Men and Women of the Bible
239
that their “faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the
power of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:1, 4, 5
.
Paul had necessarily adapted his manner of teaching to the con-
dition of the church. “I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual,” he afterward explained to them, “but as unto carnal, even as
unto babes in Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:1
.—
The Acts of the Apostles,
270, 271
.
His Religion Not a Mere Profession—His conversation, his in-
fluence, his refusal to yield to self-gratification, must show that his
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religion was not a profession merely, but a daily, living connection
with God. One goal he kept ever before him, and strove earnestly
to reach—“the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
Philippians
3:9
.—
The Acts of the Apostles, 314
.
Convincing Power—With convincing power the apostle set forth
the great truth of the resurrection.—
The Acts of the Apostles, 320
.
Plain Speech—The apostle, in the most decided and impressive
manner, endeavored to correct the false and dangerous ideas and prac-
tices that were prevailing in the Corinthian church. He spoke plainly,
yet in love for their souls.—
The Acts of the Apostles, 321
.
Calm, Self-Possessed Bearing—In the midst of the tumult [see
Acts 21:33-40
] the apostle was calm and self-possessed. His mind was
stayed upon God, and he knew that angels of heaven were about him.
He felt unwilling to leave the temple without making an effort to set
the truth before his countrymen. As he was about to be led into the
castle, he said to the chief captain, “May I speak unto thee?” Lysias
responded, “Canst thou speak Greek? Art not thou that Egyptian,
which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the
wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?” In reply Paul
said, “I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen
of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the
people.”
The request was granted, and “Paul stood on the stairs, and beck-
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oned with the hand unto the people.” The gesture attracted their atten-
tion, while his bearing commanded respect.—
The Acts of the Apostles,
408
.
Personal Experience—Had he attempted to enter into argument
with his opponents, they would have stubbornly refused to listen to
his words; but the relation of his experience was attended with a