The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 136

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130 TEE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Burdened in behalf of those who refused to believe, Paul was praying in the temple, as he himself afterward testified, when he fell into a trance ; whereupon a heavenly messenger appeared, before him, and said, ^'Make haste, and get thee= quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning Me. ' ' Paul was inclined to remain at Jerusalem, where he could face the opposition. To him, it seemed an act of cowardice to flee, if by remaining he might be able to convince some of the obstinate Jews of the truth of the gospel message, even if to remain should cost him his life. And so he answered, ''Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on Thee: and when the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him." But it was not in harmony with the purpose of God that His servant should needlessly expose his life; and the heavenly messenger replied, "Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. ' ' " Upon learning of this vision, the brethren hastened Paul's secret escape from Jerusalem, for fear of his assassination. "They brought him down to Csesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus." The departure of Paul suspended for a time the violent opposition of the Jews, and the church had a period of rest, in which many were added to the number of believers. ^^Acts 22:18. ^« Acts 22 : 19-21.