登陆注册
5201500000115

第115章

"And now, brethren," he continued, "I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel." Some of the Ephesian brethren were wealthy, but Paul had never sought personal benefit from them.It was no part of his message to call attention to his own wants."These hands," he declared, "have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me." Amidst his arduous labors and extensive journeys for the cause of Christ, he was able, not only to supply his own wants, but to spare something for the support of his fellow laborers and the relief of the worthy poor.This he accomplished only by unremitting diligence and the closest economy.Well might he point to his own example as he said, "I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

"And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more.

And they accompanied him unto the ship."

From Miletus the travelers sailed in "a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara," on the southwest shore of Asia Minor, where, "finding a ship sailing over unto Phoenicia,"they "went aboard, and set forth." At Tyre, where the ship was unloaded, they found a few disciples, with whom they were permitted to tarry seven days.Through the Holy Spirit these disciples were warned of the perils awaiting Paul at Jerusalem, and they urged him "that he should not go up to Jerusalem." But the apostle allowed not the fear of affliction and imprisonment to turn him from his purpose.

At the close of the week spent in Tyre, all the brethren, with their wives and children, went with Paul to the ship, and before he stepped on board, they knelt upon the shore and prayed, he for them, and they for him.

Pursuing their journey southward, the travelers arrived at Caesarea and "entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him." Here Paul spent a few peaceful, happy days--the last of perfect freedom that he was to enjoy for a long time.

While Paul tarried at Caesarea, "there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.And when he was come unto us," Luke says, "he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.""When we heard these things," Luke continues, "both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem." But Paul would not swerve from the path of duty.He would follow Christ if need be to prison and to death."What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart?" he exclaimed; "for Iam ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Seeing that they caused him pain without changing his purpose, the brethren ceased their importunity, saying only, "The will of the Lord be done."The time soon came for the brief stay at Caesarea to end, and, accompanied by some of the brethren, Paul and his company set out for Jerusalem, their hearts deeply shadowed by the presentiment of coming evil.

Never before had the apostle approached Jerusalem with so sad a heart.He knew that he would find few friends and many enemies.He was nearing the city which had rejected and slain the Son of God and over which now hung the threatenings of divine wrath.Remembering how bitter had been his own prejudice against the followers of Christ, he felt the deepest pity for his deluded countrymen.And yet how little could he hope that he would be able to help them! The same blind wrath which had once burned in his own heart, was now with untold power kindling the hearts of a whole nation against him.

And he could not count upon the sympathy and support of even his own brethren in the faith.The unconverted Jews who had followed so closely upon his track, had not been slow to circulate the most unfavorable reports at Jerusalem, both personally and by letter, concerning him and his work; and some, even of the apostles and elders, had received these reports as truth, making no attempt to contradict them, and manifesting no desire to harmonize with him.

Yet in the midst of discouragements the apostle was not in despair.He trusted that the Voice which had spoken to his own heart would yet speak to the hearts of his countrymen, and that the Master whom his fellow disciples loved and served would yet unite their hearts with his in the work of the gospel.

同类推荐
  • 徐批叶天士晚年方案真本

    徐批叶天士晚年方案真本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 西升经集注

    西升经集注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 元始天尊说酆都灭罪经

    元始天尊说酆都灭罪经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宝王三昧念佛直指

    宝王三昧念佛直指

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 瓢泉吟稿

    瓢泉吟稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 有匪公子颜如玉

    有匪公子颜如玉

    颜宁上辈子体弱多病没能活到嫁人就死掉了,一觉醒来发现自己重来一次的颜宁暗暗发誓这辈子一定要吃好喝好保重身体,争取圆了嫁人的梦,谁知道一朝风云突变,父亲身份大变,一家人回京认祖。自己也多了一大串的便宜兄姐,作为外来人的颜宁觉得自己要好好和兄姐相处过日子。哪知过犹不及,一个不注意太过乖巧的小白兔颜宁被自己的表哥给盯上了,呵呵,表哥求放过!秦煜:休想!乖乖过来!
  • 燃情二婚:墨少命里缺我

    燃情二婚:墨少命里缺我

    在北城谁不知道墨司岑是炙手可热的钻石矜贵,是无数少女心想嫁的如意郎君。偏偏,他就要了一个被人唾弃的‘二手货’。记者采访:“墨先生,是什么愿意让你选择楚小姐呢?”墨先生先是秀出脖子的吻痕,则是高深莫测道:大概是,我喜欢她生龙活虎的样子。而此刻躺在床上的女人已经酸软的不能动,听见男人流里流气的话,发誓今晚让他睡书房。不,是睡一个月的书房!宠文,男主带女主灭渣男虐小三斗小妈~--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 男神擒获记:甜蜜不会只在回忆里

