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Sketches from the Life of Paul
When Paul and Barnabas turned from the Jews who derided them,
they addressed them boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of
God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing ye put it from
you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to
the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set
thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation
unto the ends of the earth.”
This gathering in of the Gentiles to the church of God had been
traced by the pen of inspiration, but had been but faintly understood.
Hosea had said, “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as
the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered, and it
shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye
are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of
the living God.” And again, “I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I
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will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say
to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall
say, Thou art my God.”
During the life of Christ on earth he had sought to lead the Jews
out of their exclusiveness. The conversion of the centurion, and of the
Syrophenician woman, were instances of his direct work outside of
the acknowledged people of Israel. The time had now come for active
and continued work among the Gentiles, of whom whole communities
received the gospel gladly, and glorified God for the light of an intelli-
gent faith. The unbelief and malice of the Jews did not turn aside the
purpose of God; for a new Israel was grafted into the old olive-tree.
The synagogues were closed against the apostles; but private houses
were thrown open for their use, and public buildings of the Gentiles
were also used in which to preach the word of God.
The Jews, however, were not satisfied with closing their syna-
gogues against the apostles, but desired to banish them from that
region. To effect this purpose, they sought to prejudice certain devout
and honorable women, who had great influence with the government,
and also men of influence. This they accomplished by subtle arts,
and false reports. These persons of good repute complained to the
authorities against the apostles, and they were accordingly expelled
from that district.
On this occasion the apostles followed the instruction of Christ:
“Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence,
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