As the chief priests and rulers witnessed the effect of the relation
of Paul's experience, they were moved with hatred against him.
They saw that he boldly preached Jesus and wrought miracles in
His name, that multitudes listened to him and turned from their
traditions and looked upon the Jewish leaders as the murderers
of the Son of God. Their anger was kindled, and they assembled
to consult as to what was best to be done to put down the excitement.
They agreed that the only safe course was to put Paul to death.
But God knew of their intention, and angels were commissioned
to guard him, that he might live to fulfill his mission.
Led by Satan, the unbelieving Jews watched the gates of Damascus
day and night, that as Paul should pass out, they might immediately
kill him. But Paul had been informed that the Jews were seeking
his life, and the disciples let him down over the wall in a basket
by night. At this failure to carry out their purposes, the Jews
were ashamed and indignant, and Satan's object was defeated.
After this, Paul went to Jerusalem to join himself to the disciples;
but they were all afraid of him. They could not believe that he
was a disciple. His life had been hunted by the Jews in Damascus,
and his own brethren would not receive him; but Barnabas took
him and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how
he had seen the Lord in the way and that he had preached boldly
at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
But Satan was stirring up the Jews to destroy Paul, and Jesus
bade him leave Jerusalem. In company with Barnabas, he went into
other cities, preaching Jesus and working miracles, and many were
converted. As one man was healed who had always been lame, the
people who worshiped idols were about to sacrifice to the disciples.
Paul was grieved, and told them that he and his fellow laborer
were only men and that the God who made heaven and earth, the
sea, and all things that are therein, must alone be worshiped.
Thus Paul exalted God before the people; but he could scarcely
restrain them. The first conception of faith in the true God,
and of the worship and honor due to Him, was being formed in their
minds; and as they were listening to Paul, Satan was urging on
the unbelieving Jews of other cities to follow after Paul to destroy
the good work wrought through him. These Jews stirred up the minds
of those idolaters by false reports against Paul. The wonder and
admiration of the people now changed to hate, and they who a short
time before were ready to worship the disciples, stoned Paul and
drew him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But as the
disciples were standing about Paul and mourning over him, to their
joy he rose up and went with them into the city.
Again, as Paul and Silas preached Jesus, a certain woman possessed
with a spirit of divination followed them, crying, "These
men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us
the way of salvation." Thus she followed the disciples many
days. But Paul was grieved; for this crying after them diverted
the minds of the people from the truth. Satan's object in leading
her to do this was to disgust the people and destroy the influence
of the disciples. Paul's spirit was stirred within him, and he
turned and said to the spirit, "I command thee in the name
of Jesus Christ to come out of her"; and the evil spirit
was rebuked, and left her.
Her masters were pleased that she cried after the disciples; but
when the evil spirit left her, and they saw her a meek disciple
of Christ, they were enraged. They had gathered much money by
her fortunetelling, and now the hope of their gain was gone. Satan's
object was defeated; but his servants caught Paul and Silas, and
drew them into the market place, unto the rulers, and to the magistrates,
saying, "These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our
city." And the multitude rose up together against them, and
the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat
them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast
them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, who,
having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison
and made their feet fast in the stocks. But the angels of the
Lord accompanied them within the prison walls, and caused their
imprisonment to tell to the glory of God, and show to the people
that God was in the work, and with His chosen servants.
At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God,
and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations
of the prison were shaken; and I saw that immediately the angel
of God loosed everyone's bands. The keeper of the prison, upon
awaking and seeing the prison doors open, was affrighted. He thought
that the prisoners had escaped, and that he must be punished with
death. But as he was about to kill himself, Paul cried with a
loud voice, saying, "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here."
The power of God there convicted the jailer. He called for a light,
and springing in, came trembling and fell down before Paul and
Silas, and brought them out, and said, "Sirs, what must I
do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." The
keeper of the prison then assembled his whole household, and Paul
preached unto them Jesus. Thus the jailer's heart was united to
those of his brethren, and he washed their stripes, and he and
all his house were baptized that night. He then set food before
them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
The wonderful news of the manifestation of the power of God in
opening the prison doors, and in the conversion of the keeper
and his family, was soon spread abroad. The rulers heard of these
things, and were afraid, and sent to the jailer, requesting him
to let Paul and Silas go. But Paul would not leave the prison
in a private manner; he was not willing that the manifestation
of the power of God should be concealed. He said unto them, "They
have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast
us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily;
but let them come themselves and fetch us out." When these
words were told to the magistrates, and it was known that the
apostles were Roman citizens, the rulers were alarmed for fear
they would make complaint to the emperor of their unlawful treatment.
And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired
them to depart out of the city.