    男神擒获记:甜蜜不会只在回忆里

    顾晓蔓:“小汐!你竟然把人见人爱花见花开万人敬仰高高在上的苏大男神给睡啦?”简凌汐:“不是故意的。。。”顾晓蔓:“这要是传出去你把苏大男神的第一次给夺走了,得多少女生对你群起而攻之啊,保证你最后连渣渣都不剩!”简凌汐:“可是没人会知道的,连苏昕祐都不记得了。。。”顾晓蔓:“啊?那你要怎么办?”简凌汐:“我要擒获男神,让他负责!”
  • 回眸一笑百昧生

    回眸一笑百昧生

    偶遇前男友不是世界末日,曾经的死对头变成你的上司才是世界末日。在28岁这个离胶原蛋白、艳遇、搭讪越来越遥远的年纪,苏笑笑平淡的生活中,被空投了两颗重磅炸弹,一颗是相恋多年的前男友顾家明,一颗是曾经的死对头田亦帆。紧接而来的,顾家明的痴缠、田亦帆的捉弄,让她的28岁被搅得鸡犬不宁、步步惊心。曾以为爱久了只能让彼此灰心和死心,却发现悲凉的生命中仍有美好的例外发生。刚想要鼓起勇气接受例外,实现幸福,一个啼笑皆非的意外,让一切回到原点。在苏笑笑思考着到底是破罐子破摔还是勇往直前的时候,她发现是那回眸一笑才让暧昧丛生。
  • 百年哈佛经典智慧故事全集

    百年哈佛经典智慧故事全集

    一个故事就是智慧长河中的一朵涟漪,也许它不能改变这条河流的方向,但它会以自身的灵性让你在阳光的滋养中聆听智慧流过的声音,早日抵达你人生的巅峰。轻松阅读精彩的故事,聆听哲人的忠告,让智者的思想浸润我们。
  • 蓬折箴

    蓬折箴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 和谐社会语境下的老龄问题研究

    和谐社会语境下的老龄问题研究

    “长者先幼者后”、“老吾老以及人之老,幼吾幼以及人之幼”是中华民族的传统美德。自1999年中国进入老龄社会以来,老龄问题一直受到人们的关注。老龄化成为人们耳熟能详的话语。人口老龄化意味着什么?对城乡二元体制下的中国人有何影响?国家、政府、社会在养老责任中的职责分担如何?经济发展了、社会进步了,老年人能否共享改革开放的成果?我国在建设和谐社会,养老问题作为一个重要的民生问题,如何得以解决?西方福利国家模式在中国行得通吗?如火如荼的社会工作教育如何本土化?这都是笔者郅玉玲在《和谐社会语境下的老龄问题研究》写作过程中不断思考的问题。
  • 后物欲时代的精神困境与道德教育

    后物欲时代的精神困境与道德教育

    后物欲时代的来临,是许多学者关注的一个当下现象及其背后的本质。本书借用了一个社会学的概念“后物欲时代”来分析、研究当代中国在温饱问题解决后,人们特别是青少年面临的精神困惑与问题。针对后物欲时代的精神症侯空虚、无聊,作者在吸取古典贵族教育的历史经验中,提出三条新的道德教育路径:健全人格教育、重视审美教育、闲暇教育。
  • 河

    他是被气息弄醒的。很暖和的一丝鼻息,在他脸上移动,伴着喉下吞咽的声响。他微微睁开眼,只见一对白眼仁,下面一个大鼻孔,有一张脸伏在上头。他一把就往那脸推去,坐了起来。那张脸快速地朝后晃回去,喉底嗯嗯地哼着。他搓了搓满是眼屎的双眼,才看清眼前的人——鬼仔。鬼仔蹬蹬腿,树杈似的坐门槛上,乜斜着看他,白眼仁里满是狐疑的目光,大约的意思是,你怎么可以在这里睡觉?鬼仔白皙的脸,下巴透出一点青皮,微明中显得很瘆人。
  • 我和我的异想体

    我和我的异想体

    土豆幸运的获得了一个名为异想体收容所的系统暂时就这样写吧……………………群已经不收人了