diff options
Diffstat (limited to '38557-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 38557-8.txt | 18850 |
1 files changed, 18850 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/38557-8.txt b/38557-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ca4338e --- /dev/null +++ b/38557-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,18850 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of "Granny's Chapters", by Lady Mary Ross + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: "Granny's Chapters" + (on scriptural subjects) + +Author: Lady Mary Ross + +Release Date: January 12, 2012 [EBook #38557] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK "GRANNY'S CHAPTERS" *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: where [oe] appears it represents the ligature oe +which cannot be represented in Latin-1 characters. [=a] represents +the letter A with a macron (bar) above. + + + + +"GRANNY'S CHAPTERS" + +(ON SCRIPTURAL SUBJECTS) + +BY + +LADY MARY ROSS. + +=THE NEW TESTAMENT=, + +WITH A SKETCH OF THE SUBSEQUENT HISTORY OF THE JEWS. + +_NEW EDITION._ + +LONDON: + +HATCHARDS, PICCADILLY. + +1882. + + + + +PREFACE TO VOLUME IV. + +The New Testament has been treated in a manner somewhat different to +that adopted in regard to the Books of the Old Testament. + +The object has been, to sketch out the earthly Life of our Blessed +Lord, and to draw attention to a few important points. + +It was obviously impossible to dwell particularly upon the details of +every Miracle, Parable, and Conversation, recorded by the Evangelists. +Nor was such a course necessary. + +The language of the Gospels is so simple and clear, that details are +better read from Holy Writ itself. + +That this volume may lead the young to a reverent study of our +Saviour's character, and an earnest endeavour to "follow the blessed +steps of His most Holy Life," is the earnest prayer of the Author. + +MARY ROSS. + +_November, 1871._ + + + + +PART I. + + + + +Chapter I.--JOHN THE BAPTIST BORN. + + +We have now seen that the Sceptre had departed from Judah. The whole +country was subject to the Romans, who had appointed Herod to govern +it for them; and the time was now come when the blessed promises, that +"the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head," and that "in +the seed of Abraham all nations of the earth should be blessed," were +to be fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus +Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer; born of a woman, that thus being as +Man upon the earth, He might suffer for man, and make that atonement +for man, which He could only make because He was the Son of God. +Unless the Messiah had been at once God and Man, He could have been no +Saviour for man; no mediator between a holy God and His sinful +creatures. + +Very soon after the death of Herod's sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, +the last princes of the Asmonean family, the wonderful events related +in the New Testament began to take place. No doubt we are all well +acquainted with the story of the priest Zacharias, a good and holy +man, who, whilst performing his duty in the house of God, saw an Angel +standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Zacharias was an +old man, and his wife Elisabeth was also an old woman, and therefore +when the Angel told him that the Lord would work as great a miracle as +He had done in Abraham's case, and give a son to Elisabeth, as He had +given Isaac to Sarah, Zacharias must indeed have been greatly +astonished. + +The Angel moreover told Zacharias, that this child, whom God would +give him, was to be named John; and that he should be in an especial +manner guided and protected by the Holy Spirit, for that he was to be +the messenger spoken of by prophets, as sent to prepare the way for +the Messiah, and give notice of His coming. Such particulars should +have overcome any doubts which Zacharias might at the first moment +have felt; but his faith failed him, and therefore, considering only +the impossibility of such an event happening without the special +interposition of the Lord, he, guided by sight and not by faith, +presumed to ask for some sign, to assure him that what the Angel spake +would really come to pass. + +This sinful unbelief was punished, even whilst his faithless request +was granted; for Zacharias immediately lost the power of speaking, and +remained speechless for many months: but his unbelief was gone, and he +certainly made his wife Elisabeth acquainted with the promises and +directions spoken by the Angel. + +About six months after this appearance of the Angel Gabriel to +Zacharias, He "was sent from God, unto a city of Galilee, named +Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the +house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary." The Angel told Mary, +that she had been chosen by the Almighty to be the mother of the +promised Messiah, whose birth was to be a miracle; inasmuch as He +would have no earthly father, but should be called the Son of God. +Gabriel also told Mary, that when she had brought forth her son, she +should call His name Jesus; that is, a Saviour. Mary was greatly +troubled when the Angel first spake to her, and when she expressed her +wonder and astonishment, He comforted her, and told her that her +cousin Elisabeth, the wife of Zacharias, was also about to become a +mother; adding, "For with God nothing shall be impossible." Mary's +faith now showed itself, and she said, "Behold the handmaid of the +Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Meaning that she was +willing to serve the Lord in everything, and suffer whatever might +come upon her in consequence. For, as she had no husband whom she +could name as the father of her Child, she was liable to punishment. +When Joseph, to whom Mary was espoused, or promised in marriage, found +that she would have a Son, he was astonished, and had some thoughts of +putting her away from being his wife; but being a just, or good and +kind man, he meant to do this quietly and secretly, or "privily," so +as not to expose Mary to blame or punishment. But while he thought on +these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a +dream, and told him not to fear about taking Mary to be his wife, for +that the Holy Spirit had worked a great miracle, and that Mary was to +be the mother of the promised Messiah; and as the Angel had said to +Mary herself, so He now repeated to Joseph, "she shall bring forth a +Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people +from their sins." Then all Joseph's doubts and fears were at an end: +he did as the Angel bade him, and thus was looked upon by men as the +father of Mary's holy Son, who had in truth no Father but God. + +The Scripture tells us, "Now all this was done, that it might be +fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold +a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they +shall call his name Emmanuel; which being interpreted is, God with +us." That is, God taking the form and nature of man; living as man +amongst men; dying as man for men. "Emmanuel--God with us." + +The next thing we read of is, that "Mary arose and went into the hill +country with haste, into a city of Judah" where Zacharias dwelt, that +she might talk over with Elisabeth all those wonderful things which +the angel Gabriel had said to her. "And she entered into the house of +Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth"; who, under the guidance of the Holy +Spirit, "spake out with a loud voice" words that must have greatly +comforted Mary. Elisabeth told her, that she was blessed among women +in being chosen for the mother of the Messiah, and said, "Whence is +this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" meaning +that she was not worthy of the honour of receiving in her house one +who was to be the mother of the Son of God. Elisabeth ended by +commending Mary for her faith and trust, saying, "blessed is she that +believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were +told her from the Lord." + +Mary now uttered that beautiful hymn of praise, beginning, "My soul +doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." +A hymn familiar to us all, as part of our Liturgy, or form of public +worship, used in our Churches. This hymn, called "The Magnificat," is +said or sung after the first Lesson in the Evening Service. + +Mary abode with her cousin for about three months, and then returned +to her own home, at Nazareth, in Galilee. Not long after Mary's +departure, John the Baptist was born; "Elisabeth brought forth a son. +And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great +mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that +on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child," and give him a +name, as amongst us is done in Baptism; for Baptism in the Christian +Church, takes the place of Circumcision in the Jewish Church. + +When the friends of Zacharias wished to give the infant his father's +name, Elisabeth spoke out at once, and said, "He shall be called +John." This surprised them so much, that they at once asked Zacharias +"how he would have him called." Zacharias immediately, by signs, asked +for a writing-table, or rather for a tablet, upon which to write, and +then wrote down, "His name is John. And they marvelled all." They must +have marvelled, or wondered, still more, when suddenly Zacharias +recovered his power of speaking; for "his mouth was opened +immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake and praised God." Now +he could tell all that had happened to him, and how his unbelief in +the Angel's promise had been punished by temporary dumbness. "And fear +came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were +noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa: and all they +that heard" these things "laid them up in their hearts": took notice +of them, and remembered them, "saying, What manner of child shall this +be!" The extraordinary events connected with the birth of John, made +all men believe that a child so born must be intended to do great +things during his lifetime. Zacharias, inspired by the Holy Spirit, +then uttered the hymn called "The Benedictus," sometimes said in our +Churches after the second Lesson in the Morning Service, instead of +the Psalm (c.), "Jubilate Deo," also belonging to our Liturgy. In this +hymn, Zacharias praised and blessed God for the coming of the Saviour; +and then, addressing the unconscious infant John, he foretold that he +should be the messenger to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus Christ, +and incline men to listen to, and believe in, Him. + +Of John's infancy and childhood we are told nothing, except that he +grew in body, and waxed strong in spirit, and that "the hand of the +Lord was with him." "And he was in the deserts till the day of his +showing unto Israel." He passed a quiet and retired life, until he was +called upon to baptize the people, and point to the Son of Mary as the +Son of God; the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. + + + + +Chapter II.--BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. + + +Mary and her husband Joseph lived at Nazareth, a town in Galilee not +far from the lake of Tiberias, or Sea of Galilee; and the prophets had +declared that the Messiah should be born in "Bethlehem of Judah," a +small place to the South of Jerusalem, nearly a hundred miles from +Nazareth. That Mary should take such a long journey to a strange +place, instead of staying quietly at home until her Child was born, +was the most unlikely thing that could well be imagined. Here, +therefore, we again see how wonderfully the Lord rules all things, and +makes use of people who know nothing of Him, to do what He wills +should be done. God now made use of a heathen Emperor, to accomplish +His will, that Jesus Christ should be born in Bethlehem. + +The Roman Emperor Augustus, in order to know what taxes he could lay +upon the different parts of his dominions, determined to take the +number of the people who were subject to him; and in order to do this, +he commanded that the name of every one should be written down. As +Judæa was now under the dominion of the Romans, all the inhabitants of +that country were obliged to put their names upon lists, prepared for +the purpose: but all belonging to the same tribe or family were to go +to one place, so that many of the Jews, who were scattered throughout +the country, had to travel a long way to the place appointed for the +registering of their tribe. + +Amongst these were Mary and Joseph, who were both "of the house and +lineage of David"; that is, both were descended from David, who was of +the tribe of Judah; and therefore Bethlehem was the place in which +they must appear before the Roman officers, appointed to take down the +names of all the people, and register, or make lists of them. The +commands of the Roman Emperor were not to be disobeyed: and Mary and +Joseph set out upon their long and fatiguing journey. Upon their +arrival, they found the place so full of people come upon the same +business, that there was no room for them in the inn, and they being +poor, and not able to pay for better accommodation, were glad to lodge +in a stable; and here, it pleased God, that Jesus Christ, the Lord of +Life, the King of Glory, should be born: and Mary "brought forth her +first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in +a manger." + +But though born in a stable, unnoticed and uncared for by men, the +Angels of God proclaimed the wonderful event to the Shepherds, keeping +watch over their flocks by night. + +At that time, there was amongst the Jews, a general expectation that +the Messiah would soon appear upon earth: those who believed all that +God had made known by the prophets, seeing that the sceptre, or kingly +power, had departed from Shiloh, were daily looking for the fulfilment +of the blessed promise, and were ready to welcome the Saviour under +any circumstances: of this number were the Shepherds, who, when they +had heard the "good tidings of great joy," at once followed the +direction to go to Bethlehem: and when they found all things there, +exactly as the Angels had told them, they at once believed, and +acknowledged the Infant as their Saviour; and "made known abroad the +saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all they that +heard it wondered at those things which were told them of the +Shepherds." They wondered; but alas! too many of them only wondered, +and did not believe. The greater part of the Jews at this time had +forsaken their God, and had become careless about pleasing Him. They +expected a Messiah, but regardless of the prophets who had spoken such +different things, they had formed their own notions on the subject, +and looked for the Messiah to come as a king or conqueror, surrounded +with pomp and splendour. These men would not believe that a helpless +infant, born in a stable at Bethlehem, _could_ be the Son of God, the +promised Messiah, Who was to be the Saviour of the world: pride and +unbelief led them to reject the Lord, even from His birth. Mary, who +knew that her Son was no common child, marked everything that +happened; "she kept all these things, and pondered," or thought over +"them in her heart." + +Jesus Christ came not only to be a sacrifice for sin, but also an +example of godly life; He was to fulfil all righteousness, and +therefore, though He came to do away with the ceremonial Law, and +establish a better covenant, He submitted to all the Ordinances of the +Law, just as if He had been a sinful mortal. + +Thus on the eighth day He was circumcised, and publicly received the +name of Jesus, which had before been given to Him by the Angel +Gabriel. And again, in obedience to the Law, the infant Saviour was +brought by His mother to Jerusalem "to present Him to the Lord." We +have heard before, that among the children of Israel, the first-born +child, if a son, was especially dedicated to the service of the Lord; +though afterwards, the whole tribe of Levi was taken, "instead of the +first-born of all Israel." The same Law ordained, that after a certain +time, called "the days of her Purification," every woman to whom God +had given a son or daughter, should offer in sacrifice, a young lamb +and a turtledove or pigeon. But if she was too poor to be able to +bring a lamb, she was allowed to bring two turtledoves or pigeons +instead; and this sacrifice Mary brought with her Son, into the +temple. Then were fulfilled the prophecies, that the Lord should come +suddenly into His temple; and that the glory of the second temple +should exceed that of the first. At the Presentation of Jesus Christ +in the temple, a remarkable testimony to His being the promised +Messiah was given by the just and devout Simeon, to whom it had been +made known by the Holy Ghost, that he should not die until He had seen +the Lord's Christ. Full of faith, this old man was "waiting for the +consolation of Israel," the Messiah, Who was to save His people from +their sins. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Simeon was in the temple "when +the Parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom +of the Law." At once the Holy Spirit made known to the aged Simeon, +that in this infant he beheld the Saviour for whom he waited; "Then +took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now +lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for +mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the +face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of +Thy people Israel." We are told that Joseph and Mary marvelled at +those things which were spoken by Simeon; and we may be sure that Mary +treasured them up also in her heart, and looked upon her infant Son +with reverence, as well as love. Then Simeon blessed Mary, and warned +her of future suffering. Another testimony to the divinity of Jesus +Christ was then given by an aged widow, who coming into the temple "in +that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to +all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem." Nor did these aged +Jews alone bear testimony to the Messiah. The glorious light of the +Shechinah, the visible sign of the presence of God, which had not been +seen for many hundred years, until it appeared surrounding the Angels +who proclaimed the birth of Jesus to the Shepherds of Bethlehem, was +not seen by them alone. In far off countries, it was seen as a +remarkable star. The inhabitants of Chaldea, part of the once famous +Babylonian Empire, were at this time very learned in Astronomy: that +is, they studied the stars, and the motions of the heavenly bodies. +They worshipped the sun, because they thought that must be the best +representation of the Deity: had they known the real true God, the God +of Israel, they would not have worshipped any of His works, which He +had created and made. The wise and learned men of Chaldea were called +Magi, and many of them were princes and rulers in their various +tribes. Some of these Magi, generally supposed to have been three, +(though the Scripture says nothing as to their number,) saw a +wonderful star shining in the direction of Judæa. They at once +concluded that this star signified the birth of the king of the +Jews--and immediately they set off and travelled towards the land of +Judæa. And when they reached Jerusalem, they enquired, "Where is he +that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the East, +and are come to worship him." That is, in the Eastern land where they +lived, they had seen this star. + + + + +Chapter III.--FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. + + +To understand the question of the Magi, "Where is he that is born King +of the Jews?" a few words of explanation may be useful. + +The expectation of a coming Messiah was not confined to the Jews: +through the long captivity of the Jews, the writings of the prophets +had become known throughout many lands, and there was therefore at +this time, in all the countries of the East, a general idea that a +King would shortly be born in Judæa, who should rule over all the +world. Balaam, who was well known in those countries of which we are +speaking, had said, "there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a +sceptre shall arise out of Israel"; hence it was generally believed, +that the appearance of some peculiar star in the Heavens, would inform +mankind of the birth of this mighty King. The Messiah, we must +recollect, was promised to Gentiles as well as to Jews; and therefore +all nations who had heard any of the prophecies concerning Him, +expected some benefit from the birth of this wonderful Being. Under +such circumstances, we can easily imagine that the Magi, who paid +such attention to the stars in general, should eagerly watch for the +appearance of one, which was to announce, that the long-looked-for +King was born in Judæa. Hence, when from their home in the East, they +beheld the glorious light of the Shechinah, shining in the direction +of the land of Judæa, they felt no doubt as to its meaning; and +without hesitation, they at once set off on their long journey, to +worship and do honour to the new-born King. The star had disappeared; +but the prophets had so plainly pointed out the land of Judæa as the +birthplace of the Messiah, that the Magi fearlessly and confidently +journeyed on to that country. When at length they reached it, they +naturally expected that so wonderful an event would be well known to +all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and that they should have no +difficulty in finding the abode of this glorious Child; therefore, as +soon as they arrived in the city, they asked, "Where is he that is +born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the East, and are +come to worship him." When Herod the King had heard these words he was +troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. + +The birth of Jesus Christ made known by Angels to the Shepherds, and +by them "made known abroad" among their neighbours and friends, the +humble of the land, does not seem to have been noticed by the rulers +and Priests living at Jerusalem. Their own Scriptures taught them that +the Messiah was to come; and they expected that His birth would be +immediately followed by Revolts and Wars, Earthquakes, Famine and +Plague; therefore they might well be "troubled," when they heard He +was actually come; though, if they had rightly believed and understood +the great blessing He was to bring to mankind, they would have +rejoiced at His coming, and thought all temporal sufferings easy to be +borne for His sake. + +Herod was troubled; for though he was now an old man, and not likely +to live till a new-born Infant should grow up, yet he did not like the +idea of another king to interfere with him: he did not understand the +nature of the Messiah's kingdom, and thought only of a king who would +govern the country and the people, make laws, and impose taxes; he had +no idea of a King who was to reign over the hearts of men on earth, +and finally receive them into His kingdom in heaven. + +Herod's behaviour on this occasion showed a strange mixture of belief +and unbelief. In common with the Jews in general, he believed that +the Messiah was to come; and he evidently believed that the Child, +whose birth had been made known by the star, was indeed the Christ. He +therefore called together the wise and learned men, well acquainted +with the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and asked them where the +Messiah should be born. The chief priests and Scribes at once declared +that Bethlehem was pointed out by the prophets as the birthplace of +Messiah; thus giving another proof, that the Infant just born in that +place, was the promised Messiah. So far Herod believed; but now his +unbelief was shown by his fancying for one moment, that if this Child +really was the Messiah, he could kill him, and so frustrate the +purpose for which he was sent by God. + +It seems strange that any one believing as Herod did, that the Infant +whom the Magi were seeking was really the Messiah, should have thought +it possible to fight against God, and destroy His Anointed: but so it +was. Herod, under pretence of wishing to go himself and worship the +King of the Jews, begged the Magi to come and bring him word when they +had found the young Child; and he also asked them particularly about +the time at which the star had first appeared, that he might know what +would be the age of the Babe, whom he was determined to destroy. The +wise men, or Magi, departed, and though they had received no clear +directions from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, better help was at hand: +the star which they had seen in the East, now appeared to them again, +and even moved on before them: "when they saw the star, they rejoiced +with exceeding great joy," and followed it, until "it came and stood +over" the stable "where the young child was." "And when they were come +into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell +down and worshipped him:" at once they acknowledged him to be something +more than an earthly king--a Being entitled to worship. Then they gave +such presents as were given to kings. It was the custom in the East, +where presents were so much given, to proportion their value to the +rank and station of those to whom the gift was offered. Mary and Joseph +were poor and in a humble rank of life, and to their infant, therefore, +flowers or fruit, or something of little value, would have been a +sufficient gift. But in the Son of Mary, the Magi acknowledged the +long-promised Messiah; and to Him they gave the most valuable gifts, +suitable for a King to receive: "when they had opened their treasures, +they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." +Thus the Lord provided Joseph with the means for taking proper care of +the young child and his mother. At Bethlehem, the place of his birth, +Jesus had now been worshipped as a King, both by Jews and Gentiles; +thus fulfilling prophecy, and showing that the Messiah was to be the +Saviour of Gentiles, as well as Jews. Our Church has appointed a day, +to be observed in remembrance of this first showing, or manifestation, +of Christ to the Gentiles. In common talk we call this day Twelfth Day, +and the custom of drawing for King and Queen is very old, and is +founded upon the visit of the Magi, or kings of the East to Bethlehem. +The name by which Twelfth Day is distinguished in our Prayer-Book is +the "Epiphany," a word which means "manifestation" or "showing"--the +manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. + +The wise men, not suspecting Herod's wicked purpose, would no doubt +have gone back to him as he desired, but "being warned of God in a +dream" not to return to Jerusalem, "they departed into their country +another way." + +After the departure of the Magi, the Lord, Who knows the secrets of +all hearts, warned Joseph in a dream, that Herod would seek the young +child to destroy him. In obedience to the command then given to him, +Joseph "arose, and took the young child and his mother by night, and +departed into Egypt"; thus fulfilling a prophecy which had spoken of +that country, as the place where the Messiah should for a time dwell. +At this time, a great many Jewish families lived in Egypt, and +supported themselves by their own industry: there were so many of +them, that they divided themselves into companies, according to their +trades or occupations: there was a company of silversmiths, who +manufactured articles of gold and silver, set jewels, and made +ornaments to be worn; there was another company of weavers, who wove +threads of flax and silk, into linen and silk of which garments were +made; and so on. In short, every trade had its own company; so that if +a poor Jew came into any city inhabited by his fellow countrymen, he +always knew where to find those who carried on the trade which he had +learned: then he could join them at once, and so find work, and earn a +maintenance for himself and family. + +Perhaps Joseph joined one of these companies of his countrymen; but +the presents given by the Magi, would for a long time supply him with +all that he needed. + + + + +Chapter IV.