Preaching Among the Heathen
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claimed that it was accomplished through the demons whom these
men served.
The same class had formerly accused the Saviour of casting out
devils through the power of the prince of devils; they had denounced
him as a deceiver; and they now visited the same unreasoning wrath
upon his apostles. By means of falsehoods they inspired the people
of Lystra with the bitterness of spirit by which they were themselves
actuated. They claimed to be thoroughly acquainted with the history
and faith of Paul and Barnabas, and so misrepresented their characters
and work that these heathen, who had been ready to worship the
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apostles as divine beings, now considered them worse than murderers,
and that whoever should put them out of the world would do God and
mankind good service.
Those who believe and teach the truths of God’s word in these last
days, meet with similar opposition from unprincipled persons who
will not accept the truth, and who do not hesitate to prevaricate, and
even to circulate the most glaring falsehoods in order to destroy the
influence and hedge up the way of those whom God has sent with a
message of warning to the world. While one class make the falsehoods
and circulate them, another class are so blinded by the delusions of
Satan as to receive them as the words of truth. They are in the toils of
the arch-enemy, while they flatter themselves that they are the children
of God. “For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not
the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
The disappointment experienced by the idolaters in being refused
the privilege of offering sacrifices to the apostles, prepared them to turn
against these ministers of God with a zeal which approached that of the
enthusiasm with which they had hailed them as gods. The malicious
Jews did not hesitate to take full advantage of the superstition and
credulity of this heathen people, to carry out their cruel designs. They
incited them to attack the apostles by force; and they charged them not
to allow Paul an opportunity to speak, alleging that if they did so he
would bewitch the people.
The Lystrians rushed upon the apostles with great rage and fury.
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They hurled stones violently; and Paul, bruised, battered, and fainting,
felt that his end had come. The martyrdom of Stephen was brought
vividly to his mind, and the cruel part he had acted on that occasion.