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


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 If no warrant for
believing i'll OF anybody And to
repeat a Islander concerning n per.
son, unless we have frst.hand. law.
proof evidence, Is not only sinful.
but criminal. The point Is one to
be borne in mind during a political
campaign.
When the City Turned Out.
Like a good reporter. DR.. Luke
knew how 10 write a vivid picture
OF a mob. We see the Jews from
Asia raising the false charge that
would create a religious issue We
hear the clamor OF their voices. We
follow the mob cry as II 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 ali about. In
that respect they were typical
mob We behold Paul violently
seized and carried outside OF the
temple area.
lie Is almost done 20 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. Rome's author
ity had 10 be respected and a quick
path was made 10 the center OF the
hubbub. where the victim OF the riot
was rescued. The Romans knew IL
not bur they began great piece
% business that day For here we
see the turning Of the nrst wheels
OF the vast imperial machinery that
was put into operation 10 carry
ChriFts apostle TO Rome. This
great pioneer wanted 10 bear his
message 10 the court OF Caesar him.
self Now, by a succession OF proyi-
deuces. We shall see how he goes
there a celebrity. al 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 TO praise
HIM" and thai 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
mony FOR the name. he gloried In
any tribulations that set people
thinking about Christ For this is
what the mob was doing it was put.
ting Christ's name and Christs
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
TO the castle, while the thwarted
mob cried. Away with him" xiii
him" That must have been sweet
music in the ears OF Paul. for SO
they had booted at his Lord as they
sought His death. II was a point Of
pride with the apostle TO share as
far as possible all the experiences
of Jesus. he longed TO be identified
with Christ
A surprise awaited the officer
when he found that his prisoner, a
supposed nsurrectionist. 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
slstence upon his civil rights, ina.
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 a 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 n national
figure and national issue.