The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-04-30
PAUL ARRESTED.

IAOL ahhhSl Ell.
Strange are the reprisals of history
A furious mob-shrieking with anger,
stopping ears, crashing teeth, and
rushing like an avalanche of death
upon one whose face shines like that
of an angel. AS the murderers run
they toss their garments at the feet
of a young man who acts as official
witness. Twenty years have passed,
and the same scene is Transporting on
the same spot. Only in the place of
Stephen stands the very man who had
consented to his death. Now it is
Paul himself who is bearing the brunt
of the deadly avalanche.
Paul had come to Jerusalem to
make peace, if possible, between Jew
ish and Gentle factions in the Chris
tian Church. He had come in spite of
warnings that it would cost him liber-
ty and life. He had been quoted as
hostile to the law. He proposed to
show this false by himself observing
at Jerusalem the feast (Pentecost)
which commemorated the giving of
the tables of stone. He would also
join certain Nazarities and help them
fulfill their vow. He could give very
significant evidence of the friendly
spirit of the Gentle toward the Jew
in their generous donation for the re-
lief of their poor,
The Jews of Asia had often heard
Paul affirm that the middle wall of
partition must be broken down. They
took him to literally mean thewall that
separated between the court of the
Gentiles and the inner court, the pave
ment of which could be pressed by He
brew feet alone.
So finding Paul within the sacred
palisade they sprang to the conclusion
that he was then and there engaged
in breaking it down by the introduce
ton of the uncircumcised within it.
The cry is raised Men of Israel, help!''
As if this inoffensive, thoughtful man,
making not the slightest resistance,
ready to submit to arrest and all the
forms of civil prosecution-as if he
was some wild beast, some frightful
menace to peace and safety, to be ex-
terminated as quickly as possible.
No sooner had Paul been tossed out
of the inner court than the great
brazen gates shut with revengeful
clang behind him-perhaps toprevent
his finding an asylum there, or to in
flame the populace still more by sig
nifying that the Lev1tes considered
the Temple polluted, and would not
open the gates again until it had been
purified. However that may be, no
more significant circumstance can be
conceived. Those closing gates are
striking figure of the Hebrew heart
closing against its last prophet and
sealing its doom.
Uproar and tumult prevail. A wild,
uncomfortable, universal excitement
is rife. The Jews are in a jealous rage
for their temple. The Romans are
stricken with fear that the Egyptian
zealot on whose cad a price still rests
has made his appearance. Excite
ment universal? No! one heart is calm,
and that the heart of the man who is
in most danger of all. Out of the
very jaws of his defeat Paul seizes an
opportunity to preach his gospel.
How strangely significant his pulpit
a staircase-midway between Hebrew
temple and Roman tower. Like a
mediator Paul stands there laying
hand upon GENTLE and Jew.
The vanquished is really victor.
His raiment covered with dust and
his visage marred by the rude hand
ling of the mob-how divine the COM
pcsure, how Christlike the benignity
that can address its assailants Broth
ers and fathers" What a lovely COM
ment on Jesus command, when
smitten on one cheek turn the other
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