--THE INNOCENTS. + + +Herod anxiously expected the return of the wise men, with full +information as to where he might find the infant King of the Jews: +but, as day after day passed and they came not, he saw that they did +not mean to do his bidding. "Then was Herod exceeding wroth, and sent +forth his soldiers, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, +and in all the coasts thereof,"--that is, in the neighbouring parts of +the country,--"from two years old and under, according to the time +which he had diligently enquired of the wise men." As much less than +two years had passed, since the wise men saw the star which heralded +the birth of the Messiah, Herod made sure that, by killing all the +little boys under that age, he should destroy the infant King of the +Jews, and so rid himself of any further anxiety. + +Terrible was the distress and mourning amongst the poor Mothers, who +saw their infants torn from their arms and murdered! but their dear +babes were safe; taken from the dangers and troubles of this world, to +be for ever happy in the presence of God: "for they are without fault +before the throne of God." + +Our Church sets apart three days, immediately after Christmas Day, in +remembrance of three classes of Martyrs. A Martyr is one who suffers +in the cause of duty, and will die rather than give way: those who +thus suffered for Christ, and would die rather than offend or forsake +Him, are called Martyrs. "The Innocents," as the murdered babes of +Bethlehem are called, suffered death for Jesus's sake; but, of course, +they had no will in the matter; they were too young: these were the +first Martyrs. + +The day after Christmas Day is called "St. John the Evangelist's Day": +St. John was, when Jesus grew up, one of His disciples: he dearly +loved his Master, and was ready to die for Him, but he was not called +upon to give up his life, though he suffered much for Jesus's sake. +The day following "St. John's Day," is called "St. Stephen's Day": St. +Stephen was the first who willingly gave up his life for the sake of +Jesus Christ. Thus we have three classes of Martyrs commemorated in +our Church: Martyrs in Deed only--the Innocents; Martyrs in Will +only--St. John; Martyrs in Will and in Deed--St. Stephen. + +But to return to our history. Herod was guilty of a great sin; and, +in spite of all his wickedness, the Child Jesus lived and was safe. + +It is said that Antipater, who had caused the death of Mariamne's +sons, advised his father to slay the infants of Bethlehem. Antipater +was a bad man, and, as he was very anxious to be King of Judæa +whenever Herod should die, he wished to destroy one who might, as he +feared, dispute the kingdom with him: no doubt he rejoiced when the +cruel deed was done, concluding that Jesus had perished, and that he +was now sure of the throne: but he was disappointed; for very shortly +afterwards he in some way displeased his father, who at once caused +him to be put to death. It is dreadful to think of the numbers of +persons killed by Herod's orders, but Antipater was the last; for five +days afterwards Herod himself died. + +This Herod, called Herod the Great, left four sons living--Archelaus, +Herod Antipas, Philip, and Herod Philip. There are three other Herods +also mentioned in Scripture--Herod Agrippa, and his brother, also +called Herod, who were sons of Aristobulus, and consequently grandsons +of Herod the Great; and, afterwards, a son of Herod Agrippa, called by +the same names as his father, Herod Agrippa. As it is difficult always +to know which Herod is spoken of, the Table below will be useful to +refer to. + + 1. + Herod the Great. + | + +------------------------+---------------+ + | 2. | 3. + | Herod Antipas. Herod Philip. + | + Sons of Aristobulus. + +------------------+ + | 4. | 5. + Herod Agrippa. Herod. + | + | 6. + Herod Agrippa. + +After the death of Herod the Great, Archelaus became governor of the +provinces of Judæa and Samaria, and Herod Antipas ruled over the +province of Galilee, under the title of Tetrarch: but upon this +subject we must say a little more before we go on with the history of +Jesus Christ. + +When Herod died, he left a Will, in which he declared his wish, that +his son Archelaus should be king over the greatest part of his +dominions: but as the whole kingdom was subject to the Romans, this +could not be done without the Emperor's leave. Before Archelaus could +go to Home to ask this permission, there was a great disturbance +amongst the Jews in Jerusalem, in consequence of Archelaus refusing to +grant some request: they assembled in great numbers in the Courts of +the Temple, and behaved in such a riotous and disorderly manner, that +Archelaus ordered his soldiers to attack them, and 3,000 men are said +to have been killed on this occasion; a piece of cruelty which +probably disinclined the Emperor Augustus to give Archelaus as much +power as his father Herod the Great had had; at any rate, Archelaus +only succeeded in being made Governor of Judæa and Samaria, with the +promise, that if he acted so as to give the Emperor satisfaction, he +should have the title of King: but instead of obtaining this, he +behaved so ill, that a few years afterwards he was deprived of all +power, and banished to a city in Gaul, where he died. + +Returning to the history of our blessed Lord, we find that after the +death of Antipater and Herod, the Angel appeared to Joseph in Egypt, +saying, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into +the land of Israel, for they are dead which sought the young child's +life." The Angel did not name any particular place for the young Child +to go to, but the Messiah was not to stay long out of the Holy Land, +given to Abraham and his descendants, as a heritage for ever. When +Joseph, with Mary and the holy Child, got back into the land of +Israel, he found that "Archelaus reigned in the room of his father"; +that is, he was Governor of Judæa; fearing his cruelty, he was afraid +to take the young Child and his mother there, and the Lord, by means +of a dream, warned him to go into the land of Galilee, which was under +the government of Herod Antipas. + +Joseph in consequence made choice of Nazareth in Galilee as a +dwelling-place, and there the Lord Jesus Christ lived till he grew up +to be a Man, and was ready to begin the work which He came into the +world to do. During all these years, up to the time when Jesus was +thirty years old, we are told nothing of what He did, except His +questioning the priests in the temple, when He was twelve years old. +Twelve was the age appointed for the young Jews to begin to keep the +Feasts and Fasts prescribed by their Law; and accordingly, Jesus, who +came to fulfil all righteousness, accompanied Mary and Joseph to +Jerusalem on this occasion: but after all the ceremonies had been +observed, He, unknown to them, remained behind, and going into the +temple astonished the priests and learned men by His questions, His +knowledge of the Scriptures, and the way in which He spake: no wonder +that all who looked upon Him merely as a human being, should be +astonished. When Mary missed her Son, she and Joseph returned to +Jerusalem, where "after three days they found Him in the temple, +sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them +questions." To His mother's gentle rebuke, "Son, why hast thou thus +dealt with us?" the holy Child made that answer at once referring to +His divine nature, and to the work for which He had left His Father's +kingdom, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" They +understood not fully then His meaning; but Mary "kept all these +sayings in her heart." + +But Jesus had now done all that was to be done for many years, as to +His great work; and therefore, though He knew Himself to be the Son of +God, He submitted to His earthly parents: He went "down with them, and +came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them"--thus in His first work, +setting us the great example of obedience to parents--an example which +all of us must carefully and cheerfully copy. No sin, not even the +least approach to it, was found in Him: one act of disobedience would +have prevented His making atonement for us. And this perfect Being so +loved us, His sinful creatures, as to die for us: let us love Him; and +show our love by trying to copy His example in all things; beginning +with obedience to our Parents, and all whom they set over us. + + + + +Chapter V.--BAPTISM OF JESUS. + + +How gladly should we all learn something of our Saviour's early life; +of His childhood; of the pursuits of His youth and manhood! But these +things are hidden from us, and whatever legends may exist respecting +such matters, we must remember that Scripture has not revealed to us +any knowledge of these things. For the eighteen years following His +questioning the learned men in the temple, one entry suffices--"And +Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and +man." As partaking of the human nature, His body grew gradually to +its full size and strength, enduring, no doubt, pain and sickness, so +inseparable from mortality: in this, all who are born into the world +follow His example, whether they will or no; but are all careful to +"increase in wisdom, and in favour with God and man"? And yet this is +what all may do. These words again set the Saviour before us, as an +example to be diligently followed: by prayer and study of the +Scriptures, we shall obtain from God, that heavenly wisdom which will +make us wise unto salvation; that practical wisdom, by which we shall +walk daily in a manner pleasing to God; so shall we, day by day, grow +in favour with our heavenly Father, and with all men whose approbation +and favour is worth securing. + +Of John the Baptist's early life we have not even one glimpse afforded +us, beyond the notice "that the child grew, and waxed strong in the +spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto +Israel." In silence and solitude was the wonderful son of Zacharias +prepared for his work: the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and under +its blessed influence he became strong to do, and suffer. + +For thirty years did the Sons of Mary and of Elisabeth wait patiently, +unnoticed, till the time came when they were to enter on the work +appointed for each. At that time, Herod Antipas (one of the sons of +Herod the Great) was tetrarch or governor of Galilee, while his +brother Philip was tetrarch of Ituræa, and of other parts of the +country lying to the East of the Sea of Galilee and the river Jordan. + +Archelaus, as we have already said, had for his misconduct been +banished by the Romans into Gaul, and the province of Judæa was +governed by a Roman, called Pontius Pilate. Augustus Cæsar, who was +the Emperor of Rome when Jesus Christ was born, died when our Lord was +about fourteen years old; and another Emperor, called Tiberius Cæsar, +ruled over the vast possessions of the Romans, when Jesus and His +forerunner John the Baptist, entered upon their public ministry. + +The Bible tells us, that at this time Annas and Caiaphas were high +priests: by the Law of Moses, the Jews could only have one high priest +at a time, and when once appointed, he continued to hold that high +office as long as he lived; but when the Romans took possession of the +Holy Land, they appointed the high priest at their pleasure--often +depriving one of the office, in order to bestow it upon another. Annas +was high priest for eleven years, and then the Roman Governor +deprived him of the office, and made Caiaphas, who had married the +daughter of Annas, high priest in the place of his father-in-law. + +According to the will of the Romans, therefore, Caiaphas was actually +high priest at this time; though, according to the Law of Moses, he +had no right to be so, as long as Annas was alive. No doubt the more +devout Jews, who wished to keep their Law, looked upon Annas as their +high priest; whilst those who were careless and indifferent, and +wished rather to please the Romans, acknowledged Caiaphas: for this +reason St. Luke speaks of them both as high priests. + +We must remember that John was born a few months before Jesus, to "go +before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways," consequently he was +the first to appear in public. He went first as a Messenger, to +prepare the people to listen to the Messiah: John came, and called +upon all men to repent of their sins and wickedness, to leave off +doing wrong, and to do such things as God commanded them to do. John +also invited the people to be baptized. Baptism was a rite or ceremony +in use amongst the Jews before this time, by way of admitting +strangers into their Church: for instance, if any Gentiles wished to +join the Jews, and worship God as they did, they were baptized, or +washed with Water; and after this ceremony, they were looked upon as +new creatures, fit to be admitted into the Jewish Church. + +The Jews, by baptizing the heathen, admitted them into their Church, +into a new religion; John called upon the Jews to be baptized, because +they were to change their religion, and become members of a Church, +which should have Christ for her head. The Jews baptized persons who, +according to their Law, were unclean, in order to purify them; but +John called upon those, who according to the Law were clean already, +to come to him and be baptized, in order to show, that all who would +belong to Christ must purify their hearts, and obey the spirit as well +as the letter of all the commandments. + +This distinction between the letter and the spirit of any commandment, +must be carefully and constantly borne in mind, by every Christian. + +For example, the Sixth Commandment says, "Thou shalt do no murder"; +therefore all, who do not actually kill a fellow creature, may be said +to obey the _letter_, or exact _words_, of this commandment; but to +obey the spirit, we must never do anything wilfully to hurt our +neighbour in any way; we must, on the contrary, do all the good we +possibly can to our fellow creatures. + +To make this plainer, suppose a mother to say to her children, "You +may go out, but it is so hot that you must not run about": the +children go out, and then amuse themselves by jumping--they have +obeyed the letter of their mother's commands, for they did not _run_, +but they have broken the spirit--she wished them not to heat +themselves,--that was the spirit and meaning of the precept; and that +they have broken, just as much as if they had run about. + +The Jews must have well understood, that when John the Baptist called +upon them to be baptized as if they were unclean, he meant to show +them that the Messiah required men to be holy, far beyond what they +then were; and great numbers of the people listened to his teaching, +and went out unto him, and were baptized of him in the river Jordan, +confessing their sins. + +"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of +Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. But John forbad +him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to +me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for +thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered +him." John spake of the baptism administered by him, as "the baptism +of repentance for the remission of sins"; meaning that those who +repented and were baptized, would have their sins forgiven and done +away with, so that they would no longer be looked upon as guilty. John +knew that Jesus was perfectly holy, and had no need of the baptism of +repentance, so necessary for mere mortals. John had also told those +who came to him to be baptized "with water unto repentance," that they +still needed another baptism from the Son of God; even the gift of the +Holy Spirit, without which no man could please the Lord. He told them, +"there cometh one mightier than I after me, whose shoes I am not +worthy to bear,"--"the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to +unloose,"--"He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." + +In Eastern countries, the visitors to princes and great men, took off +their shoes, that is, the sandals or slippers worn upon the feet, and +left them at the door, whilst they went barefooted into the presence +of the prince. The fastenings or latchets of these shoes were often +undone by a slave, who also held the shoes till his master again +required them. Thus to unfasten or bear the shoes of another, +signified being his servant, ready to do any service that might be +required. John therefore meant, that He who was to come after him was +so greatly his superior, that he (John) was not worthy even to do for +Him the lowest offices required from a slave. No wonder that with such +feelings, John objected to Jesus being baptized by him, who was in +every respect so far His inferior; and who, like all other human +beings, had need of the Holy Spirit which God alone could give. + +But amongst the Jews, those who were admitted to perform the office of +Priest were always anointed and baptized; and, as Jesus came to be our +great High Priest, it was necessary that He should observe this form, +as He had undergone the rite of circumcision. He came to fulfil all +righteousness, to do all that was right, and then to suffer +punishment, as if He had been sinful instead of sinless. To make +atonement for the sin of man, it was necessary that He Who made it, +should obey and fulfil perfectly the whole Will of God, and then +suffer, "the just for the unjust." Only so could atonement be made: +this Jesus explained to John, and then the Baptist no longer hesitated +to baptize with water the sinless Son of God. + + + + +Chapter VI.--JESUS TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL + + +"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the +water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the +Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and, lo, +a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well +pleased." The Three Persons in the Holy Trinity were thus at once made +manifest, or shown to John the Baptist: before Him, under the form of +Man, stood God the Son: God the Holy Ghost came down from heaven in a +bodily form, with a gentle motion like that of a dove, and rested upon +the Son of God: God the Father was not made visible to the eyes, but +His voice was heard, declaring Jesus to be His Son, the promised +Messiah, the Saviour of the world. + +After His baptism, Jesus was, by the appointment of His Father, "led +by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil." It +was necessary that Jesus should gain a victory over the great enemy of +mankind, and show that the Devil had no power to lead Him to do evil. +Since Adam fell, no human being had ever so completely resisted the +Devil as to _deserve_ the favour of God; thus no one had ever earned +eternal life even for himself. Jesus came to make atonement for the +sin of countless millions: but He could not have made satisfaction for +the sins of others, if He had in the least thing given way to the +Devil. Therefore He must fight and conquer, or the work which He came +to do must have remained for ever undone. + +In Scripture, Jesus Christ is called the second Adam: "the first Adam +is of the earth, earthy, the last Adam is the Lord from heaven." The +first Adam was created holy and good, but he was tempted by the Devil +and sinned; "so by the disobedience of one man came death, for in Adam +all die." All who bear the same nature, must share the punishment due +to that sinful nature. But the Holy and Eternal Son of God took upon +Himself the human nature of man, and became subject to the like +infirmities, but without sin. Thus was atonement made--"in Christ +shall all," who give themselves to Him, "be made alive": "thus by man +came also the resurrection of the dead." The Devil exerted all his +power to lead Jesus to do something which would displease God, and +destroy the blessed work of redemption. Taking advantage of Jesus +being hungry and faint after long fasting, the Devil gently proposed +that He should turn some stones into bread, and thus at the same time +supply His own wants, and give a convincing proof that He was indeed +the Son of God, as He had been just declared to be. + +We are ready enough to take any excuse for doing what we wish to do; +and by this means we often fall into the snare which Satan so cleverly +spreads for us. But Jesus thought of nothing but how to do the Will of +His Father completely and entirely. He had been led into the +wilderness by the Spirit of God, and it was the Will of His heavenly +Father that He should now be enhungered. Jesus was therefore +determined to leave the matter entirely in the hands of God. This is +what we should all do, rather than try to help ourselves by doing +anything that we fear may displease God. + +Satan next wanted Jesus to throw Himself down from the roof of the +temple into the court below, where the people were assembled, and thus +show them at once that He was the promised Messiah, the Son of God, of +whom David had written, God "shall give His angels charge over thee, +to keep thee; and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any +time thou dash thy foot against a stone." But Jesus, still bent upon +doing His Father's will, answered from Scripture, "It is said, Thou +shalt not tempt the Lord thy God," meaning that no one must run into +unnecessary danger, to try whether God will preserve him: this is +tempting Providence, and is sinful. To do our duty in spite of danger +is trusting God, and