The St. Louis Republic., 1903-05-02

breast of it? Who the informant was can
not be determined. This is all we know
| that Paufs nephew heard what was pro-
posed. The young man came into just the
| right place at the right time, and he
| fastened TO use his knowledge to good ad-
| vantage. Gaming admission to the castle.
the privilege indicating one feature OF no
| ence of his uncle and told him all that ne
| had heard without.
| MESSENG ER-Verse fI) Paul looked on
| his reiatlve with cOmposure, gratitude anu
| confidence. He felt that his sisters son
could be trusted. as truthful and competent
| to render service for the hour such as was
required. He reflected also that one man
| stood between him and the forty con-
spirators. and he the Captain who was
| clothed with authority and backed by pow
| fore must have strengthened the heart OF
| the apostle, who doubtless believed that
! there would be If necessary SOME DIVINE
! interposition to save him. And yet IT was
| highly proper to acquaint the Roman ruler.
| a tribute moreover to the good intentions
| and efficiency of the Government. CEN
requested to present the young man to the
| Captain because he had something to say
| to the Captain. Thus the nephew became
messenger in his uncle's behalf to report
| what had been heard. to leave the official to
! form his own opinion and to act ACCORDING
to his own pleasure. No request was TO pc
made 1t was not doomed to be necessary.
INTERvIEW-Werses ls and 49,, Across
the open court the centurion conducted tne
youth to the Office OF the chief captain. "
was an interesting spectacle, Roman
soldier walking beside young Jew, sent
by prisoner. The object of the visit was
consisely and promptly stated, In .that
direct and simple way which belongs IN io
, the precision and faithfulness OF army me-
the reverence shown to superioIs, the naen-
ty in the discharge of duty, The reception
OF the young man. expressive OF good VIII,
designed to remove ali doubt and fear. the
Captain drew him aside for private inter
view He knew that there must be some
important message which could not be en-
trusted to another. and he desired 10 re
ceive 1t confidentiaily. What hast thou 70
tell? ?' he inquired. As matter OF fact, the
condition OF Jerusalem at that time was
much disturbed. Frequent combinations OF
| men to defeat the law caused much Anxiety
| among officials who were glad 70 OBTAIN IN m
DisCLoSURE-Werses 2, and 2D. The
captain was admirable. a complete unfold
Ing of the whole case. In three parts. rlrs,,
he told of the plan OF the council to , ask
ostensibly to obtain information concerning
him, that the d.abolical deceit by when
whltewashed officials of the church mad
connived to be partakers with the mur-
derers; second. he advised the captain not
to yield to this request, a piece OF advlGe
that would have been sonsiderIeed Ie I'm impers,, cru
should youth presume to counsel Roman
official? But. thirdly, he gave good and
sufficient reason for the advice He sala
there were men lying In wait to overpower
the officers and to kill Paul: that they were
bound by an oath to commit this crime
The advice was. therefore, welcome ,,. as !.
he was ignorant, but which might Involve
his duty. 1t was in every way in his in
, terest to protect a prisonsr dsa G .,, ,s
rendered. The story had been faithfully
told To the one who alone could make good
Of t. told by tn to GS
in the greeting the chief captain dismissed
the young man from his presence, but not
until charge had been given; purpose
to have time to Illustrate him in that pur-
pose. He resolved to send Paul out of the
city into the keeping Of the
yond the reach of the Jerusalem mob. The
captain acted as Sheriffs do in our day. who
usher prisoner into another county for
safety. And so he directed the young man
as he departed to tell no one that he had
given information. The interview was to be
the nephew went his way with sealed lips.
All praise to him who knows how to keep
secret. Silence in this case involved the
life of valuable man.
REFLECTIONS. The oath of the con-
spirators. was not only wicked. but ex-
tremely foolish. They ought to have known
ment. and even against God. The deliver
ances granted many times to Christians
ought to have convinced tA'm that 1t was
In vain to attempt the life = man wholly
consecrated to the cause OF Christ. 2. The
experience was n trying one to the apostle,
and yet that trial brought immense gain.
All the events from his entrance into Jeru-
salem until he was escorted by cavalry 10
Caesarea were extremely painful. and many
n man would have been dsheartened. But
Paul displayed no doubt Of fear. Instead,
he gained courage for further trial. 3 This
was Gods way OF sending Paul to Rome.
He went a prisoner. at Government ey-
y1lnr frn
his countrymen. more fully devoted to the
ministry among the Gentiles. If Christ was
made perfect by suffering (Heb. II. 10). how
much might the servant of Christ be qiiali-
fed by such ordeals for the work before
him? Adversely is a blessing in disguise.
Gil Cor. iv. III