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Sketches from the Life of Paul
Paul did not bind himself nor his converts to the ceremonies and
customs of the Jews, with their varied forms, types, and sacrifices;
for he recognized that the perfect and final offering had been made in
the death of the Son of God. The age of clearer light and knowledge
had now come. And although the early education of Paul had blinded
his eyes to this light, and led him to bitterly oppose the work of God,
yet the revelation of Christ to him while on his way to Damascus had
changed the whole current of his life. His character and works had
now become a remarkable illustration of those of his divine Lord. His
teaching led the mind to a more active spiritual life, that carried the
believer above mere ceremonies. “For thou desirest not sacrifice, else
would I give it. Thou delightest not in burnt-offering. The sacrifices
of God are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou
wilt not despise.”
The apostle did not labor to charm the ear with oratory, nor to
engage the mind with philosophic discussions, which would leave the
heart untouched. He preached the cross of Christ, not with labored elo-
quence of speech, but with the grace and power of God; and his words
moved the people. “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue,
believed on the Lord, with all his house; and many of the Corinthians,
hearing, believed and were baptized.”
The feelings of hatred with which many of the Jews had regarded
the apostle were now intensified. The conversion and baptism of Cris-
pus had the effect to exasperate instead of to convince these stubborn
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opposers. They could not bring arguments to show that he was not
preaching the truth, and for lack of such evidence, they resorted to
deception and malignant attack.
They blasphemed the truth and the name of Jesus of Nazareth. No
words were too bitter, no device too low, for them to use in their blind
anger and opposition. They could not deny that Christ had worked
miracles; but they declared that he had performed them through the
power of Satan; and they now boldly affirmed that the wonderful works
of Paul were accomplished through the same agency.
Those who preach unpopular truth in our day are often met by
the professed Christian world with opposition similar to that which
was brought against the apostle by the unbelieving Jews. Many who
make the most exalted profession, and who should be light-bearers to
the world, are the most bitter and unreasonable in opposing the work