is right: but to run into danger just to please +ourselves, expecting that God will preserve us, is presumptuous and +sinful. + +Satan made a last attempt to get Jesus to bow down to him, by +promising to give Him power over all the kingdoms of the world; but +Jesus was content to have only what God saw fit to give Him, and +replied, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship +the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." + +The battle was over; the victory was gained: as Man, Jesus had been +tempted; as Man, He had resisted the Devil. He had fought and +conquered, and thus could go on with His blessed work, which He never +could have accomplished, had He at this, or any other time, given way +in the least degree to the Devil. For the first time since the +Creation, Satan found himself defeated: against our blessed Saviour he +could not prevail, as he had done against Adam and his descendants; He +departed therefore: we are told, "Then the Devil leaveth Him, and, +behold, angels came and ministered unto Him." The Father sent His +Angels to minister to His Son; that is, to serve Him; to supply those +wants to which, as Man, He was subject. No doubt they brought Him food +of which His human nature stood greatly in need. + +We have seen how Jesus resisted the Devil; each time using the very +words of Scripture, which forbade Him to do as the Tempter proposed. +The Devil is constantly tempting every human being to sin, by +suggesting that they had better follow their own wishes and +inclinations, instead of denying themselves, and trying in all things +to please God. We should therefore bear in mind, that we possess the +same Scriptures, and far more; since we have now our Saviour's own +words whilst He was upon earth, and also the letters of His Apostles: +and then, when we are tempted to do what is wrong, let us remember +what the Scriptures say, and obey _that_, instead of following our own +wills. The young are never too young to begin to resist the Devil, +who has temptations suited to every age and condition: if you feel +disinclined to obey your Parents cheerfully, remember that the Bible +says, "Children obey your Parents in all things": let all inclination +to dispute with one another be driven away by the recollection of the +precept, "Be ye kind one to another." + +The direction, "Speak every man truth with his neighbour," should +strengthen you to resist every temptation to hide a fault, by saying +what is not true, or even by keeping silence, or doing anything to +deceive another. The fault into which so many young people fall, of +being idle and careless about their lessons, would best be checked by +calling to mind the precepts, "Be not slothful in business," and +"Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as unto the Lord." These, and many +like precepts, warn us to conquer faults of which we are apt to think +too lightly; not seeing that they are temptations set before us by the +Devil, who strives to destroy our souls. But it is also written, +"Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you." Begin at once to resist +him with all your strength--struggle against your own will and +inclinations, which will too often incline you to yield to his +suggestions. Fight manfully as long as you live upon earth; praying +always for help from God, without Whom ye can do nothing. If thus +steadily and heartily you endeavour to renounce the Devil and all his +works, with all the sinful lusts of the flesh, and do everything to +please God, you will hereafter receive your reward in Heaven for Jesus +Christ's sake. + +After the Baptism and Temptation of Jesus Christ, He began His work +amongst men, by declaring to them the blessed truths of the Gospel. + +The first men who became disciples, or followers of Jesus Christ, were +Andrew and John, who were already disciples of John the Baptist. "The +next day," after the Baptism of our Lord, "John stood and two of his +disciples; and looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the +Lamb of God!" The Priests and Levites, as well as all the people of +the Jews, knew that lambs were daily offered up as an atonement for +sin, but that the blood of these creatures could never wash out the +stain of sin, nor obtain its forgiveness. They were quite aware that +these sacrifices were only offered up as a type, or sign of the +Messiah; for Whose coming they looked, to make atonement for the sin +of the whole world. John the Baptist had repeatedly told his disciples +that he was not himself the Messiah, but was the messenger to prepare +his way before Him. When, therefore, John the Baptist exclaimed, +"Behold the Lamb of God," Andrew and John at once understood, that +this was indeed the long-looked-for Messiah, the true Lamb of God, Who +was to take away the sins of the whole world. "The two disciples heard +him speak, and they followed Jesus." Jesus asked them, "What seek ye?" +At once acknowledging Him to be their Master, the disciples asked Him, +"Rabbi, where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They +came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day; for it was +about the tenth hour." That is, it was about two hours before sunset. + +Andrew next went in search of his own brother Simon Peter, and "saith +unto him, We have found the Messiah." Simon Peter at once believed +these glad tidings, and went with Andrew to Jesus, who received him +kindly. The next day Philip, who lived in the same town as Andrew and +Peter, and had no doubt often talked with them of the promised +Saviour, also became a follower of Jesus; and he likewise brought a +friend called Nathanael, of whom we must say something more. + + + + +Chapter VII.--THE FIRST MIRACLE. + + +Nathanael, who was brought to Jesus by Philip, was one of those devout +Jews who had studied the writings of Moses and the prophets, and was +in consequence anxiously expecting the coming of the promised Messiah. +Philip went and told him that the Messiah was really come at last, and +that he himself had seen the wondrous Being, of whom Moses and the +prophets had written; and that He was no other than Jesus of Nazareth, +the son of Joseph. Now at that time the inhabitants of Nazareth did +not generally bear a good character, and were not therefore held in +esteem by their fellow countrymen; and besides, Nathanael had learned +from the Scriptures, that Christ should be born in Bethlehem; hence he +doubted the possibility of Jesus being the promised Redeemer, and +asked in a tone of incredulity, "Can there any good thing come out of +Nazareth?" Philip, whose faith was firm, gave the best answer which +ever can be given to those who doubt the testimony of others, "Come +and see"; certain that if Nathanael were to see and talk with Jesus, +he would be convinced that He was indeed the Messiah. + +Nathanael, who was willing and anxious to learn the truth, laid aside +all prejudice, and went to Jesus; and fully was he rewarded for his +willingness to learn. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming unto Him, He +spoke in a manner which surprised the latter, and made him ask, +"Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that +Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee." It +seems that Nathanael, following a custom amongst the devout Jews, had +gone into a quiet, retired part of his garden, to meditate and pray. +Here he knew that no human eye could see him, and therefore the words +now spoken by Jesus convinced him that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed +the promised Messiah; he doubted no longer, but without hesitation, +exclaimed, "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of +Israel." Jesus, pleased with Nathanael's willing faith, told him that +he should see greater proofs of His being indeed the Son of God, the +promised Messiah. The word Rabbi means a "teacher having authority." +Andrew and Peter, James and John, of whom we have heard as the first +disciples of Christ, did not at this time remain with Him as his +constant attendants, but returned to their own occupation as +fishermen: they all lived at Bethsaida, a town on the northern coast +of the sea of Galilee. + +The next event which we have to notice, is the first miracle worked by +Christ, at Cana in Galilee, where with those who had already become +his disciples, He attended a marriage feast. Here, when wine was +wanted, Jesus performed His first miracle, by turning water into wine. +Thirty years had now passed away since the birth of Christ; the +Shepherds, and others who had seen or heard the wonderful things which +took place at that time, had probably ceased to think much about them; +or if they thought of them, it was probably to wonder what had become +of the Holy Babe, Who had been declared by Angels to be "Christ the +Lord." Such a miracle as that now worked at Cana, would be talked of +far and wide; and those who remembered the birth of Mary's Son at +Bethlehem, would have no difficulty in believing that Jesus Christ was +that wondrous Child. To all who were inclined to listen to Jesus, +miracles were a confirmation of their faith; for these wonderful +displays of supernatural power plainly showed Him to be the Son of +God; yet in spite of such unmistakable signs, few of the Jews accepted +Jesus as their expected Messiah. The poorer people, the lower +classes, who benefited mostly by his miracles, "heard him gladly," for +a time, at least; though at the period of His crucifixion their voices +called out, "Crucify him, Crucify him!" + +When we read the account of Christ's life and miracles, it does seem +most extraordinary, that throughout His career on earth, very few of +the higher class of Jews, or of the Priests and those best acquainted +with the Scriptures, would acknowledge Him. But we must remember that +they had made up their minds, in spite of all that the prophets had +said to the contrary, that the Messiah was to come as an earthly King +and Conqueror, surrounded with pomp and splendour: this idea they +would not give up: they were not like Nathanael, willing to be taught, +and they could not bear the idea that a poor man, born in a humble +rank of life, and only distinguished from other men by his holiness, +should be their Messiah. Besides this, the greater part of the Jews +had by this time grown careless about their religion; they still +observed the outward forms and ceremonies ordered by the Law, but they +did not obey the command given through Moses, to love the Lord their +God with all their heart: they did not wish to be holy, as Jesus +plainly told his disciples they must be. He went about preaching the +Gospel of the Kingdom, that is, telling all men that they must repent +of all their sins, and leave off doing wrong, and try to please God in +everything, if they would hereafter be received into the Kingdom of +Heaven. Such doctrine was very displeasing to the Jews, and therefore +they were determined not to own such a Teacher as their Lord: thus +they rejected the true Messiah, whilst they pretended to be anxiously +looking out for His coming. + +Not very long after the miracle at Cana, we are told that "the Jews' +Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." The Law of +Moses commanded, that at this feast every male among the Jews, should +appear before the Lord in His holy temple; and Jesus, Who was to set +an example of perfect obedience to all the commandments of God, +journeyed from Capernaum up to Jerusalem, to keep the feast in the +place which the Lord had chosen. When Jesus went up to this Passover, +He drove the buyers and sellers out of the temple, an action repeated +on a future occasion. At this time St. John says, that Jesus "found in +the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers +of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, He +drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and +poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; and said +unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my +Father's house a house of merchandise." + +It is not meant that these animals, or the money changers, were in the +_building of the temple itself_, but in one of the courts surrounding +it. + +So many creatures were required for sacrifices, that it was a great +convenience for persons coming from a distance, to be able to buy what +they wanted on the spot; and therefore it had long been the custom for +traders to establish themselves outside of the outer Court of the +temple, to supply the worshippers with oxen, sheep or doves. Then +again, people coming from a distance, might bring their money in a +large sum, and then they would want to have it changed for coins of +less value; just as we might carry a sovereign, which would give us no +trouble to carry, and then get it changed into shillings, when we +wanted to spend it. Some Jews also, who came to the temple from time +to time, lived in foreign countries, and they would naturally bring +the money of those countries, which would be of no use in Judæa; and +they would therefore wish to change their foreign money into the money +current amongst the Jews. For these reasons the money changers were +most useful; and they therefore established themselves with the +traders, outside the temple Courts. + +But the Priests, as well as the people, became careless about obeying +God perfectly, or worshipping Him in a proper manner and honouring His +house; and therefore, at length, these money changers and sellers of +cattle, established themselves in the Court of the Gentiles, and so +carried on their trade within the sacred precincts of the temple. This +outer Court, in which the money changers and those who sold oxen, +sheep, and doves appear to have established themselves, was the Court +of the Gentiles; and was intended for the use of devout persons, who, +though not willing in all respects to imitate the Jews, were to +worship the One True God. In this Court also, all Jews who happened to +be _unclean_, performed their devotions, as they were not then allowed +to go into the inner Court. There were very many things which caused a +Jew to be looked upon as unclean, without any fault of his. Illness, a +death in the house, nursing the sick; and many other things, rendered +a man "unclean," and unfit to enter the inner Court. Under these +circumstances, there were always many unclean Jews, worshipping God +in the Court of the Gentiles; and the presence of the traders and +money changers was a great disturbance to both Jews and Gentiles; for +they could not attend properly to their prayers, in the midst of all +the noise and confusion made by the buyers and sellers. This wrong +state of things Jesus put an end to, by driving all these traders out +of the temple courts; telling the people not to make the house of God +a house of business, a place for buying and selling. + +The disciples of Jesus who witnessed his conduct on this occasion, +remembered that David, speaking of the Messiah Who was to come, said, +"The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up," words that meant, that +Jesus would not allow any dishonour or disrespect to be shown to the +House of God. + +By saying to the people, "Make not my Father's house a house of +merchandise," Jesus plainly declared himself to be the Son of God; and +the Jews so understood His words, though they would not own him to be +the Son of God, but immediately asked, "What sign showest thou unto +us, seeing that thou doest these things?" that is, What proof can you +give us that you are what you say, and that you have any right to turn +these people out of the Court of the temple? + +Had this question been asked in a proper spirit, from a real desire to +know for certain, in order that they might worship Jesus as the +Messiah, they would no doubt have received a plain and direct answer. +But they had no intention of following and obeying Jesus as their Lord +and Master, and only wished to find excuses for not believing in Him; +therefore our Lord, Who knew all the thoughts in their hearts, +answered them in a very remarkable way, giving them a sign which would +hereafter prove Him to be indeed the Son of God. + + + + +Chapter VIII.--NICODEMUS COMES BY NIGHT TO JESUS. + + +To the question, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou +doest these things? Jesus answered, "Destroy this temple, and in three +days I will raise it up." These words were a prophecy: Jesus "spake of +the temple of his body," and thus declared that His own body would be +killed, but that after three days He would rise to life again. + +The Jews, thinking only of the building before their eyes now, +exclaimed in astonishment, "Forty and six years was this temple in +building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?" It had taken Herod +forty-six years to repair and beautify the second temple, and the Jews +might well doubt its being done in three days: they thought of nothing +further, and were probably quite satisfied that Jesus had now said +what could not possibly be. But the disciples felt sure that these +words of their Lord had some hidden meaning, though they did not +understand what: they therefore remembered them; and after their +accomplishment their faith was strengthened; for we read, "When +therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he +had said this unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the word +which Jesus had said." + +All Scripture, as we know, was written for our instruction, and +therefore we must always think what we can learn from it: now the +clearing of the temple court by Jesus teaches us two great lessons: +first, that we must never use the House of God for any purpose but +that for which it is intended. Now, to us, our Churches are the house +of God; and if we do not use them as we ought, we sin as did the Jews. +Of course, we cannot make them a house of merchandise as the Jews did; +but if we are thinking of our business, or our pleasure, or anything +else, instead of attending to what is going on, we are not using the +house of God in a proper manner. Our Churches are set apart for the +worship of God as much as the Temple was; and if we do not worship God +when we go for that purpose, we displease our heavenly Father. +Everything belonging to God must be treated with reverence, and +honoured by being used according to His Will. In this way, therefore, +we must reverence and honour His day, His house, and His word. You +will thus see that being careless and inattentive at Church is a great +sin. God sees your heart, and knows all your thoughts, so that if you +are thinking of something else, though you may be sitting still and +thus _appear_ good to man, He will be displeased. + +In all the prayers you must join heartily: when the Lessons are read, +you will generally be able to understand them. When the Clergyman +begins to preach his Sermon, try to understand what he says: if you +really cannot understand his sermon, then think about some person +mentioned in Scripture, as Adam, Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon, +Samuel, and many others, and consider what they did to please or +displease God; or say over your hymns and texts to yourself: this will +prevent your thoughts from wandering off to your business, or +pleasures, or any such things. In the house of God, you must _think_ +of _nothing but_ God, and how to please Him. + +Now let us talk of the other lesson, which we are to learn from what +Jesus did. + +Jesus spake of His body as a temple; and St. Paul tells us, that all +who love and follow Christ are so joined together in Him, that they +are like stones joined together to build up a holy temple, for an +habitation of God through the Spirit. As Christians baptized in the +Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, we have all become stones or +parts of that holy temple the Church of Christ; members or parts of +His body: for the Scripture calls the Church of Christ His body. Now +as long as we are obedient and faithful members of Christ's body, the +Church, the Holy Spirit will bless and help us: but if we give way to +our own sinful feelings, we bring bad passions into this holy temple, +the Church of Christ, and "defile," or make it unclean, as the Jews +defiled the temple built by hands by bringing oxen and sheep into its +courts. St Paul warns us of the consequence of such sin: "If any man +defile the temple of God, him will God destroy." + +But further, the same Apostle St. Paul teaches each one of us to look +upon our own body as a temple, for the abode of the Holy Spirit. Now, +as a temple is devoted to the service of God, so we must employ our +bodies in serving Him, and doing His will. The temple must not be +defiled; so we must try hard to keep all naughty tempers out of our +hearts. Disobedience, passion, quarrelsomeness, idleness--in short, +all the faults you can have--are evil things which defile the temple, +and render it unfit for the abode of the Holy Spirit. If you try to +resist evil, the Holy Spirit will help you to do so; but if you give +way to bad passions, and allow the Devil to govern you, you will +grieve the Holy Spirit of God, and at last _force_ Him to leave you to +follow your own ways. To be left to follow your own evil ways is the +most dreadful thing that can happen to you. Pray to God, and try to +have Him always for your friend. + +We have said that during our Saviour's ministry on earth, few of the +higher class of Jews became His disciples; but there was one +remarkable exception, in the case of a man named Nicodemus, whose +conversation with our blessed Lord is particularly instructive. We +read in the Gospel of St. John, "There was a man of the Pharisees, +named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, +and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from +God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be +with him." Nicodemus was a man of sense, and the miracles of Jesus had +convinced him; for he felt certain that no one but the Son of God, the +Messiah, could do such things. He was willing to acknowledge this; but +afraid of the ridicule or reproaches of his friends, he came to Jesus +by night, that no man might know of his visit. Christ, who is very +merciful, did not refuse to listen to Nicodemus, but began to show him +that there must be some proof of faith in a holy life. So when +Nicodemus declared his belief that Jesus came from God, "Jesus +answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a +man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus, not +understanding the real meaning of these words, "saith unto him, How +can a man be born when he is old?" meaning that it was impossible for +a man who had been born many years before, again to become a baby. +"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born +of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. +That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of +the Spirit is spirit." Jesus meant that, as to the body or flesh, no +man could of course be born again; but that by the help of the Holy +Spirit, the man's nature might be changed so that he would become +holy, trying in all things to please God: such a change in the +character, temper, and disposition might be compared to a new birth; +and without such a complete change, no one could enter into the +kingdom of God. Such teaching might well cause Nicodemus great +surprise; and Jesus said unto him, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, +Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou +hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and +whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." In +these words our Saviour warns Nicodemus, that a man's conduct only can +show whether he has been born of the Spirit: just as we cannot see the +wind, but we know that it blows, because we hear the noise it makes, +and see its effects in the way the trees and other things are blown +about. + +Nicodemus, in astonishment at all he heard, now said, "How can these +things be?" and then Jesus told him how necessary it was to have faith +when hearing of heavenly things, since it is impossible for man to +understand how the great works of God are done. At this time Jesus +uttered that remarkable prophecy, comparing His crucifixion to the +setting up of the Brazen Serpent in the wilderness; saying, "And as +Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of +man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, +but have eternal life." When the children of Israel were dying from +the effects of the bites of the fiery flying serpents, those who so +believed the words of Moses, as to look up at the brazen serpent, were +saved at once from the death of the body. When all the children of men +were dying from the effects of sin (the bite of that old serpent the +Devil), all who would in faith look up to the cross of Christ, and +believe in Him, would be saved from the far more dreadful death (or +eternal misery) of the soul. And then our Saviour went on to speak of +the great love of God, as shown by His giving His Son to die for man. + +"After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of +Judæa; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was +baptizing in Ænon, near to Salim, because there was much water there": +here many of the people came to John, and were baptized. Some of those +who came to him, seem to have been rather distressed or surprised that +Jesus was drawing men away from him; and they said, "Rabbi, he that +was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold, the +same baptizeth, and all men come to him." + +John immediately reminded his hearers, that he had always told them +that he had only come as the messenger of Christ to prepare His way, +and that now that Christ was come, his ministry was ended, and he had +only to rejoice in the success of his Heavenly Master. He himself was +but a man, "of the earth, earthy"; but of Him whose messenger he was, +he said, "He that cometh from above, is above all." Moreover, John +said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." Jesus had just begun +His work, which would go on and increase; John's work was finished, +and he himself would not long remain on earth. + +And so it was; for very shortly afterwards, John the Baptist was shut +up in prison by Herod Antipas, the governor of Galilee. + + + + +Chapter IX.