Evening star., 1921-11-05
BY REV. HUGH II. STEVENSON.

Pauls reception by the leaders of
the mother church at Jerusalem prov
ed the wisdom Of his plan to unite
the two diverse elements of the
church in the early days of Christian
history. His report of the progress
which ne had made in his missionary
activities brought forth songs of
praise for his victories. His gifts
demonstrated that he had implanted
in the heart Of the Gentle converts
a love for their Jewish brethren, who
were members of the First Church,
which was established in Jerusalem.
James, who was the brother of the
Church, suggested that Paul could
remove all friction and suspicion by
is joining with four poor members
of the church, who had taken the
Nazarite VOW. in the public part of
the ''purification" ceremony in the
temple.
The apostles attempts to remove
the falseness of the charges, which
Eis enemies had circulated among
the Jerusalem church members, along
the lines suggested by James. resulted
in his arrest and Imprisonment. Gods
grace had made him a missionary.
His concession to the law made him
dom of their suggestion. Nothing
that he could say would be as eff
cacious in removing the prejudices
against him personally and his mis-
slonary work as the concession that
they had suggested. 1t was not their
fault or Paurs that their program for
his performing an act Of Christian
concession resulted in his arrest. 1t
had all the elements of a master
stroke. 1t quickly removed the local
prejudice, but they had overlooked
the attitude of the Jews >from Ephe-
sus. who were attending the feast of
pentecost.
They recognized him not only in
the temple. but when he was on the
street with TrophimuS. a prominent
Ephesian, who was a member of the
delegation appointed to convey the
These Ephesian Jews had shouted
with Paufs enemies, who opposed
! him in the great theater of Ephesus
They understood from that expert
ence how to mold mob. They
planned to win by the same methods
They insidiously circulated stories
about Paul that would stir up the
| masses by appealing to their pa
| triotic and religious prejudices. The
people believed the indictment which
his enemies framed up on Paul, who
loved his nation and the worship of
the temple. They were like most
mobs acting upon false information
when they claimed that Paul lacked
:: in patriotism, religion and respect for
the temple. 1t was the charge of sac
! rilege which stirred up the mob. 1t
| was against their faith for a Gentle
to pass beyond the low bar which
! separated the court of Gentiles''
from the Jews In the museum at
| Constantinople is sign which once
| warned the Gentiles against commit
| ting sacrilege. 1t reads that mo one
/ is allowed to pass within the barrier
! and embankment around the sanctu-
ary. Whoever is taken makes him.
self responsible for his death which
will ensue."
Thirty years before Paul had been
director of mob that stoned
Stephen, whose ministry had famed
the flames of religious persecution.
| The apostle faced the same fate. He
found the presence of the Lord. a
source of protection as others have
! who have been prosecuted for their
| fidelity to him. The pages of history
, have been marred by prosecutions in