The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 469

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CESAR'S HOUSEHOLD 463 to bear the impress of Satan. His attendants and courtiers were in general of the same character as himself — fierce, debased, and corrupt. To all appearance it would be impossible for Christianity to gain a foothold in the court and palace of Nero. Yet in this case, as in so many others, was proved the truth of Paul's assertion that the weapons of his warfare were ''mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. ' ' ' Even in Nero 's household, trophies of the cross were won. From the vile attendants of a viler king were gained converts who became sons of God. These were not Christians secretly, but openly. They were not ashamed of their faith. And by what means was an entrance achieved and a firm footing gained for Christianity where even its admission seemed impossible! In his epistle to the Philippians, Paul ascribed to his own imprisonment his success in winning converts to the faith from Nero's household. Fearful lest it might be thought that his afflictions had impeded the progress of the gospel, he assured them: "I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel."* When the Christian churches first learned that Paul was to visit Eome, they looked forward to a signal triumph of the gospel in that city. Paul had borne the truth to many lands; he had proclaimed it in great cities. Might not this champion of the faith succeed in winning souls to Christ, even in the metropolis of the world? But their hopes were crushed by the tidings that Paul had gone to «2 Cor. 10:4. * Phil. 1:12. 30 — Acts