--JOHN PUT INTO PRISON. + + +Herod Antipas, one of the sons of Herod the Great, was governor of +Galilee: Philip, another of them, was governor or tetrarch of Itruria. +The word "tetrarch" means the governor of a certain portion of a +kingdom. The land of Palestine being subject to the Romans, they had +divided it into portions; and the governors of each portion were +styled tetrarchs. Philip had a wife called Herodias, a bad woman, who +behaved ill to her husband, and at length left him, and became the +wife of his brother Herod. Now this was a great sin on the part of +Herod, as well as that of Herodias, and John the Baptist reproved them +for it: this holy man was not afraid to speak the truth, though doing +so was sure to bring trouble upon himself, for Herod was a proud man, +who would not like to be told of his faults, and Herodias would be +much more angry. + +But John had been sent by God the Father to prepare the way of the +Lord, by teaching His Will to men, and exhorting them to repentance +and amendment of life: this John was determined to do, undismayed by +any fear of what man might do to him; and therefore he told Herod, +that it was not lawful, not allowed by the Law of God, that he should +thus take his brother's wife to be his wife. + +The consequence was, that John was immediately put into prison. +Herodias, who hated him for reproving her, would gladly have had him +put to death; but she could not yet prevail on Herod to consent to so +wicked an act. + +There seems to have been two reasons which made Herod unwilling to put +his prisoner to death. In the first place, many of the Jews looked +upon John as a prophet and a teacher sent by God; and Herod feared +that there might be some riot amongst the people, in which case the +Romans might accuse him of having misgoverned the country, and suffer +him to be no longer governor. The other reason was, that although +Herod was angry with John, he could not help seeing that he was a good +and holy man; so much so, that he listened to his advice on many +points, though he would not act according to it, in the matter of +Herodias. Even after John was cast into prison, Herod often "sent for +him, and heard him gladly, and did many things." + +Well would it have been for Herod, if he had done _all_ things +according to John's advice. + +"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, +preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God": preaching, that is, the +good tidings of how sinful man might enter into the kingdom of God, +from which the Fall of Adam had shut him out. "Repent ye and believe +the Gospel," was the sum of his preaching: true repentance would make +men leave off sinning; and belief in the Gospel would lead them to +strive to be holy, out of love for the Saviour, who was come upon +earth to deliver them from eternal misery. + +He preached the Gospel of the kingdom of God to all who would hear +him; they naturally told others; so that "there went out a fame of him +through all the region round about." Besides this, "Jesus taught in +their synagogues." Synagogues were buildings in which the Jews +assembled to pray to God, and to hear the holy Scriptures read and +explained. The use of synagogues began after the return of the Jews +from their captivity in Babylon; and in our Saviour's time there were +great numbers of them, not only in towns and villages, but all over +the country: some writers tell us, that wherever there were ten +grown-up men, able to form a congregation, the Jews thought it right +to build a synagogue. + +It would be well if Christians had in this matter followed the example +of the Jews; for unhappily there are not now nearly enough Churches in +our land, so that there are great numbers of men, women, and children +in England, who could not go to Church if they wished to do so, +because there is not room enough for them. This is very sad, and we +should always be ready to give our money to help in building Churches, +which are so much wanted all over the country. + +The Synagogues were generally built close to rivers and brooks, so as +to have water at hand for all the ceremonies of purification: it was +right in the Jews to observe these outward ceremonies, but it would +have been better for them if they had remembered, that they were only +ordered, to show the necessity of purifying the heart and life from +sin. Let _us_ remember this, and pray to God, "Make me a clean heart, +O God." + +The daily service in the Synagogue, consisted of prayers and the +reading of a portion from the books of Moses, which was afterwards +expounded or explained: on the Sabbath days, a second portion of +Scripture, from the writings of the Prophets, was read in addition. A +certain number of wise and serious men, were chosen to be Rulers of +each Synagogue; that is, to settle all matters concerning it, and to +arrange the services, and appoint the readers. The readers were +usually some of the Scribes; but strangers were often allowed to read +and expound the Scriptures in their place, and any one who was looked +upon as a prophet, would be eagerly listened to. To show their +reverence for the Scriptures, the Jewish doctors stood up whilst they +read the daily portions, and then sat down, whilst they explained the +meaning to their congregation. Whenever any person among the Jews set +himself up as the founder or leader of a party, by teaching any +peculiar doctrines, he was allowed by the Rulers to explain these +doctrines publicly in the Synagogues; so that all men might have an +opportunity of hearing his opinions, and judging whether such a +teacher spoke according to the Scriptures, and ought to be listened +to, and followed. In consequence of this custom, Jesus Christ, and in +after times His Apostles also, were allowed to read and expound in the +Synagogues. + +Every considerable synagogue, that is, every one so situated as to +have a large congregation, had attached to it an academy, or school +for elder children, who here studied the Scriptures under the guidance +of the Rabbis. But unfortunately, with the Scriptures, which are the +Word of God, these Rabbis instructed the Jewish youth in the +traditions of man. "Traditions" were sayings and doctrines which had +never been written down, but had merely been told by word of mouth +from father to son, and had thus been handed down through many +generations. Many of these traditions, which had some truth in them at +first, had become sadly altered by thus being told by one to another; +so that some of them were, in our Saviour's time, quite contrary to +the commandments and precepts of God. + +Other traditions again had been entirely invented by men, and were not +deserving of any attention; but the Jews received them all, and looked +upon them as equal in authority, or rather as superior, to the Holy +Scriptures themselves. + +The Rabbis who taught in the academies attached to the synagogues, sat +in the midst of their scholars, who all stood round them. + +We have said, that "When Jesus had heard that John was cast into +prison, he departed into Galilee," preaching and teaching throughout +the country. "And leaving Nazareth," which had been the home of His +childhood, "he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea +coast (of the lake of Tiberias), in the borders of Zabulon and +Nepthalim." Thus was fulfilled the prophecy spoken by Esaias, that is +Isaiah, "The land of Zabulon and the land of Nepthalim, by the way of +the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat +in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and +shadow of death light is sprung up." In the holy Scriptures, the word +"darkness" constantly means ignorance and sin; whilst "light" is used +to express the contrary, as knowledge and goodness. The people of +Galilee were ignorant and sinful, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ was +as a light to drive away this darkness, by teaching men to believe in +their Saviour, and obey the Will of God. This blessing was now +brought, as the prophet Isaiah had foretold, to the country round +about Capernaum. + +From this time, Capernaum seems to have been the home of Jesus Christ; +as far, at least, as he could be said to have a home, when His whole +life was spent in moving about the country from one place to another, +"teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the +Kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease +among the people." + +In the Four Gospels you must look for the full account of the +miracles, parables, and conversations of our blessed Saviour; here +many of them will be only briefly mentioned. + +In passing on one occasion from Judæa into Galilee, "He must needs go +through Samaria." His disciples being gone into the town to buy food, +Jesus asked a woman of Samaria who came to draw water from the well, +to give Him to drink; and He took this occasion to tell her, that it +signified little in what place men worshipped God, if they worshipped +Him properly "in spirit and in truth," that is, truly and sincerely, +in faith; and he ended by telling her plainly that He was the Messiah, +expected by Samaritans as well as by Jews. In consequence of what +passed between our Lord and this woman, many of the Samaritans +believed in Him as the Christ, the Saviour of the world. + +Jesus appears to have remained at Samaria for two days; and we may be +quite sure that during that time He preached "the Gospel of the +Kingdom" to all who would hear His words. + +Next we hear of another miracle worked at Cana, where He had changed +the water into wine. A certain nobleman, whose son was sick at +Capernaum, came to Him to implore His help: this nobleman believed +that Jesus could heal his son, and his faith was rewarded by having +his child restored to health. After this, Jesus "came to Nazareth, +where he had been brought up; and as his custom was, he went into the +synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was +delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had +opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit +of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the +Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to +preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the +blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the +acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it +again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that +were in the synagogue were fastened on him," eagerly expecting the +explanation of this passage of holy writ. Jesus told them, that this +prophecy was now fulfilled in Him; and when they hesitated to believe +in "Joseph's son," and seemed to wonder why He did not work miracles +there, He reminded them that miracles were worked, and always had been +worked, just according to the pleasure of God, who often chose the +most unlikely persons to work his miracles upon. His words made all +who were in the synagogue very wrath; "and they rose and thrust him +out of the city, and led him unto the brow (or edge) of the hill +whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong," +and so put an end to his life and his preaching; but not yet, and not +so, was the Son of man to die. He therefore worked a miracle to save +himself, and "passing through the midst of them, went His way." + + + + +Chapter X.--CALLING OF SIMON AND OTHERS. + + +The number of Christ's disciples increased, but it was necessary that +He should have a certain number of faithful men constantly with Him, +to be witnesses of all that He said and did whilst on earth; so that +they might teach "the Gospel of the Kingdom" to others, when he should +have returned to His Father in Heaven. To this end, therefore, when +walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus bid the two brothers, Simon +called Peter, and Andrew, leave their occupation of fishermen, and +follow Him wheresoever He should go; telling them that He would make +them fishers of men: meaning, that as by putting their nets into the +sea, they had hitherto brought fish to land; so now, by preaching the +Gospel, they should bring men to the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus did not +speak in vain: "straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. +And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of +Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their +nets. And straightway he called them; and they left their father +Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him." A +miracle quickly confirmed the faith of these four disciples. The +people, who had gathered round our Lord to hear his words, so pressed +upon Him, that He entered into Simon's ship, and from thence taught +the people. When He had spoken to them for some time, "he said unto +Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a +draught." Now Peter, who had been toiling all night, which is the best +time for catching fish, knew that there was little chance of taking +any then; but the command of his Master was enough for him. His +obedience was rewarded by a wonderful draught (or take) of fishes, +which greatly astonished Simon and Andrew, as well as their partners, +James and John. Peter, seeing the wonderful works of God, felt that he +was utterly unworthy even to be the servant of so glorious a Being, +and falling at Jesus's knees, he exclaimed, "Depart from me; for I am +a sinful man, O Lord!" But Jesus encouraged him, and repeated His +promise, that His disciples should by their preaching of the Gospel +bring the hearts of men to love and obey the Lord, for "he said unto +Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they +had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him." + +From henceforth these four disciples, who had been especially called, +became the constant attendants of our Lord. Three of them, Simon, +James, and John, were more particularly favoured; for they are +mentioned as being with the Lord on many occasions, when His other +disciples were not with Him; thus they were witnesses of all the +wonderful events in His life. + +After the calling of Simon and his companions, Jesus went with them +into Capernaum; "and on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue +and taught." Jesus did not talk to the people, as many of the Scribes +did, about ceremonies and traditions; but he tried to draw their +thoughts away from such comparative trifles, and fix them upon the +Lord God Almighty--upon His goodness and mercy, and upon the necessity +of faith and love producing perfect obedience to His holy Will. Jesus +spake of holiness and righteousness in a way that they had never +before heard; and he spake also in a tone of authority as One who had +a right to command. He told them that he was indeed the Son of God, +and that he spake unto them in the name of the Lord God of Israel: He +warned the impenitent and disobedient, that they would bring eternal +misery upon themselves, while He promised eternal happiness to all who +would believe and obey. No wonder that His hearers were astonished at +such teaching, from one who appeared to be merely a man like +themselves. But to convince them that they might safely believe in +Him, Jesus, even in the synagogue, healed a man who had a spirit of an +unclean devil, so that "the people spake among themselves, saying, +What a word is this? for with authority and power he commandeth the +unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And immediately the fame of him +went out, and spread abroad throughout all the region, into every +place of the country round about Galilee." + +"And when they were come out of the synagogue, Jesus with James and +John entered into the house of Simon and Andrew: here the mother of +Simon's wife lay sick of a fever." The poor woman's friends besought +Jesus for her; He took her by the hand; the fever left her at once; +and then, instead of being weak, as people naturally are after a +fever, her health and strength returned at once, and "immediately she +arose and ministered unto them." The news of so wonderful a cure, +increased the fame of Jesus. + +The wonderful cures performed by Jesus brought many to ask His help. +"And when the even was come," that is, as soon as the Sabbath was +over,--for the Jews reckoned their Sabbath to begin at sunset, or +about six o'clock on Friday evening, and to end at the same hour on +Saturday night,--as soon, therefore, as the Sabbath was past, "all the +city was gathered together at the door, and they brought unto him all +that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils: and he +cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick." +Thus were fulfilled the words spoken, 700 years before, by Esaias the +prophet, who said, "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our +sicknesses." + +This prophecy was doubly fulfilled: first, by healing sicknesses and +diseases, Christ, during his lifetime, took away the consequence of +the punishment of sin; secondly, by His death upon the Cross, He took +away sin, and procured forgiveness and salvation, for all who seek it +in the way appointed by Him. + +"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, +and departed into a solitary place and there prayed." Having taken +upon Himself the form and nature of man, Jesus now set His disciples +an example of what prayer ought to be. It is a blessed thing to be +allowed to pray to God--to tell Him of all our joys and sorrows--and +to beg Him to bless us, and make us able to do well, whatever work He +may give us to do. We sinful creatures have also another thing to pray +for; and that is, forgiveness of our sins for Jesus Christ's sake, and +such true repentance, as will make us try every day to do His holy +Will better and better. For all these blessings we should constantly +pray: but you must remember, that it is quite possible for you to +kneel down every morning and evening and repeat the prayers which you +have learnt, and _yet never really pray one bit_. + +Prayer is speaking to God, and begging Him to give us what we stand in +need of, both for our souls and bodies. Now, amongst ourselves, it is +thought very rude and disrespectful, to speak to any person without +thinking of what we are saying: and what should we think of a person +who went into the presence of an earthly king, to ask some great +favour, and then spake in a careless, indifferent manner, without +seeming to know or care what he was asking for? We should all blame +such a person; and think that he did not deserve to have his petitions +granted. What must it be, then, to speak to the Lord God Almighty, the +King of Kings, in such a manner? Then, again, if you really wanted +your Parents to do anything for you, or give you anything, you would +not ask them carelessly, as if you did not care whether they said +"Yes" or "No"; you would beg and pray earnestly with all your heart. +Now this is what you should do when you say your prayers to God, your +heavenly Father, Who can give you all you need on earth; and can +besides, put His holy Spirit into your heart, and give you eternal +happiness hereafter. Try, then, always to pray from your heart, and +never allow yourself to repeat words carelessly, as if prayer was a +task, to be got through as soon as possible. Such prayers can never +please God; on the contrary, by praying in such a way we commit a +great sin; for we take God's holy Name in vain, every time we kneel +down to say our prayers. Written prayers are useful as helps; but you +should also try of your own self to ask God to forgive you for any +naughty things you have done, and help you to do better: God does not +care what words we say, if our hearts really pray. + +Jesus, you will observe, got up before it was light, and went into a +quiet place, where he could pray without interruption. He would rather +give up His night's rest, than not have time to pray to His heavenly +Father; and we must remember, that as He had taken upon Him the nature +of man, He was just as liable to be tired and sleepy as we are; and +therefore, He suffered as much from giving up his night's rest as we +should do; let His conduct, therefore, be an example to us. + +In the morning, "Simon and they that were with him," (the three other +disciples already called,) missed their Master, "and followed after +him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for +thee." No doubt, as soon as it was day, all they that had any sick in +their families, brought them to be healed, and were disappointed at +finding only the disciples. + +After this, "Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their +synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all +manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his +fame went throughout all Syria; his wonderful cures were heard of in +neighbouring lands, and they brought unto him all sick people and +those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic +(or mad); and he healed them." And there followed him great multitudes +of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and +from Judæa, and from beyond Jordan. + + + + +Chapter XI.