The Detroit times., 1916-09-07
In the Religious World
ROME ~ THE RIOT ROUTE.

W sdllSiy tue tueHleb Oh the OoS-
pei. for these. having seen him on
the street with Trophimus the
Ephesian. assumed that he had
taken the Greek into the temple.
That story had the same foundation
as most scandals concerning public
men. They say" II no warrant for
believing Ill or anybody. And TO
repeat a SANDER concerning a per-
son. unless we have nrst.hand. law
proof evidence. Ii not only sinful.
but criminal The point Is one To
be borne In mind during political
campaign.
Whom the City Turned Out.
Like good reporter. DR.. Luke
knew how TO write vivid picture
OF a mob. We see the Jews from
Asia raising the false charge that
would create religious issue. We
hear the clamor of their voices. We
follow the mob cry as 1t runs from
narrow street to narrow street,
through the old city. Out Of ba-
zaars and homes stream the people
towards the temple. Most OF them
do not know what II Is all about In
that respect they were a typical
mob. We behold Paul violently
seized and carried outside OF the
temple area
He Is almost done 10 death, and
his end Is near, when little com
pany OF Roman soldiers approach.
See the mob make way like the
waters OF the Red sea before the
Children OF Israel. Romes author
fly had TO be respected, and a quick
path was made 70 the center OF the
hubbub. where the victim OF the riot
was rescued. The Romans knew IL
not. but they began a great piece
OF business that day. For here we
see the turning OF the first wheels
OF the vast imperial machinery that
was put into operation 10 carry
Christ's apostle 20 Rome. This
great pioneer wanted 10 bear his
message 20 the court OF Caesar him
self Now. by a succession OF provi.
dences. we shall see how he goes
there, a celebrity, at the charges OF
Rome and with the path made clear
before his feet God moves in a
mysterious way" and what we call
history is often, but His story. the
working out OF His designs. There
is no comfort in the present world
war 10 equal the thought that He
maketh the wrath OF man 10 praise
him." and that out OF the woe OF
war Will emerge the veal OF the
world.
The Preacher Under the Spot Light.
From the soldiers standpoint. the
riot was only one more incident OF
garrison duty among turbulent
Jews. AS the Jews saw II, their
plans TO kill Paul were inopportune-
ly thwarted had the Romans been
few minutes later in arriving, the
deed would have been done. In the
mind OF Paul. II was one more testi.
mony for the name; he gloried in
any tvibulations that set people
thinking about Christ For this is
what the mob was doing II was put.
ting Christs name and Chrisrs
cause on the tongues OF the multi.
tude.
In the midst OF the tumultuous
rabble the handful OF fearless legion
aries went and rescued the pris-
oner, Assuming that he was a des-
perate character, they bound him
with two chains and carried him of
10 the castle. while the thwarted
mob cried. Away with him /" KIN
him" That must have been sweet
music in the ears OF Paul, for so
they had hoote1 al his Lord IA they
sought His death. II was point OF
pride with the apostle TO share as
far as possible all the experiences
Of Jesus. He longcd 10 be Identified
with Christ.
A surprise awaited the officer
when he found that his prisoner. a
supposed insurrectionist. spoke
Greek, and was really a cultivated
gentleman; and what was more. a
free.born Roman citizen. The dig
nifty OF the apostle. and his quiet In.
sistence upon his civil rights, I'm
pressed the officials. and won him
quick consideration. Paul surren.
dered none OF his qualities as a man
by becoming a Christian. II he had
not been stickler for good citizen.
ship. he might never have preached
the gospel in Rome. and Rome was
his great objective. He was am
bilious 10 carry his message to the
very apex OF the known world. This
riot and arrest helped further the
design by making him a national
figure and national Issue.
MIMI ADDECsTED