The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 219

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IN TEE FEGIONS BEYOND 213 Her immediate silence testified that the apostles were the servants of God, and that the demon had acknowledged them to be such and had obeyed their command. Dispossessed of the evil spirit and restored to her right mind, the woman chose to become a follower of Christ. Then her masters were alarmed for their craft. They saw that all hope of receiving money from her divinations and soothsayings was at an end, and that their source of income would soon be entirely cut off if the apostles were allowed to continue the work of the gospel. Many others in the city were interested in gaining money through satanic delusions ; and these, fearing the influence of a power that could so effectually stop their work, raised a mighty cry against the servants of God. They brought the apostles before the magistrates with the charge: ''These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans." Stirred by a frenzy of excitement, the multitude rose against the disciples. A mob spirit prevailed, and was sanctioned by the authorities, who tore the outer garments from the apostles, and commanded that they should be scourged. ''And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and m^ade their feet fast in the stocks." The apostles suffered extreme torture because of the painful position in which they were left, but they did not murmur. Instead, in the utter darkness and