--THE LEPER HEALED. + + +We read so often in the Gospels, of Jesus casting out devils and +unclean spirits, that it may be as well to say something on this +subject, as in these days there is nothing of the kind. We know that +the Devil has ever been the greatest enemy of mankind, trying to +destroy the souls and bodies of men. In the Old Testament, we read of +diviners, enchanters, wizards, sorcerers, and magicians, who were all +persons wicked enough to try to have communication with evil spirits; +and we also read that the children of Israel were commanded to put all +such to death. But it seems that when men would persist in doing the +Devil's work by sinning against God, the evil spirits were allowed to +have power over their bodies, as they had, by listening to his +temptations, given him power over their souls. Certain it is, that in +the time of our Lord, the evil spirits had some extraordinary power +over the bodies of some men; entering into them as it were, and making +them do things hurtful to themselves and others. Such people are +spoken of as "demoniacs," or as being "possessed of devils" or +"unclean spirits." + +Most likely the reason why God allowed the Devil to have power over +the bodies of men, was to show the people the reality of a "ghostly +enemy"; and to remind them, that if they allowed the Devil to get into +their hearts and make them serve him, they would be unfit ever to go +into the kingdom of God. The sad state in which these poor demoniacs +were, was a sort of sign of the dreadful condition in which all the +descendants of Adam must for ever have continued, if the Son of God +had not come down to destroy the works of the Devil, and free the +souls of men from his power. + +When Jesus cast the devils and unclean spirits out of the _bodies_ of +men, it was a plain proof that His power was greater than theirs; and +that he could, therefore, most certainly deliver the _souls_ of men +from the power of their enemy. + +Evil spirits were thus allowed to show their power, in order more +clearly to manifest, or show forth, the great power and glory of the +Son of God, Whom even the devils were bound to obey: they were, +moreover, forced to bear witness to the fact that He _was_ the +Messiah, for on many occasions they cried out, "Thou art Christ, the +Son of God." + +When we read of these unhappy men who were possessed by devils, let us +remember that the same evil spirit is watching to destroy us; and that +though he has now no power over the bodies of men, he tries to get +possession of our hearts, and unless we resist him steadfastly, he +will succeed. To encourage us to fight against the Devil, we must +remember that he has no power over our souls but what we give him, by +wilfully sinning against God. Powerful as our enemy is, our Friend +and Saviour is vastly more powerful; and He will bless and keep all +who do resist the Devil, and strive to obey and serve God faithfully. + +The next miracle mentioned, was the cure of a leper. Both Jews and +Gentiles looked upon leprosy as a type of sin; that is, as being to +the body, what sin is to the soul: the leprosy first shows itself in a +little spot, but quickly spreads, and covers the whole body with +sores. Sin begins in some act of disobedience; not being resisted, one +sin leads to another, till the whole heart is filled with evil +passions. + +The leper was considered unclean, and was not allowed to live amongst +God's people, nor enter into the Courts of the Temple; typifying that +sin is hateful in the sight of God, and that those who persist in it +cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven. + +The leprosy was looked upon as incurable by any human means, and +therefore whenever a leper was healed, it was attributed to an +especial exertion of the Divine power. In like manner, God only could +take away the guilt and punishment of sin, and cleanse the heart of a +sinner. + +The Leper, who went to Jesus beseeching Him, knew that no human skill +could heal his disease; but believing Him to be the Son of God--the +Messiah, he "fell on his face worshipping Him, and saying, Lord, if +Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean." + +Pleased with the man's faith, Jesus touched him, and said, "I will; be +thou clean: and immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was +cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: +but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy +cleansing those things which Moses commanded for a testimony unto +them." The Levitical Law declared, that the priests were to be judges +in all cases of leprosy. Any one suspected of having this dreadful +disease, was to be examined by the Priest: if the Priest pronounced +his disease to be leprosy, he was at once considered unclean, and cut +off from all communication with his fellow men. In like manner, if it +pleased God to take away the disease, the leper was to go again to the +Priest to be examined, and if he pronounced him to be cured, the poor +man was then considered clean, and restored to the society of his +fellow creatures. + +When our Lord dismissed the leper, He told him to "offer those things +which Moses commanded." The ceremony of cleansing, to be observed by +every one who had been cured of leprosy, was as follows:--Two live and +clean birds were to be taken, with cedar-wood, hyssop, and other +things; one of these birds was to be killed over a brook of running +water, and its blood received in an earthen vessel: the living bird, +with the other things mentioned, was to be dipped in the blood of the +dead bird, and the leper was afterwards to be sprinkled with the +blood. This was to show, as all sacrifices were intended to do, that +sin and uncleanliness could only be done away with, by shedding the +blood of the innocent and clean: and thus pointing out to all men, +that the blood of Jesus Christ, the spotless lamb of God, could alone +wash away the sin of man. + +The living bird was then to be let loose in the open fields, to +signify that the leper now cleansed from his plague, was free to go +where he would amongst his fellow men. This was the ceremony which +Jesus bade the leper observe, and he was not to mention his cure until +all was accomplished. For this there appear to have been two reasons: +in the first place, Jesus did not wish His ministry to be disturbed, +by the excitement which the knowledge of such a miracle would create +amongst the people, who on several occasions desired to make Him their +king even on earth. In the second place, the Priests were so +obstinately prejudiced against our Lord, that they would have been +very unwilling to pronounce the leper to be clean, had they known how +his cure had been effected: but when once they had declared him to be +healed, they could not unsay their own words. + +The healing of this leper, was the plainest proof that Christ could +give of His being indeed the Son of God; for there was a tradition +universally believed by the Jews, that when the Messiah should come, +He would cure the leprosy. + +The leper did not keep silence, but began to publish it abroad, and so +much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes +came together to hear, and "to be healed of their infirmities; +insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter the city," without +exciting that attention, which at present He wished to avoid: and "He +withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed": but even here, "they +came to him from every quarter." + +"And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was +noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered +together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so +much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them." When we +read of the multitudes who crowded to hear Jesus, it does seem sad +that so few profited by what they heard: let us try not to be only +"hearers of the word, but doers also." + +One day, when Jesus was thus teaching, with Pharisees and doctors of +the law, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judæa, and +Jerusalem, sitting by, a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed which +was borne of four, was brought to be healed. + +The palsy is a sad disease, which often takes away the use of the legs +and arms, and renders the poor sufferer perfectly helpless; nor can +the physician restore the use of the limbs. + +Those who had brought this poor man on a kind of litter, sought means +to bring him into the house, and lay him before Jesus: and when they +found that they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they went +upon the house-top, and uncovered the roof where he was; and when they +had broken it up, they let the poor man down through the tiling with +his couch, into the midst of the multitude, before Jesus. The Jewish +houses, as we must remember, were only one story high; and in the flat +roof was an opening, leading directly to the room below. + +This opening was closed by a flat door; but it seems that when they +had uncovered the opening, by removing the trapdoor, the aperture was +not large enough for the litter to pass through it; and therefore they +broke up some of the roof, so as to enlarge the opening, and when they +had done this, they fastened ropes to the four corners of the sick +man's bed, and so let him down at Jesus's feet. The trouble they had +taken to bring to Him a man, who, as they well knew, could not be +cured by any human creature, showed that those who brought him, +believed that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, able to heal all manner +of diseases. And they received the blessing sought in faith. + + + + +Chapter XII.--CALLING OF MATTHEW. + + +When Jesus saw the faith of those who had brought the man sick of the +palsy, He said, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." +These words offended the Scribes (or Doctors) and the Pharisees who +were sitting there; and they said within themselves, or thought, "This +man blasphemeth," that is, He takes to himself a power which no human +being can possess, for "Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" Here +they were right: no _man could_ forgive sin, nor with a word take away +the diseases consequent upon sin. + +The Scribes and Pharisees do not appear to have even spoken their +thoughts to each other, but Jesus, by the Spirit of God which was in +Him, perceived that they so reasoned within themselves; "and knowing +their thoughts, He answering, said unto them, Why reason ye these +things, and think evil in your hearts?" that is, why do ye think evil +of Me, and condemn Me as guilty of blasphemy, because I have spoken +such words? Then Jesus asked them, "Whether is it easier to say to the +sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and +take up thy bed and walk?" Thus Jesus reminded the Scribes and +Pharisees, that to heal a man sick of the palsy was as impossible for +a man, as to forgive sin; and that therefore He who could do such +things, must be indeed the Son of God: and he instantly gave this +proof of his being the Messiah, saying, "But that ye may know that the +Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins"--no more _words_ were +necessary, the sentence was ended by an action; for turning to the +sick of the palsy, he saith, "I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy +bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he rose up +before them, and took up the bed whereon he lay," that is, the +mattress, rolled it up, "and went forth before them all, and departed +to his own house, glorifying God." Had the Pharisees and Scribes been +really anxious to know the truth, praying to God to show it to them, +this miracle must indeed have convinced them that Jesus was the +Messiah; but their hearts were hardened against believing in a +Messiah, who did not come as a king in earthly power and glory. + +But whilst the Scribes and Pharisees would not believe the evidence of +their own eyes, the poorer people were less obstinate. When they saw +the poor sick man walk away completely cured, the multitude were all +amazed at such a wonderful proof of the power of God. "And they said, +We have seen strange things to-day: we never saw it on this fashion: +and they glorified God, which had given such power unto men." Perhaps +some of these people became real and true followers of Christ: but +many of them, notwithstanding all they had seen, did not like to give +up their sins, so as to become holy, as Christ's disciples must be. +We think it strange that men could see such miracles, and not believe +and follow Jesus: but do we do everything that He bids us? and yet we +_know Him_ to be the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. Let us take +care that we do not love our sins, so as to make us unwilling to be +true followers of Jesus Christ. + +After these things, we read that as Jesus was walking by the Sea of +Galilee, He saw "a man, a publican named Levi," also called Matthew, +"sitting at the receipt of custom." A publican was a tax-gatherer; one +who was appointed by the Romans to collect the taxes which they +required the inhabitants of Judæa to pay. The Jews disliked paying +taxes very much, because it was a mark of their being under the +dominion of Gentile rulers: and therefore they hated all publicans or +tax-gatherers. In general, too, the bad characters and ill conduct of +these men did not tend to make men like them: the Romans were in the +habit of farming out the taxes; that is, they appointed some person +who was willing to give them a certain sum of money, and take his +chance of what taxes he could collect. If the taxes he collected did +not amount to as much as the sum he had paid to the Romans, of course +he was the loser: if, on the contrary, the taxes came to more than +what he had to give to the Romans, he was the gainer: thus the +publicans, having paid a large sum of money for the privilege of +collecting the taxes, were anxious to collect as much as possible, in +order to have more for themselves: and so they often oppressed the +people, by making them pay more than was right; and of course the +people could not like those whom they found so troublesome and unjust, +and therefore they hated the whole class of tax-gatherers. + +Levi, or Matthew, of whom we are speaking, was a Jew, who had taken +the office of tax-gatherer under the Romans: his particular business +seems to have been to receive the money, which every person who +carried goods across the Sea of Galilee was obliged to pay as a tax to +their Roman masters. Matthew was sitting in his appointed place for +the receipt, or receiving, of "custom," that is, of the tax which it +was the custom to pay on landing, when our Lord passed by and saw him. + +The Pharisees and Scribes looked upon all publicans, whether they were +Jews or not, as heathens, unfit to be even spoken to: they would not +even try to make them better, as they chose to think that God had +quite cast them off. Jesus taught a very different lesson, and showed +that God is ready to receive all who will repent of their sins and +follow Him. Jesus, who sees what thoughts and feelings are in the +heart of every one, made choice of Matthew as a fit man to be one of +His constant attendants, and therefore, when he saw him sitting at the +receipt of custom, "He said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose +up, and followed him." At once, without doubt or hesitation, Matthew +left all and followed Jesus: now, Jesus calls all of us when we are +baptized; but how few of us try to follow Him really and truly? We +might perhaps think that it was wrong of Matthew thus to leave his +business and go away, because then the people who crossed the sea +would not pay the tax required by the Romans: but as he had paid money +to the Romans for the situation, they would not be cheated out of the +tax: he himself would be the only sufferer. If this had not been the +case, he _would_ have been wrong to go away before some other person +was appointed in his place: for the Bible teaches us, that we must do +our duty to man fairly and faithfully, in whatever state of life we +are. By doing our earthly business honestly and well, we serve God: if +our business takes up too much of our thoughts, and makes us forget +God and neglect His worship, then we must give up our business; for we +should always think _first_ of pleasing God. + +The next event we hear of in our Saviour's life is, that with His +usual obedience to the Law, He went up to Jerusalem to keep a "feast +of the Jews": most probably the feast of Tabernacles; a feast +celebrated in the Autumn, as a thanksgiving for the harvest or +in-gathering of corn, grapes for wine, and all other fruits of the +earth: this feast was also intended to remind them of the journeyings +of their forefathers in the wilderness, where they lived in booths or +tents for forty years; and therefore they were to keep it, by dwelling +for seven days in booths, made of the branches of trees. + +It seems that by the Sheep Gate, on the eastern side of Jerusalem, +there was a pool of water, in which at a certain time of the year God +showed His almighty power, by the miraculous cure of any sick person, +who, after the troubling or stirring up of the water, first stepped +into the pool. By this pool was a building, having five porches, +through which the unclean went down to wash in the pool. This building +was properly called Bethesda, a Hebrew word, meaning the House of +Mercy; and the pool was from it called the pool of Bethesda. Jesus +visited this place, where, in the porches, "lay a great multitude of +impotent folk," that is, people who were unable to help themselves on +account of blindness, or of diseases which took away the use of their +legs and arms. These poor creatures were waiting for the moving of the +waters; each hoping that he might be the one to get first into the +pool, and be cured. Amongst these was a certain man, who had been +unable to walk for thirty-eight years. Jesus chose this man as the +object of a miracle, and saith unto him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" +The poor man, thinking only of the pool, told the Lord that he had no +chance of being healed, for he had no friends to help him; and that +long before he could drag himself to the water, some other person was +sure to step in and secure the blessing. Jesus then "saith unto him, +Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." + +Whether this poor man had heard of Jesus before, we do not know; but +he at once showed his faith, by _trying_ to do, what he knew he _could +not_ do, unless he received some miraculous help from God. How +delighted he must have been, when he found that a perfect cure was the +reward of his faith and obedience! + +It was on a Sabbath day that this miracle was worked; and the Jews, +probably the Scribes and Pharisees, found fault with the man, saying, +"It is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed on the Sabbath day." This +was so far true, that in the Law it was written, "Take heed to +yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day"; and the Pharisees, +and others who were fond of adding to the outward observances of the +Law, and of keeping traditions, reckoned a man guilty of breaking the +Law, if he even carried anything in his hand on the Sabbath day. When +the Jews blamed this man, he answered very properly, that he could not +be wrong in obeying the commands of one who had showed that he had +power from God, by healing him of his disease. The Jews allowed that a +prophet had power to excuse men from the strict observance of the +Sabbath; and, as Jesus had proved Himself to be more than a prophet, +they could say no more on that subject; but wishing to have something +to find fault with, they asked the man, "What man is that which said +unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?" This question the man could not +answer, for he "wist not who it was, for Jesus had conveyed Himself +away" after working the miracle at the pool of Bethesda. + + + + +Chapter XIII.--THE PHARISEES' PRETENDED ZEAL FOR THE SABBATH. + + +The man whom Jesus had healed at the pool of Bethesda, seems to have +made the first use of his restored power by going into the House of +God, to thank and praise Him for having been made whole. Jesus, +finding him in the temple, bade him remember the cure which had been +worked upon him, and show his gratitude by forsaking all his sins and +leading a holy life, so that he might not bring upon himself far more +terrible sufferings than any which he could feel upon earth. The man +now understood who had cured him, and went "and told the Jews that it +was Jesus which had made him whole": evidently believing that Jesus +was the Messiah, and that His command was quite sufficient to justify +a man for doing that which was not strictly lawful on the Sabbath day. +The Jews, however, would not allow this: therefore did they "persecute +Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the +Sabbath day." + +Jesus, then, in a conversation of which St. John gives us an account, +tried to convince the Jews that He was indeed the Messiah, and as +such, _had_ authority even to heal on the Sabbath. On this occasion He +gave the Jews advice that all of us should listen to and follow; for +He said, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal +life: and they are they which testify of me." The Jews believed that +the Scriptures of the Old Testament, which were all that at that time +were written, were indeed the Word of God, and that they showed them +how to obtain eternal life: Jesus therefore bids them read and study +them honestly and carefully, and that they would then see that He must +be the Messiah, of whom those Scriptures testify or speak. We know +that the New Testament as well as the Old, is the Word of God; and +that it shows us the way to eternal life. Let us then obey our Lord's +command, and search the Scriptures, that we may learn His will in +order to do it. + +Jesus also told the Jews, that Moses, whom they pretended to obey +exactly, wrote of Him; and that if they really believed Moses, and +wished to obey the Law, they would acknowledge Him to be indeed the +Messiah, of whom Moses and all the prophets had written. All that +Jesus said, does not seem to have had any effect; for on the next +Sabbath, something of the same kind happened. The disciples who were +following Jesus through the corn-fields, being hungry, began to pluck +the ears of corn, rubbing them in their hands, to take off the husk, +and eating them as they went. It might seem to us that the disciples +had no right to take ears of corn which did not belong to them, but +this was, under the circumstances, allowed by the Law of Moses, or the +Levitical Law: a hungry man, who was passing through standing corn, +might pluck the ears with his hand to satisfy his wants, though he was +forbidden "to move a sickle unto his neighbour's standing corn." + +The Pharisees, who were constantly watching for an opportunity to find +fault, now asked Jesus, why He allowed his disciples to do what was +not lawful for them to do on the Sabbath day. + +For very many years the Jews had neglected to observe the Sabbath in a +proper manner, and this neglect of a positive command, had been one +cause of the destruction of their kingdom, and of all the misery they +afterwards suffered. Now their descendants had gone into another sin, +and instead of making the Sabbath a day of rest from worldly cares,--a +day to be devoted to the service of God, and to thinking of all His +mercies,--they made so many rules as to what might or might not be +done, that the most common and necessary actions, such as healing the +sick, or saving the life of an animal, came to be looked upon as +unlawful, and therefore sinful. Jesus reminded the Jews who thus +blamed His disciples, that David was not considered to have broken the +Law of Moses, because once, when pressed by hunger, he and his +followers had eaten the shewbread, which it "was not lawful to eat, +but for the priests alone." He also told them, that no one accused the +Priests of breaking the Law, because on the Sabbath day they, in +performing the temple services, did things in themselves forbidden on +that holy day. Jesus ended by declaring, that "the Sabbath was made +for man, and not man for the Sabbath": that is, that the Sabbath was +meant for the benefit of mankind, as well as for the glory of God, and +not to be an oppressive burden; and that the Son of man was Lord also +of the Sabbath, and had therefore power to dispense with its rigorous +observance; and that if they had understood the meaning of God's +words, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice," they would not have been +so ready to blame His disciples, as if they had been guilty of a +crime, merely because, to relieve the pangs of hunger, they had +plucked a few ears of corn on the Sabbath day. + +On another Sabbath, Jesus went into a synagogue and taught: and +behold, there was a man whose right hand was withered; that is, his +hand was so shrunk and dried up, that he could make no use of it. The +Scribes and Pharisees, thinking it likely that Jesus would heal this +man in spite of its being the Sabbath day, watched him; that they +might find an accusation against him. "But he knew their thoughts" and +purposes, and said to the man with the withered hand, "Rise up, and +stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth" in the sight +of all the people in the synagogue. "And the Scribes and Pharisees +seeing this, asked him, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that +they might accuse him." One party of Jews, in their mistaken zeal for +the strict observance of the Sabbath, had come to the extraordinary +decision, that no one might comfort the sick or mourning on that day; +though another party did permit the people to prepare medicine, and to +perform any service which was required for the actual preservation of +life. Instead of answering a question only put for the purpose of +having something to accuse Him of, Jesus said unto them, "I will ask +you one thing; Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good or to do +evil? To save life or to destroy it?" for He knew that they wished to +destroy Him, whilst He only wanted to do good to a suffering human +creature. Whatever might be their wishes, they could not openly +declare that it was more lawful to do evil than good; therefore they +made no answer, but held their peace. "And he said unto them, What man +shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall +into a pit on the Sabbath-day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it +out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is +lawful to do well on the Sabbath days." To such words the Jews could +make no answer. Jesus, grieved to see the hardness of heart that +prevented the Pharisees believing in Him, and made them angry instead +of glad, to see a fellow-creature relieved; "looked round about on +them with anger, and saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand": +the man had faith to try, and the power to do so was given to him; "he +stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other." +Then the Pharisees, almost beside themselves with anger, are said to +have been filled with madness; and they went forth, with the +Herodians, and straightway held a council against him; and communed +one with another, what they might do to Jesus, and how they might +destroy him. It is sad to think that all the proofs of our Saviour's +power, only made the Pharisees and others more and more anxious to put +Him to death. + +When we read such accounts as these, let us be thankful for our +Sabbaths, and try to keep them holy; spending our time in worshipping +God, in learning our duty, and in doing good to others. Above all, let +us take particular care to be holy on this holy day; and not to do the +least wrong thing, on a day which is called the Lord's Day. + +The time was not yet come for Jesus to give up His life, and +therefore, knowing that the Pharisees sought to destroy Him, He +withdrew Himself from Jerusalem, and went with his disciples into +Galilee "to the sea; and a great multitude followed him" from all +parts, even from beyond Jordan; and also many of the inhabitants of +Tyre and Sidon, having heard what great things Jesus had done, came +unto him. As many as had plagues or diseases "pressed upon him for to +touch him," and he healed them all. "And unclean spirits, when they +saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of +God." Thus was fulfilled what had been said 700 years before by the +prophet Isaiah, who declared that when the Messiah should come to set +up a new Law, even the Gospel, He would use no force nor violence, but +do it entirely by kindness; and by showing an example of kindness and +forbearance to the weak, encouraging them to become better. The +prophet's words, put into his mouth by God, were, "Behold, my servant, +whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased; I +will put my spirit upon him; and he shall show judgment to the +Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his +voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking +flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. +And in his name shall the Gentiles trust." + +An _example_ of goodness and holiness and kindness, has more effect +than all that can be _said_ on the subject. By the piety and good +conduct of the followers of Jesus, men were led to take the same part, +and thus by the blessing of God, has the Gospel spread over the earth. +All Christians should remember this, and try to show by their conduct +that they are followers of Jesus. Even children can set an example to +other children, either for good or evil: but if they do it for evil, +they are doing the work of the Devil. + + + + +Chapter XIV.