The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 502

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496 TEE ACTS OF TEE APOSTLES clear and convincing, overthrew error. Liglit shone into the minds of many who afterward gladly followed its rays. The truths spoken on that day were destined to shake nations, and to live throngh all time, influencing the hearts of men when the lips that had uttered them should be silent in a martyr's grave. Never before had Nero heard the truth as he heard it on this occasion. Never before had the enormous guilt of his own life been so revealed to him. The light of heaven pierced the sin-polluted chambers of his soul, and he trembled with terror at the thought of a tribunal before which he, the ruler of the world, would finally be arraigned, and his deeds receive their just award. He feared the apostle's God, and he dared not pass sentence upon Paul, against whom no accusation had been sustained. A sense of awe restrained for a time his bloodthirsty spirit. For a moment, heaven was opened to the guilty and hardened Nero, and its peace and purity seemed desirable. That moment the invitation of mercy was extended even to him. But only for a moment was the thought of pardon welcomed. Then the command was issued that Paul be taken back to his dungeon; and as the door closed upon the messenger of God, the door of repentance closed forever against the emperor of Eome. No ray of liglit from heaven was ever again to penetrate the darkness that enveloped him. Soon he was to suffer the retributive judgments of God. Not long after this, Nero sailed on his infamous expedition to Greece, where he disgraced himself