Evening star., 1925-08-29

had made her a profitable possession
for her owners She had followed the
apostle and his companions about the
streets and kept calling out. These
men are the slaves of the Most
High God, who proclaim to you a
way of salvation" The apostle
saw that this testimony was at
tracing attention to their work in an
injurious wav. Her words were mis-
interpreted by the people. Sir VII
liam NJ. Ramsey has pointed out that
the Most High God" was a familiar
name in the syncretistic pagantsm OF
the time, and her testimony had
tendency to give the community
wrong conception of Christianity
Jesus had refused to allow the demons
10 testify in His favor, so Paul in the
name Of his Lord had expelled the
demons from the slave girl.
Apostle Arrested.
When the masters OF the psychic
Young woman saw that the nope OF
their gain was gone" by her refusal
10 continue the work OF dlVlnatlor
they were enraged and dragged Pau
and SiIas before the civil authorities
who met in the public square or mar
ket place. They were carelul u
frame up a charge that would ap
peal to the patriotism or the Judges
and racial hatred of the people
against the Jews. claiming that the
Christian missionaries were disturbers
of the public peace and teachers ol
an unlawful religion. They stirred UP
the multitude against the two reHSlous
leaders by their false pretensions oil
being interested in the city's welfare
when they were inspired by a Vin
dictive spirit.
In claiming that the prisoners were
guilty Of teaching an "unlawful re
Iision they had possible technical
legal basis. Although the Roman
government was tolerant OF all ralths'
any possible form of proselytizlns
from one faith to another was un-
lawful. The gospel violated both the
spirit and letter OF this Roman law.
TO preach the truth of one God and
Jesus Christ was u direct attack upon
all forms Of idolatry and paganism.
In freeing the poor slave girl iron,
the demon the apostle had struck
the first blow at European heath
enism. The appeal to the fact that
thew were Jews was probably paseo
upon a recent uproar in Rome. which
brought upon the Jews banishment
from the city.
Paul and SiIas were imprisoned by
the plebiscite of a mob which De
prived the two missionaries or their
constitutional rights as Roman c,ti-
zens. They were flogged by lynch
law, although 1t was illegal TO so pun
ish q Roman They were then cast
into an inner prison, which was prob
ably a cave. and fastened in stocks,
Their bodies were covered with blood
that flowed from the wounds OF the
lash, which frequently exposed the
homes of a victim. The stocks were
Instruments of torture that strained
the limbs very painfully and increased
the suffering by throwing the weight
of the body upon the bruised
shoulders. Not a word OF complaint
fell from the lips of the two prison
ers. who were imprisoned without
any cause other than loyalty TO
Christ Jesus. They retolced that
they were worthy to suner Tor HIM.
His grace sustained them, 80 that at
nidnirht. the hour when the church
usually met to praise God. they com
menced to ffn the prison with their
songs and prayers.
Midnight Prison Songs.
Will. thew could not hear the sup
plications that were being offered In
I,ydia's home for the prisoners, there
was One who heard the cries OF the
church for Its founders and the
songs of the prisoners. The poise
OF the APOSTLE and Silas in that hour
proved that their faith was well
founded Their Lord heard their
songs and prayers. as we'll as those
of the church. BY means OF an
earthquake He enabled them to
triumph over their foes and win the
taller for Christ. Suddenly while
thew we're singing another sound was
bssrd caused by the mighty move
ments of nature, which made the
earth to tremble. The earthquake
shook the foundations Of the prison
and "as 1t passed along the grounc
forced the door posts apart from eacf
other. so that the bar slipred from
it's hold and the doors swung open.
1t detached the chains and stocks Sc
that the prisoners were unbound.
the other prisoners had not been ol
q superstitious class they would nave
taken advantage of their opportunity
and secured their freedom. The keep
err of the prison recognized this ana
fearing to face the results, started tc
take his own life. Paul saw the Jallei
as he was about to commit suicide
and saved him by calling out to the
desnairinr man: DO thyself nc
harm. for we are all here" That note
Of warning has been heard by many
throughout the world and 1t has
helped to save them as 1t DID the
jailer. .,
the centurion, who was responsible foI
the prisoners, that he had been nght
ing God. He saw in the earthquake
the evidence of the superiority or the
anostle's faith. He lost no time to
seek from his prisoners the way oi
salvation. There Is a play on a wore
which does not appear in our English
translation. When Paul heard the
aronizine request of the jailer, Lords
what must / do to be saved?' ne
quickly recognized the opportunity
presented of winning the jailer foi
christ. Taking the word Lords oui
of the jailer's petition. the apostle
told him. Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, ano
thy house.
question any man can ask suggested
to the tnuuiring jailer the fact that
although he had looked upon the two
prisoners as superhuman, they were
NOT. 1t called for the keeper to accept
the Lord Jesus, as his personal
Savior, and be obedient to His com
mands. He called upon the jailer to
accept Christ as Savior and pattern
for his life. These two Fundamental
requirements of faith and obedience
are the conditions of salvation today
as they were for the jailer and his
family. Each member of his family
and every member of his household
found salvation, as all can, through
faith and obedience. Faith saves and
doing His will proves our salvation.
Standing Up for Principles.
Before he was baptized the jailer
proved his faith by ministering unto
the apostles, washing their backs
...lleA hod hnan cnuorad rxritl, hlo<d