--THE APOSTLES CHOSEN. + + +As Jesus was to live only for a short time on earth, it was needful +that He should leave behind Him others who should carry on His work, +and preach the Gospel after His death. But if these men were to repeat +to others the words which Jesus had spoken, and show them the +wonderful things which He had done, it was necessary that they should +be constantly with their Lord, so as to be able to bear witness as to +all that He had said or done. + +During the time that our Saviour had been teaching and healing the +sick, many persons had become His followers, besides those whom He had +especially called to be His disciples. From amongst the number of +those who had become disciples, twelve were now to be chosen, to be in +constant attendance upon their Master, that they might, after his +death, bear witness to His life, and actions, and teaching. + +The night before this choice was to be made Jesus "Went out into a +mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." Thus He +set us an example of the way in which we should prepare ourselves for +any important work we have to do; and that is, by asking guidance and +help from our heavenly Father. + +"And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples whom he would; +and they came unto him: and of them he chose twelve (whom also he +named Apostles) that they should be with him, and that he might send +them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to +cast out devils." He ordained twelve--Simon (whom he also named Peter) +and Andrew his brother; and "James the son of Zebedee, and John the +brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons +of thunder; and Philip, and Bartholomew; and Matthew, and Thomas; and +James the son of Alphæus, and Judas Thaddæus, the brother of James; +and Simon the Canaanite, called Zelotes; and Judas Iscariot, which +also betrayed him." + +We have already seen how Andrew, Simon Peter, James and John the sons +of Zebedee, Philip, and Matthew, were called in the first instance to +be the disciples of Jesus: Bartholomew, who was also ordained an +Apostle, is supposed to be the same person spoken of as Nathanael, who +being brought to Jesus by Philip, at once acknowledged Him to be the +Son of God, and became one of His disciples. Of the other five +apostles, we know nothing previous to their being now chosen: to the +name of one, there is a terrible distinction, "who also betrayed him"; +and in the three accounts of this event, written by different writers, +he is thus pointed out as "the traitor." Of the twelve Apostles, five +have left us valuable records of our Saviour's life and teaching. + +You will remember that in the Bible we have Four Gospels; that is, +four different accounts of our Lord's sayings and doings whilst on +earth, and of the Gospel which He came to teach. The first of these +was written by Matthew, about five years after the death of Jesus +Christ. The Gospels "according to St. Mark and St. Luke," were written +about twenty-seven years later: St. Luke was a disciple of Christ's +before His crucifixion, and St. Mark was probably one also, but +neither of them was an Apostle. As the Gospel of St. Matthew gives an +account of the birth of Jesus Christ, St. Mark's says nothing on the +subject, but begins with the public appearance of John the Baptist; +whilst, on the contrary, that of St. Luke gives many particulars +omitted by St. Matthew. St. John, who lived to be 100 years old, did +not write his Gospel until sixty-four years after the death of Christ: +he seems to have written it, in order to tell us many things not +mentioned in the former Gospels, particularly the conversations and +discourses of our Lord: and he repeats very little of what is recorded +by the other Evangelists, as we call those who wrote the Gospels. Out +of the four Evangelists, two were Apostles also, and two were not. St. +Luke has also left us another very valuable record, of the acts done +by the Apostles after our Saviour's death: this is the only history of +all that the Apostles did and said, and it is called "The Book of the +Acts of the Apostles." Before St. John wrote his Gospel, he wrote what +is called "The Book of the Revelation of St. John," being an account +of visions vouchsafed him, and prophecies made known to him, whilst in +banishment in the isle of Patmos, on account of his religion. + +St. John also wrote three of the Epistles, or Letters, which form part +of the New Testament. Peter wrote two Epistles, James and Jude, or +Judas Thaddæus, each one: but the greater number of the Epistles were +written by St. Paul, who did not become a disciple or follower of +Jesus until after the crucifixion. + +The Jewish Rabbis preferred to take as their pupils and disciples, +rich and learned men; but, as we have seen, Jesus chose poor and +ignorant men, to show that learning was not necessary to enable men to +understand the Gospel; for that its truths are so plain, that even the +most ignorant person, who in his heart loves God, can understand the +Gospel, and learn how to please God. + +Multitudes of the people continued to come to Christ, to hear him, and +to be healed of their diseases: he healed them all, and also tried to +show them how they ought to behave, in order to obtain the blessing of +God. Seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and there +spake all the words which we call the "Sermon on the Mount": an +account of this Sermon is given to us both by St. Matthew and St. +Luke. All Christians should study it, and try to obey it: even +children can understand a good deal of it, if they will try. + +When Jesus "had ended his sayings," and was come down from the Mount, +"he entered into Capernaum, where at this time He worked the miracle +of healing the Centurion's servant." A Centurion, amongst the Romans, +was the captain or commander of 100 men. This Centurion, though he was +himself a Gentile, was kindly disposed towards the Jews, and had at +his own expense built a synagogue for their use: he also believed in +Jesus as the Son of God; and did not doubt that at His word the +disease of which his servant was dying would at once be removed: +therefore, not thinking himself worthy even to speak to the Lord, he +sent unto Him the elders of the Jews; probably the elders belonging to +the synagogue he had built. Jesus immediately went with these elders; +but when they got near the Centurion's house, some of his friends came +at his desire, to beg that Jesus would not trouble himself to come, +for if He would only speak the word, his servant would be healed. It +would seem that the Centurion himself quickly followed the last +messengers; and he received the reward of his faith, for his servant +was healed, and at the same time Jesus told those about Him, that the +Centurion had shown more faith than He had found amongst the Jews; and +that many Gentiles would through their faith be received into the +Kingdom of Heaven, whilst many of the Jews would be shut out, on +account of their wilful unbelief. + +The next miracle we hear of, was the bringing to life of the widow's +son, who was being carried out of Nain to be buried, when Jesus came +to the gate of that city. "And there came a fear on all" who saw these +things: "and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen +up among us; and that God hath visited his people." These people +rightly felt, that the Doer of such things must indeed be the Messiah: +and this saying was spread abroad, not only throughout all Judæa, but +throughout all the region round about. "And the disciples of John" +went to him in prison, where he had been, as we have heard, put by +Herod; "and shewed him of all these things." "Now when John had heard +in the prison the works of Christ, he, calling unto him two of his +disciples, sent them to Jesus," telling them to say, "Art thou he that +should come, or do we look for another?" John did not send to ask this +question for his own satisfaction; he knew well enough that Jesus was +indeed the Messiah that "should come," and that no other was to be +looked for: but he wanted to strengthen the faith of his own +disciples, and convince them that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, and +that they must follow Him. + +"When the men" whom John had sent "were come unto" Jesus, "they said, +John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should +come? or look we for another?" + +This question our Lord did not immediately answer, in words, at least; +but "in the same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, +and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind, he gave sight." + +Then Jesus, answering the question put to Him by the disciples of +John, said unto them, "Go your way, and tell John what things ye have +seen and heard; how that the blind receive their sight, and the lame +walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised +up, and the poor have the Gospel preached unto them." The Jews all +knew perfectly well, that the doing of all these wondrous miracles was +to be a sign to point out the Messiah, for the prophets had declared +that He should do them. Now these things were being done every day, +and therefore it was quite clear, to all who were not determined not +to believe, that he who did them was the promised Messiah, the Son of +God. All who heard what Jesus now said must have understood Him to +mean that He was the promised Messiah, and that they need not look for +another. + + + + +Chapter XV.--JESUS IN SIMON'S HOUSE. + + +When the Baptist's messengers were gone away, Jesus spake to the +multitude about him; telling them that John was the messenger spoken +of by the prophet Malachi--the Elias, who was to come before the +Messiah. He also told them, that John the Baptist was more than a +prophet, but that the humblest follower of Christ might become greater +than he was. Many other things spake Jesus unto the people: those who +were humble, and felt that they were sinners, gladly accepted the +offer of forgiveness, on the condition of repentance; but the +Pharisees and Scribes, who thought themselves righteous, neglected His +gracious offers of mercy. + +It seems that before Jesus left Nain, where He had raised the widow's +son, a Pharisee named Simon "desired him that he would eat with him. +And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat." Whilst +he sat, or rather reclined upon a couch, as was the custom at meals in +those days, a woman, well known to have been a great sinner, came "and +stood at his feet behind him, weeping; and began to wash his feet with +tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his +feet, and anointed them with the ointment" which she had brought. + +The Pharisees considered themselves too holy even to touch any person +whom they looked upon as a sinner: when, therefore, the master of the +house saw that Jesus allowed this woman to touch Him, he said within +himself (or thought), "This man, if he were a prophet, would have +known what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, for she is a +sinner." Meaning, that if Jesus had known how greatly this woman had +sinned, He would not have allowed her to touch Him. But Jesus did know +all, and _more_ than the Pharisee knew; for He knew that this woman, +however sinful she had been, was now truly sorry for her sins, and +anxious to lead a better life; and such truly penitent sinners He was, +and is, always ready to receive. Jesus therefore, knowing what Simon's +thoughts were, spake to him, and told him a little parable, to show +him that this poor woman, whom he so despised, had given proofs of +greater love towards Himself than Simon had done; and He ended by +turning to the repentant woman, and saying the comforting words, "Thy +sins are forgiven." With what joy must the poor sinner have heard +these words! But we are not told what her feelings or words were; we +are only told, that "they that sat at meat with him began to say +within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?" They might +easily have known that He could be none other than the Son of God, the +Messiah; but they would not own as such a poor man who went about +amongst publicans and sinners. + +That He did show such love towards sinners, is our greatest comfort; +for we are all sinners, and stand greatly in need of His mercy. +Knowing how the Pharisees were offended by His words, He only repeated +His assurance to the woman in other words; saying, "Thy faith hath +saved thee; go in peace." Her faith had brought her to Jesus; and +those who come to Him in faith and penitence, He will in no wise cast +out. + +In the parable which Jesus spake to Simon, reference is made to two +customs of the Jews: one, washing the feet, or making the servants +wash the feet, of every guest, to remove the dust which must settle on +the feet during the shortest journey; the other, the custom of +welcoming a distinguished guest with a kiss, as a sign of respectful +attention and love. + +Jesus continued to go throughout the country of Galilee, "preaching +and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve +were with him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil +spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven +devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, +and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance." These +women, one of whom, at least, had been delivered from bondage to +Satan, having "substance," that is, some property of their own, seem +to have been constant attendants upon our Lord, and to have supplied +His temporal wants. Jesus so devoted himself to the work He had +undertaken, that from the constant thronging of people around Him, He +had not time "so much as to eat bread." + +At this time there was brought to Jesus a wretched object, a man +possessed with a devil, who was also blind and dumb: "and he healed +him," so that the man who had been blind and dumb both saw and spake. +The multitudes marvelled, saying, "It was never so seen in +Israel"--never before had such things been done in the land of Israel; +and therefore the multitude rightly felt, that He who could do such +wonderful things must be a very different Being from any of their +teachers, or from the prophets or holy men of old. + +Seeing the wonderful miracles worked by Jesus, "all the people were +amazed, and said, Is not this the Son of David?"--that is, is not this +Man, who can cast out devils, the Messiah of David's seed, so long +promised to our fathers and to us? + +These people saw the truth; but the Scribes and Pharisees laboured +hard to prevent their accepting Jesus as the promised Messiah: and +they immediately declared, that the evil spirits were only cast out by +the permission of Beelzebub, or Satan, the prince of the devils; and +that therefore, so far from proving Jesus to be the Messiah, these +miracles showed that He was under the power of the Devil, and that no +one ought to listen to His teaching. This was dreadful blasphemy; and +might have drawn upon them the immediate wrath of God: but instead of +punishing them, Jesus tried to show them and all the people, how +foolish it was to suppose that the Devil would fight against himself, +and undo his own work. But when people are determined not to listen to +those who warn them of their sins, and point out their duty, they will +believe, or pretend to believe, anything however foolish, that gives +them an excuse for not listening to good advice. + +Jesus warned the Pharisees, that speaking of the work done by the Holy +Spirit of God as being done by the Devil was a most fearful sin; and +one for which there could be no forgiveness. + +Jesus also told the people, that if the heart of a man was not full of +faith and love, it would be as impossible for him to do anything +pleasing to God, as it would be for a bad tree to bring forth good +fruit; for the quality of the tree is known by its fruits; and the +heart of man is known by his conduct and actions. + +Certain of the Scribes and Pharisees, asked Jesus to give them a sign +of His being indeed the Son of God. This was displeasing to the Lord, +for His miracles were a sufficient sign of His having come from +Heaven; and from the writings of their own prophets, the Jews should +have understood, that the promised Messiah whilst on earth would be in +a humble condition, and be finally put to death for the sins of His +people. Jesus therefore told the Scribes and Pharisees, that no +further sign of His being the Messiah would be given, than the sign of +the prophet Jonas, or Jonah. "For as Jonas was three days and three +nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and +three nights in the heart of the earth." The meaning of this was, that +the only further sign they could expect as to His being the Messiah, +would be that one, of which Jonas was a type (or sign): for that as +Jonas, though buried in the whale's body, came out alive; so He would +be buried in the ground for three days, and then rise up again to live +for ever. Then Jesus took occasion to show the Pharisees, that they +were more sinful in the eyes of God than the men of Nineveh, "because +_they_ repented at the preaching of Jonas," whilst the Scribes and +Pharisees refused to listen to Him, who was far greater than Jonas. + +Many other things Jesus said unto the people, teaching them also by +parables. One parable spoken at this time was that of the Sower. +Afterwards, when they were alone, the disciples asked Jesus the +meaning of this parable, which He immediately explained: teaching them +that many may hear the Gospel, and receive no benefit from it; either +because they listen carelessly; or because, having listened, they have +not faith to hold its doctrines fast when temptations and trials come; +or because they allow the cares and pleasures of life to take up too +much of their hearts, and so prevent their serving God properly. None +of these will be the better for hearing the Word: but those who listen +to it with a sincere and honest intention of obeying it, and pray to +God for grace to do so, striving at the same time to root out all +those sinful feelings and passions which, like stones and thorns, +prevent their bringing forth the fruit of good works; those, and those +only, will bear fruit pleasing unto the Lord. + +Let us learn from this parable to listen attentively to the Word of +God, and try to do whatever it bids us. + +Other parables, which seem to have been delivered at this time, are +those of the Tares, the Grain of Mustard Seed, and the Leaven: "and +with many such parables spake he the word unto them"; "and when they +were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples," and added the +parables of the Hidden Treasure, the Goodly Pearl, and the Net. "And +it came to pass when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed +thence." + +After this, Jesus went down to the Lake of Gennesareth, "and said +unto his disciples, Let us go over unto the otter side of the lake." +"And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him." And +there were also with him other little "ships." "And they launched +forth." + + + + +Chapter XVI.