yielded up his life, if by that means
they might have been brought to a knowledge of the truth. The Jews
began to lay plans to take his life, and the disciples urged him to leave
Jerusalem; but he lingered, unwilling to leave the place, and anxious
to labor a little longer for his Jewish brethren. He had taken so active
a part in the martyrdom of Stephen that he was deeply anxious to wipe
out the stain by boldly vindicating the truth which had cost Stephen
his life. It looked to him like cowardice to flee from Jerusalem.
While Paul, braving all the consequences of such a step, was
praying earnestly to God in the temple, the Saviour appeared to him
in vision, saying, “Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem;
for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.” Paul even
then hesitated to leave Jerusalem without convincing the obstinate
Jews of the truth of his faith; he thought that, even if his life should be
[38]
sacrificed for the truth, it would not more than settle the fearful account
which he held against himself for the death of Stephen. 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 also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept
the raiment of them that slew him.” But the reply was more decided
than before: “Depart; for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
When the brethren learned of the vision of Paul, and the care
which God had over him, their anxiety on his behalf increased. They
hastened his secret escape from Jerusalem, for fear of his assassination
by the Jews. The departure of Paul suspended for a time the violent