--STILLING THE TEMPEST, ETC. + + +The Lake of Gennesareth, or Sea of Galilee, is a large body of water; +and the River Jordan, which runs through it, causes at all times a +considerable motion in the centre of the lake; when the wind blows +strongly from the S.E., and meets the current of the river, the sea +becomes so rough, that any small vessels are in the greatest danger, +and in this way many are lost. We read, that as they sailed, Jesus +fell asleep. We must remember, that for our sakes Jesus had become +subject to all the pains of hunger, fatigue, cold, &c.; well might He, +therefore, be tired out with his continual labours, for He never +spared Himself, or consulted his own ease or comfort; but was always +at work, going from one place to another, doing good to others. What a +difference between Him and us! For we are unwilling to deny ourselves +in the least thing for the sake of saving trouble to others; nor are +we willing to give up our own wills, even for the sake of pleasing +God. + +Whilst Jesus and his disciples were now crossing the Lake of +Gennesareth, "there came down a storm of wind on the lake," and a +"great tempest in the sea," "insomuch that the ship was covered with +the waves," and was filled with water, and in great danger of sinking. +"And Jesus was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow." +The disciples knew where to look for help; they were in jeopardy or +danger, so they "came to Him and awoke him, saying, Master, carest +thou not that we perish? Lord, save us: we perish!" + +The fears of the Apostles were at this time stronger than their faith; +they should have felt that sleeping or waking their Lord could +preserve them through every danger. For this they were blamed, for "he +saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" but He had +compassion on their weakness, for "he arose, and rebuked the winds and +the raging of the water: and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And +the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." After a great storm the +waves naturally continue rough for some hours, but now at a word the +waters of the lake became at once smooth and still. This sudden +ceasing of the storm filled the Apostles, accustomed as they were to +see wonderful works done by Jesus, with astonishment and awe. We are +told, that "the men marvelled, and they feared exceedingly, and said +one to another, What manner of man is this? for he commandeth even the +winds and the water, and they obey him." Such a miracle must have +strengthened the faith of the disciples, and convinced them more and +more, that he who could do such things, was indeed no mere man, but +the Son of God, the Ruler of the universe, to whom all things do bow +and obey. The voyage was now over; the ship reached the shore; and +Jesus and His disciples came into the country of the Gadarenes, or +Gergesenes, where Jesus immediately performed another miracle, on a +man possessed with devils, exceeding fierce. Jesus, pitying the +condition of this unhappy man, commanded the unclean spirit to come +out of him. Then the devil who spake in this poor demoniac, cried out, +"What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? +Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? I beseech thee, +torment me not." Even the devils acknowledged Jesus to be the Messiah; +and knew well that in the end of the world, all evil spirits would be +driven away into misery and darkness; but he now asks Him not to +interfere with his power before that time. To such a request Jesus +could not, of course, listen: and the devils, finding that they must +leave the poor man whom they had so long tormented, then besought Him +that He would at least suffer them to go away into a herd of swine, +which were feeding nigh unto the mountains, a good way off from them. +"And Jesus said unto them, Go." No sooner was the permission given, +than the evil spirits entered into the swine, and the whole herd ran +violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters: +and they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the +country; and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. + +Pigs were unclean animals, and it was therefore sinful of any Jew to +keep them: if the owners of these swine were Jews, they were justly +punished for their disobedience. Perhaps the Gadarenes were not Jews, +and kept these swine to show that they did not regard or obey the Law +of Moses; if so, it was well for them to see that the Lord God of the +Hebrews could force men to obey His commands. When we read what +happened as soon as the evil spirits took possession of the swine, we +should remember the dreadful fate of all who suffer themselves to be +led or guided by the Devil. There is no escape for them; the swine +could not help themselves, but the Devil has no more power over us now +than we choose to give him. If we resist him, he will not harm us; he +will try, and we may have to fight hard, but if we do, we shall be +more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. + +We read that the keepers of the swine fled, and told how they had been +destroyed, and how the demoniac had been healed. The men of the city, +grieved at the loss of their property, and probably afraid that if +Jesus remained amongst them the same sort of thing might happen again, +besought Him to depart out of their coasts: a request in which the +whole multitude of the Gadarenes joined. They had better have besought +Him to remain, and teach them what they should do. It is a dreadful +thing to wish God to leave us undisturbed in our sins! The man who had +been delivered from the power of the Devil, wished, on the contrary, +to go away in the ship with Jesus and his disciples; but he was told +rather to go home to his friends, and tell them what great things the +Lord had done for him. And he did so, and declared through all the +country what great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did +marvel. + +After this, Levi, or Matthew, made a feast for Jesus in his own house; +and a great company of Publicans, and of others, and of sinners, sat +down together with Jesus and his disciples. The Scribes and Pharisees +took occasion to find fault with this, and asked the disciples, "How +is it that your Master eateth with publicans and sinners?" But Jesus +told them, that it was to do good to sinners that He was come upon +earth: He reminded them that it was only sick people who had need of a +physician, and that those who thought themselves well, would not send +for one; and that it was the same with Him, for He was come as a +Physician to heal the souls of the sick, and that therefore He must go +amongst those who, feeling themselves to be sinners, wished for +pardon. The Pharisees thought themselves righteous, and therefore they +did not feel the need of a Saviour. After these things, Jesus appears +to have returned into his own city, that is, to Capernaum, where He +had taken up His abode, at those times when He was not occupied in +going about the country. + +Here a ruler of the synagogue, named Jairus, came to entreat Jesus to +go and heal his little daughter, who was dying. Jesus immediately went +with him, and on the way He cured a poor woman, whose faith was strong +enough to make her believe that if she did but touch the hem of His +garment she should be made whole. Her hopes were not disappointed, and +Jesus commended her faith. While Jesus was yet speaking with her, +messengers came from the ruler's house to tell him that his daughter +was even now dead. The Lord, however, bid Jairus not to be afraid, for +that if he would only believe, his child should still be made whole. +No doubt the miracle that Jairus had just witnessed strengthened his +faith, and the result was, that his little daughter was restored to +life. On quitting the house of Jairus, two blind men followed our +Lord, who gave them sight; and He also enabled a dumb man to speak, by +casting out the devil which possessed him. The multitudes were filled +with wonder in seeing things which had never been so seen in Israel; +but the Pharisees again declared, "He casteth out devils through the +prince of the devils." + +Jesus continued to teach, and to preach, and to heal sicknesses and +diseases, in spite of the unbelief of the people; for though they all +marvelled, and some doubtless became his disciples, many rejected Him, +saying, "Is not this the carpenter's son?" meaning that a man in such +a humble condition of life could not be the Messiah. After this, Jesus +gave his Apostles a more solemn charge or commission for the work they +were to do. For He called the twelve together, and gave them power +against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of +sickness, and all manner of disease; and then He sent them forth two +by two to preach the Gospel, and to heal the sick. The Gospel was to +be first offered to the Jews, and therefore Jesus now commanded the +twelve, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the +Samaritans enter ye not, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house +of Israel." And as ye go say, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." + +Jesus also bade the twelve not to make any provision of money or food +for their journey, but to depend on the charity of those to whom they +should preach: promising a blessing to those cities where they would +be well received. Many other things did He say unto them at this time: +and when He "had made an end of commanding His twelve disciples, He +departed thence, to teach and to preach in their cities." + +And the twelve also departed, and went through the towns, preaching +the Gospel, that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and +anointed with oil many that were sick, healing them everywhere. + + + + +Chapter XVII.--DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. + + +We must now return to the history of John the Baptist; he was about +this time put to death by Herod, who, as we have already seen, had +thrown the Baptist into prison to please Herodias, who was angry with +him because he had reproved her and Herod for their sins. But this +wicked woman was not satisfied with the imprisonment of this holy man; +she wanted to destroy him, and watched for an opportunity of doing so. +It is a terrible thing to determine in one's heart to do a wicked +action: it is bad enough to give way to temptation, and so sin against +God, but to make up one's mind to break His commandments, is far +worse. + +After John the Baptist had been in prison for some months, Herod's +birthday came round; and to celebrate this event, the king made a +great feast to the officers of his household, and the chief men in +Galilee. On this occasion, Salome, the daughter of Herodias, came in +and danced before Herod and his guests, in order to amuse them. This +was a very old custom among the kings of the East at that time, though +to us it seems a very strange and bad custom. Herod and those who sat +with him, were very much pleased with the damsel's dancing; and Herod, +very rashly and foolishly, made a solemn promise, that he would, as a +reward, give her anything she liked to ask for. "And she went forth, +and said unto her mother, What shall I ask?" Herodias had probably +expected something of this kind; at any rate, she had an answer ready, +and said, "The head of John the Baptist". It does not seem that Salome +was astonished at this advice, or that she was at all unwilling to +follow it: for she returned straightway with haste unto the king, and +said, "I will that thou give me by and by in a charger, the head of +John the Baptist". A charger was a large dish or tray: in some +countries, even to this day, when the king orders a great man to be +beheaded, the head is brought to him afterwards, to show that his +commands have been obeyed. Such a request as Salome now made, +startled even Herod himself: we read that "the king was exceeding +sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat at meat +with him, he would not reject her." He therefore sent an executioner, +who cut off John the Baptist's head in the prison, and brought it to +Salome, who gave it to her mother. This history teaches us many +things: first, although it is the duty of children to obey their +Parents, they must obey God before them: thus, if Parents are +unhappily so wicked as to tell their children to do anything that God +has forbidden, they must please God rather than their Parents. +Children should, be very thankful when they have Parents who will +never wish them to break the Lord's commandments. Another thing we +learn is, to be careful how we make promises. A solemn promise once +made ought to be kept, however inconvenient it may be to keep it; and +therefore we should never promise positively to do anything, unless we +are quite sure that we can do it. But though it is displeasing to God +that an oath should be broken, it is still more displeasing to Him +that it should be kept, when it can only be done by committing some +positive act of sin. Herod made a rash oath, and to keep it, he was +guilty of the murder of a good and holy man. + +Although Herod was angry with John, he had a high opinion of his +holiness and goodness, and would not willingly have put him to death: +but amongst men it was considered shameful to break an oath; and +Herod, caring more for the praise of men than the praise of God, +sacrificed John the Baptist at the request of a bad woman. + +When the disciples of John heard of their master's death, they came to +the prison, and took up his body and laid it in a tomb, and went and +told Jesus. + +After this, Herod heard of the fame of Jesus, and of all the wonderful +things that He had done, and he was greatly troubled, and knew not +what to think. Some people said, "That John was risen from the dead;" +others, "That Elias, who was expected to come before the Messiah, had +appeared;" and others, "That one of the old prophets was risen again." +Amongst these different opinions, Herod was greatly perplexed: like +most of the Jews of high rank, Herod belonged to the sect of the +Sadducees, who denied that the body would rise again, or the soul live +for ever. He would not, therefore, willingly allow the possibility of +John the Baptist having returned to life; but his fears got the better +of his opinions. His conscience told him that he had done wickedly in +putting to death a true servant of God, and therefore, when he heard +that there was One going about the country working miracles, he feared +that John had returned to life, armed with power to punish all who had +ill-treated him. + +Herod, disturbed by all he heard of Jesus, questioned his servants who +told him these things, and said, "John have I beheaded; but who is +this of whom I hear such things?" He could get no satisfactory answer, +and his guilty conscience drove him to the conclusion, "It is John +whom I beheaded; he is risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works +do shew forth themselves in him." "And he desired to see Jesus." +Herod's desire to see Jesus, does not appear to have been gratified +until just before our Lord's death; and then the king derived no +profit from the interview. Herod had had plenty of opportunities for +learning the truths of the Gospel from John the Baptist. He would not +make use of them. Our Lord has told us, that if we do not make a good +use of all the opportunities given to us, He will take from us the +blessings we will not use. In our country, the young are blessed with +innumerable opportunities of learning their duty to God: make a proper +use of them, and do not force the Lord to take them away, and leave +you in wilful ignorance and sin. + +The Feast of the Passover was now drawing near: the second Passover +which had occurred, since our Saviour had entered on his public work. +For this Feast, our Lord went up to Jerusalem; and on His way, He fed +5,000 people with five loaves and two small fishes; and after they had +all eaten as much as they wanted, pieces enough were left to fill +twelve baskets; although the whole quantity of loaves and fishes, if +they had at first been broken into pieces, could not probably have +filled one of these baskets. In working this miracle, Jesus taught us +never to waste anything; he said, "Gather up the fragments that +remain, that nothing be lost." Let us remember that many things that +we do not want, may be useful to others, and that nothing should be +wasted. Children should be careful not to ask for more food than they +are sure they can eat, for that is wasteful. + +The people, who had been fed in such a wonderful manner, now said, +"This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world": +meaning the Messiah, spoken of by all the prophets, and whose coming +was expected about this time. Having come to this conclusion, the +people, according to their mistaken ideas, that the Messiah was to be +an earthly sovereign and conqueror, determined to make Him king over +the land of Judæa. But Jesus desired only to rule the hearts of men; +"When, therefore, he perceived that they would come and take him by +force to make him a king," He sent His disciples by ship unto +Bethsaida, and having dismissed the multitude, He went up into a +mountain alone to pray. + +A storm of wind overtook the disciples in the midst of the lake, and +then it was that Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. If the faith +of the disciples had been strong, they would have felt that it was as +easy for Jesus to walk on the water, as to work any other miracle; but +they could not believe it was Him, and "they cried out for fear." The +Lord, in His mercy, spake straightway unto them, saying, "Be of good +cheer; it is I; be not afraid." "And Peter answered, and said, Lord, +if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And He said, Come." +Peter at once obeyed; but his faith was not strong enough to carry him +through this trial: for a little while he walked on the water to go to +Jesus, but when he found himself in the midst of raging waves, with a +boisterous wind howling around him, his faith failed, and he was +afraid. But he had not forgotten where to look for help; and finding +himself beginning to sink, he cried out earnestly, "Lord, save me." +Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said, +"Oh thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?--why didst thou +doubt my power and my will to save thee?" No sooner had Jesus with +Peter come into the ship, than the storm ceased, and immediately the +ship was at the land whither they went. They were sore amazed: but +"they came and worshipped Him saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of +God." + + + + +Chapter XVIII.--THE WOMAN OF TYRE. + + +In the land of Gennesaret again, the people flocked to Jesus to be +healed of their diseases: and when Jesus returned to Capernaum, many +followed Him: and the Lord spake to them and told them that they only +came to Him because they had seen His miracles, and more particularly +because they had partaken of the loaves and fishes; and He warned +them, that they had better seek those far greater spiritual +blessings, which the Son of Man could give them. Many things He said +unto them, trying to persuade them to believe in Him, as the Messiah +the Son of God. + +What our Lord said, displeased those who were not really willing and +anxious to be taught their duty, in order to do it: and in +consequence, many of those who had been reckoned amongst His +disciples, "went back and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus +unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?" Peter, in the name of the +rest, immediately declared his faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, +saying, "Lord to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal +life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son +of the living God." Believing this, Peter declared that whatever +happened, they would hold fast to Him, and obey Him: let _us_ make the +same determination; and obey the Word of the Lord, whether it tells us +what we _like_ or not. Jesus now showed, that He knew the hearts of +all men; for alluding to Judas He answered, "Have I not chosen you +twelve, and one of you is a devil?" thus teaching Peter not to be too +hasty in answering for other men, since even in so small a number as +the twelve, there was one whose heart was not really devoted to Him. + +The Pharisees with certain of the Scribes came together unto Jesus, +and blamed Him for not observing all the "traditions of the elders." +Then Jesus explained to the Pharisees, that all their washings and +outward performances could never please God, unless they also loved +and served Him, and put away all their sins. + +In one of those journeys which Jesus was constantly taking, He went +to that part of the country bordering on Tyre and Sidon. Here a poor +woman, a Gentile, came to Him, and prayed Him to heal her daughter, who +had an unclean spirit. This woman, living on the borders of the land of +Judæa, had doubtless heard that the Messiah was expected; and she was +certainly convinced that Jesus was that Messiah, and that He had power +even to cast out devils. This poor woman now came to Jesus, and cried, +"Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously +vexed with a devil." At first Jesus took no notice of her, and answered +her not a word. The poor woman continued her supplications, but still +in vain; this greatly surprised the disciples, who were used to see +their heavenly Master listening to the prayers of all who were in +distress: they were grieved also for this poor creature, who followed +them, crying out for mercy; and therefore they begged their Lord to +"send her away," that is, to grant her petition, that she might go away +in peace. Jesus answered, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the +house of Israel." The benefits of Christ's teaching and miracles, were +at first to be offered to the Jews, the chosen people of God; and this +woman, being a Gentile, had no claim to share them. The whole nation of +the Jews, scattered without any ruler or shepherd, might well be called +"lost sheep"--sheep who had strayed from their Shepherd, even from God, +and who must be lost unless they were brought back to Him. The +Scriptures often speak of the people of God, as his sheep: and sinners +are compared to sheep, who, instead of following their shepherd, have +gone astray. In the Confession, which forms part of our Morning +Service, we say, "We have erred and strayed from Thy ways like lost +sheep." In the East, sheep were not driven by the shepherd as with us, +but followed him: remembering this fact will be a help towards +understanding many passages of Scripture, especially some in the Gospel +written by St. John. The poor woman continued to implore mercy; and +coming nearer to the Lord, "She fell down and worshipped him, saying, +Lord, help me!" Jesus now answered, and said, "Let the children first +be filled; for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast +it to dogs." + +The Jews looked upon every nation except their own as "unclean"; and +likened them to dogs, which are unclean animals. Jesus Himself did not +look upon the Gentiles as dogs, but He spoke thus to try the faith of +the woman, and to show those who were about Him, that faith in Him +would save Gentiles as well as Jews. + +The Lord's reply to the Syrophenician woman would have disheartened +most, and offended many; but she was too much in earnest to be +repulsed easily: she was quite willing to own that the Gentiles were +not _worthy_ to be looked upon, as in any way equal to the children of +Israel, God's peculiar people: she knew she had no _claim_ to the +mercy of the Lord; but still, hoping to share it, she reminded Jesus, +that even the dogs were allowed to pick up the crumbs which their +masters did not need: she believed that in Jesus there were help and +mercy for every living creature, and that He could heal the Gentiles, +without taking any blessing from the Jews; therefore, she at once +answered, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the +children's crumbs." Jesus was no longer silent: pleased with her +faith, He said aloud, "O woman, great is thy faith: for this saying, +be it unto thee even as thou wilt: go thy way: the devil is gone out +of thy daughter." Even as He spake the words, the unclean spirit was +cast out: "And her daughter was made whole from that very hour;" so +that when the mother, who at once went home, "was come to her house, +she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed." + +This poor Gentile woman is an example to us, to go on praying +earnestly to God, although He may see fit not at once to grant our +petitions. When we know that we are asking right and proper things, we +must pray on in faith, and wait patiently. We should pray that the +Devil, and all the bad feelings and thoughts he puts into our hearts, +may be cast out of us, and of those we love. For this we must go on +praying earnestly: Jesus granted the prayer of the Syrophenician woman +because of her faith; and if we have faith like hers, He will most +certainly answer our prayers: but we must watch and fight, as well as +pray: for, if we encourage the Devil to abide in our hearts, we cannot +expect that the Lord will cast him out. + +After this miracle, Jesus, "departing from the coasts of Tyre and +Sidon, came unto the Sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts +of Decapolis." Here we are told, that He cured one who was deaf and +had an impediment in his speech, and that "great multitudes came unto +him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and +many others, and cast them down at Jesus's feet; and he healed them: +insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, +the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and +they glorified the God of Israel." They glorified and praised God with +their words, because of the wonderful things they had seen; but few of +them, it is to be feared, glorified Him in their hearts, by becoming +His disciples. + +At this time, Jesus, having compassion upon the multitude, who had +been with him for three days, listening to His words, and were now +faint for want of food, fed 4,000 men, besides women and children, +with seven loaves and a few little fishes: this time, seven baskets +were filled with the pieces left, after everybody was satisfied. + +Soon after the feeding of this multitude, Jesus "entered into a ship +with his disciples, and came into the coast of Magdala, into the +parts of Dalmanutha," to the S.E. of the Sea of Tiberias. "And when +his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take +bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf." +Jesus, who lost no opportunity of impressing His lessons on His +disciples, now "said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of +the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees, and of the leaven of Herod." By +leaven, our Saviour here means the doctrines and opinions taught by +the Pharisees and Sadducees; doctrines very different from His, for +they looked upon religion as consisting mostly in outward forms and +ceremonies; whilst, in their hearts, they indulged all manner of evil +passions. Jesus desired to teach His disciples, that, if they in any +way followed the doctrines of the Pharisees or Sadducees, they would +soon become quite unfit to be His disciples; just as leaven quite +alters the nature of the dough with which it is mixed. At first, the +disciples did not understand their Lord's meaning, and thought that He +was reproving them for having forgotten to bring any bread with them. +But Jesus reproved them for their want of faith, in being uneasy about +a supply of needful food, after seeing the miracle worked with seven +loaves and a few small fishes: and he said, "How is it that ye do not +understand, that I spake it not to you concerning bread? Then +understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of +bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." + +Jesus then cometh to Bethsaida, where he healed a blind man; not all +at once, but first allowing him to see objects indistinctly, and then +restoring his sight, so that he saw all things clearly. What happened +in the case of this man's bodily sight, happens generally as regards +our spiritual sight, that is, our understanding of spiritual things. +Even in common learning, we do not all at once acquire knowledge; it +comes by little and little, as we strive to gain it. So our +understanding of things spiritual is a gradual work, carried on in our +mind, by the Holy Spirit working _with_ us; but we must work, and +strive, and pray, that we may grow wise unto salvation. + + + + +Chapter XIX.--THE TRANSFIGURATION. + + +"And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Cæsarea +Philippi:" that is, into the country and towns round about Cæsarea +Philippi, a town some miles to the north of the Sea of Galilee. The +name of this city had been Paneus; but Philip, governor of that part +of the country, repaired and beautified its houses and other +buildings, and added more, so making quite a new and large city, which +he called Cæsarea, in honour of Tiberius Cæsar, who became Emperor of +Rome about fourteen years after the birth of Jesus Christ. There was +another town called Cæsarea, on the Mediterranean Sea; and to +distinguish between the two, that which Philip had beautified was +called Cæsarea Philippi. Like most of the flourishing cities mentioned +in the Bible, Cæsarea Philippi has been completely destroyed; and +amongst its ruins there is a little village, consisting of twenty +miserable huts, inhabited by Mahometans, for the Holy Land now belongs +to the Turks, who are not Christians. + +This little village is called Paneas or Baniass. The walls of the +great city can be distinctly traced. Whilst they were on this journey, +Jesus "asked his disciples, Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, +am?" They told Him that some thought Him John the Baptist; others, +that He was Elias; others, that He was Jeremias, or some other of the +old prophets, risen again from the dead. Jesus then put the still more +important question, "But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter +answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." + +The Apostles were thoroughly convinced by all that they had seen and +heard, that Jesus was indeed the expected Messiah. No doubt they had +often talked over the matter together, and now, in the name of all the +rest, Peter, always first and foremost when anything was to be done, +declared most positively and unhesitatingly their belief in Jesus, as +being at once God and Man. Jesus then pronounced Peter to be blessed +in having such faith. Then He told him, that the fact of His being the +true Messiah was the rock upon which His Church was to be built: that +is, that it was only by depending and resting upon this truth that men +could become his followers, and form a Church. Jesus also told Peter, +that He would give unto him the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and +power to unbind or unloose. By which He seems to have meant, that +Peter would have power to open the way for the Gentiles to join the +Church of Christ; and that he should have power to declare how far the +Laws of Moses must be kept or dispensed with; that is, what things +were lawful or unlawful. + +After the disciples had declared, through the mouth of Peter, their +firm belief that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, He began to speak to +them of His sufferings and death; but the Apostles could not easily +give up the idea held by the Jews in general, that the Messiah was to +establish a kingdom upon earth; and Peter therefore expressed his +belief, that such terrible things could not happen to the Lord. For +this, Peter was severely blamed by Jesus, who told him, that by +objecting to the way appointed by God for the salvation of man, He was +in reality doing Satan's work, and was an "offence" or hindrance in +his Master's way. + +At this same time Jesus taught those around Him the duty of +self-denial; the necessity of giving up everything we most value, and +bearing any pain or trouble, rather than do the least thing contrary +to the Will of God. He said, "If any man will come after me," to be my +disciple, "let him deny himself" the indulgence of his own will, "and +take up his cross daily"; bearing cheerfully all those daily troubles +and anxieties which may be called crosses, and "follow me"; follow in +all things my example, for I came not to please myself, but to do the +Will of God. Jesus also impressed upon them the fact, that the soul +was of infinitely more value than the perishing body, and that our +first object must be to secure the salvation of our souls, at any +cost, for "what" (said He) "shall it profit a man, if he shall gain +the whole world, and lose his own soul?" + +About a week after this, what is called the "Transfiguration" took +place. St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke all give an account of this +event: the place where it occurred was probably Mount Tabor, which +lies a little to the S.W. of the Lake of Galilee: into this mountain +Jesus went up, taking with Him Peter, and James, and John his brother. + +The brief account of the Transfiguration is, that whilst Jesus was +praying in the Mount, the disciples fell asleep: suddenly, when they +awoke, they saw a wonderful and glorious sight--"Jesus was +transfigured before them": that is, His appearance was entirely +changed; "his face did shine as the sun," and "his raiment became +shining," "exceeding white," and "glistening." Nor was He alone; for +"behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias; +who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should +accomplish in Jerusalem." All that the three disciples now heard, +should have convinced them that Jesus must indeed die, and that His +death would give the very strongest proof of his being really the Son +of God, the promised Messiah. The disciples would further learn, that +everything which Moses and the prophets (represented by Elijah) had +taught, was intended to prepare the Jews to believe in Jesus, and +follow Him. + +Peter, dazzled and confused at the wonderful scene before him, +exclaimed, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if thou wilt let us +make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one +for Elias." Peter seems to have had an idea, that Moses and Elijah had +returned to remain on earth; and that if three tents were set up, they +might abide with Jesus in the Mount, where he and the other disciples +might be constantly with them. But as we read, "He wist not what to +say, for they were sore afraid." Whilst Peter yet spake, an answer +came; "a bright cloud overshadowed them," "and they feared as they +entered into the cloud;" "and behold a voice out of the cloud, which +said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." +And when the disciples heard it, knowing it to be the voice of God, +"they were sore afraid, and fell on their face." "And when the voice +was past, Jesus, was found alone;" "and he came and touched the +disciples, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had +lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only." Moses and +Elias had disappeared; whilst the voice of God had plainly declared, +that as the people of God had hitherto obeyed Moses and the prophets, +they were in future to look to Jesus only, the Messiah of Whom Moses +and the prophets did write. The old dispensation of the Law had passed +away; but the new dispensation of the Gospel had taken its place, and +would last for ever. + +That the Law of Moses, even as regarded ceremonial observances, should +ever be abolished or done away with, was what the Jews could not or +would not believe. Even many years after the Resurrection of Jesus, we +read, that many thousand Jews who believed in Christ were also zealous +for the Law, that it should still be observed. It was not, therefore, +at this time suitable to speak to the Jews in general of the abolition +of the Law of Moses; and therefore as Jesus came down from the +mountain with His disciples, He "charged them, saying, Tell the vision +to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead." "And they +kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which +they had seen:" "questioning one with another what the rising from the +dead should mean." It was at this time, that in answer to a question +from His disciples, whose thoughts were naturally full of what they +had just seen, Jesus told them that the Elias spoken of by the +prophets, as coming to prepare the way before Him, was not Elijah +himself, as many supposed, but John the Baptist, who had already been +put to death; and that the Son of man must in like manner suffer +death. + +When Jesus was come down from the mount, He found the disciples, who +had not accompanied Him, surrounded by a great crowd, and the Scribes +questioning, or disputing with them. A man, whose only child was +possessed of an evil spirit, had brought him to the disciples, begging +them to cast out the devil; "but they could not." This failure of the +Apostles gave the Scribes an opportunity of trying to persuade the +people, that the power of Jesus was not so great as His disciples +taught; and most likely what they said made the poor father doubt the +power of Jesus, in whose name he had expected the Apostles to heal his +son. When Jesus heard all that had passed, He lamented the perverse +want of faith, which prevented men from believing in Him. Then He said +to the man, "Bring thy son hither." Even whilst He was coming, the +Devil gave a proof of his power over this poor child; and still more +to convince all who stood round, that the boy really was possessed by +a devil, and could not be cured by any human means, Jesus asked his +father some questions on the subject: He then told the poor man, that +if he could really and truly believe, there was nothing too difficult +for God to do. The father did believe; but fearing that his faith was +weak, and that he had sinned in allowing the Scribes to raise a doubt +in his mind, he "cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help +thou mine unbelief!" This was enough, and "the child was cured from +that very hour." + + + + +Chapter XX.--JESUS GOES TO THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. + + +When the disciples were alone with their Master, after the miracle of +casting the devil out of the child, they naturally asked, Why, as He +had given them authority to cast out evil spirits, they had not in +this case been able to do so? Jesus told them plainly, that it was +because their faith was weak; for that no miracle would be too hard +for them if they had a lively and increasing faith, or "faith as a +grain of mustard seed." This was an expression in common use amongst +the Jews, to signify something very _very_ small, because the mustard +seed was the least of all seeds. But when sown in the ground, the +plant grows from it quickly, and spreads in every direction, so as to +become quite a large plant: and thus it was very properly compared to +faith, which should always be increasing and growing stronger. Jesus +ended by reminding His disciples that, though He had given them +permission to work miracles, they would not have power to do so, +unless they prayed earnestly for it, and tried to lead holy lives. + +After this, Jesus and His disciples passed through Galilee, on their +way to Capernaum. Again He spake to them of His sufferings, His death, +and His rising again on the third day. Still they did not understand: +they were exceedingly sorry to hear of such things as likely to befall +their beloved Master, but they did not like to ask any questions on +the subject. How little they yet understood the real nature of +Christ's kingdom is plain; for at this time "there arose a reasoning +(or disputing) among them, which of them should be greatest": as if +they still expected Jesus to be a king on earth, and appoint them to +places of trust and honour under Him. + +When they were come to Capernaum, they, whose business it was to +collect the tribute-money for the service of the temple, "came to +Peter, and said, Doth not your Master pay tribute? He saith, Yes." +Jesus afterwards showed Peter, that He, being the Son of God, was +_not_ called upon to pay this tribute; for that earthly kings do not +take tribute from their own children, but only of their subjects, or +of strangers. Jesus, however, would not give the Jews any pretence for +saying, that He taught His disciples to be careless about the temple +and its worship, or to disobey the laws of the country; and therefore +He now worked a miracle, to provide the tribute-money required from +Him and His disciples. + +When they were quietly in a house together, Jesus spake to the +disciples about their dispute by the way, as to who should be +greatest; and told them that all who wished to be really and truly His +disciples and followers must be humble and meek and obedient, as +little children _ought_ to be. + +Many other things Jesus taught His disciples: and He told them a +parable (Matt. xviii. 13), to show us, that if we wish God to forgive +us our sins, we must be always willing to forgive those who have +offended against us. + +After these things, Jesus chose out from those disciples who +constantly followed Him seventy persons; and desired them to go two +and two together, and enter into the cities which He meant by and by +to visit, and prepare the people to listen to Him. These seventy were +disciples, but none of them were Apostles: all the Apostles were +disciples, and are generally so called in Scripture; but all the +disciples were not, of course, Apostles. To these seventy, Jesus gave +many directions as to what they were to do and teach. + +Jesus was at this time in Galilee; but as the time for keeping the +Feast of Tabernacles was drawing near, the brethren, or rather near +kinsmen of Jesus, begged Him to go into Judæa, and let all the people, +who would then be assembled in Jerusalem, see His works. They said, +"If thou do these things, show thyself unto the world. For neither did +his brethren believe in him." To a certain degree, His kinsmen did +believe in Jesus; but like the Jews in general, they expected that the +Messiah would be great and powerful upon earth, publicly acknowledged +and worshipped by all nations: and when they saw Jesus in such very +different circumstances, they had not faith enough to feel quite sure +that He was indeed the Messiah: they therefore wanted Him to take this +opportunity to make Himself known, by working miracles at Jerusalem: +this open display of His power would, they thought, strengthen the +faith of all who were already His disciples, and force the great men +among the Jews, as well as all the strangers collected together, to +acknowledge Him as the Messiah. + +Jesus, who in all things sought only to do His Father's will, told +those who wished Him to go up at once to the Feast of Tabernacles +that it was not yet time for Him to do so: that, instead of receiving +Him as the Messiah, worldly men, who thought but little of God, would +all be against Him, because He showed them their sinfulness. But He +told His brethren, and those about Him, to "go up unto this feast." +After they were gone, our Lord followed them, privately taking His +journey through the country on the other side of the Jordan. Again the +people resorted unto Him, and He taught them as He was wont: "and +great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there." It is likely +that the Jews, expecting Jesus to go up to this feast, had laid some +plot for taking Him on His way: but it was not yet time for Him to lay +down His life, and therefore He thus avoided the danger; setting us an +example, not to run unnecessarily into danger, when we can avoid doing +so without neglecting any duty. + +Meantime, the Jews assembled at Jerusalem for the Feast of +Tabernacles, seem to have been disappointed at not seeing Jesus there; +and enquired, "Where is he?" And "there was much murmuring among the +people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, +Nay; but he deceiveth the people. Howbeit no man spake openly of him, +for fear of the Jews." The people had seen His miracles, and heard His +teaching; but all that they knew of His condition in life was so +unlike what they had expected of the Messiah, that they could not make +up their minds to acknowledge Him as the Son of God. They could not +understand all He said, for He spake of spiritual things,--things +belonging to the kingdom of heaven, which can be understood only by +those who give their whole heart to God. Some of these people, seeing +His holiness, allowed that He was a good man. Others objected to His +being called "good," because He tried to make people acknowledge Him +as the Messiah, which, according to their ideas, was deceiving the +people. But even those who were most inclined to believe in Him, dared +not speak openly in His favour, for fear of displeasing the Jewish +rulers, who were violently opposed to Him. + +The Feast of Tabernacles lasted for eight days; and in the middle of +it Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, and immediately "went up into the +temple, and taught." His teaching greatly astonished all the learned +men, who knew that He had never been taught in any of the schools of +the Scribes; and they wondered how He could know so much of the books +of the Law and of the Prophets. Jesus told them plainly, that what He +taught He had learnt not from man, but from God Himself; and He +further said, that if any man were really desirous to do the Will of +God, he would be enabled to believe that all He taught was true. Other +things He said; but though His teaching might incline some of the +people to believe, they had got some idea that, when the Messiah came, +nothing would be known of His parents; and therefore they settled that +it was impossible He could be that Messiah. "We know this man whence +he is; but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is." Jesus +tried to show them that they were in error; for though they knew where +He was born, as man, and who His earthly parents were, this should not +prevent their believing that He was indeed sent by God, and had +another nature and being, of which they knew nothing. "Many of the +people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more +miracles than these which this man hath done?" They doubted whether +any one could do _more_ than Jesus had done: if not, then the only +reasonable conclusion would be, that He _must_, indeed, be the Christ, +the promised Messiah. + +The Rulers of the Jews heard of these things said by the people, and +they would gladly have prevented His speaking any more to them: and +they sent officers to take Him: but in vain, for the time appointed +for His death was not yet come, and therefore the Lord kept Him in +safety, and would allow no man to hurt Him. Moreover, Jesus plainly +told them, that He should remain in the world a little longer, because +it was the Will of His Father that He should do so; and that then He +should go back to His Father, who had sent Him from heaven to preach +the Gospel upon earth. But the Jews did not understand His meaning; +and when He said, "Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me; and where +I am, thither ye cannot come," they said one to another, "Whither will +he go, that we shall not find him?" "What manner of saying is this +that He said?" + + + + +Chapter XXI.--RETURN OF THE SEVENTY. + + +"In the last day, that great day of the feast," when there was a holy +convocation, or assembling of the people, Jesus stood up, and invited +all men to believe in Him, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, +which He compared to "living water"--water that would wash away all +their sins, and give life and strength to their souls: just as a good +drink of pure water, given to a man who is fainting with fatigue and +thirst, will revive him, and give him fresh strength and spirit for +his work. + +Again was there "a division among the people because of him": some +said, "Of a truth, this is the Prophet"; others, more plainly, "This +is the Christ"; whilst others, influenced by their false ideas, asked, +"Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the Scripture said, That +Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, +where David was?" + +They were right; the Scriptures did say so: but had the people with an +earnest desire endeavoured to learn the truth, they would have found +that in Jesus, these words of Scripture were fulfilled, although +Nazareth, in Galilee, had accidentally been His dwelling-place. + +Again, the Chief Priests and Pharisees, fearing His influence with the +people, sent out officers to take Jesus; and when these returned +without Him, they were asked, "Why have ye not brought him?" The +officers, though sent out for that very purpose, could not bring +themselves to lay violent hands on one to whom they had listened with +astonishment; and they now answered, as their reason for not having +brought Him in as a prisoner, "Never man spake like this man." The +Pharisees, in their wilful blindness and hardness of heart, reproached +the officers for being also "deceived," as they called it; and +reminded them that none of the rulers, or learned men, had believed in +Jesus, and that as to the people, they were ignorant; adding the most +unwarrantable assertion, "This people, who knoweth not the Law, are +cursed." + +The Pharisees, who were very proud of their own knowledge, not only +despised all who were unlearned, but believed that _only_ the learned +would enjoy happiness after death, whilst the ignorant would be +miserable. They mistook knowledge for religion. But the Gospel teaches +a very different lesson; worldly knowledge is good and useful, and +those who have the means, do well to acquire it; but it cannot take a +man to heaven, nor will ignorance of it, keep any man _out_ of heaven. +A knowledge of our own sinfulness, of the Salvation brought by Jesus, +and a consequent endeavour to please Him in all things, is the only +knowledge that is really necessary as far as our Souls are concerned. +Without _this_ knowledge, the most learned man can never gain +admittance into heaven; with it, the most ignorant will be received +into the kingdom of God. + +One of the councillors present on this occasion was Nicodemus, who, +being a believer, had come to Jesus secretly, in the night, for fear +of the Jews: he now ventured to speak in behalf of Jesus, showing that +it was not according to their Law to condemn any one as teaching what +was wrong, or untrue, until they had heard what he had to say for +himself. His words had no effect but to make the other members of the +council ask him, "Art thou also of Galilee?"--that is, art thou one of +those who have the folly to believe in this Galilean. "Search and +look" in the Scriptures, for they will show that "out of Galilee +ariseth no prophet." + +Nothing more was at this time said or done, and the Pharisees probably +broke up the council in anger, vexed at not having got Jesus into +their power. "Every man went unto his own house." + +Jesus now went unto the Mount of Olives, or Mount Olivet, where He +doubtless passed part of the night in prayer. This Mount rose about +half a mile east of Jerusalem, and the brook Kedron ran between it and +the city. It took its name from the number of Olive trees which grew +upon it; they were cultivated for the purpose of extracting oil from +the fruit. On this Mount there were several villages: Bethphage was on +that side farthest from Jerusalem; and on the side nearest to the +city, stood the village of Gethsemane. The word Gethsemane means "the +place of oil presses"; which shows that the people of the village were +occupied in squeezing the oil out of the olives that were brought down +from other parts of the Mount. It was up the Mount of Olives that King +David went weeping, when the rebellion of Absalom had forced him to +quit Jerusalem. + +After spending the night on the Mount of Olives, or in one of its +villages, Jesus, early in the morning, "came again into the temple, +and all the people came unto him; and he sat down and taught them." + +The Scribes and Pharisees, always trying to find some cause of +complaint against Him, now brought a woman who had committed a sin, +for which the Law of Moses pronounced death to be the punishment: they +now asked Jesus, whether this woman should be stoned or not. If Jesus +condemned the woman to death, they could accuse Him to the Romans of +trespassing upon their authority: if He acquitted the woman, they +could hold Him up to the people as acting contrary to the Jewish Law. + +But Jesus knew the wickedness of their hearts, and that in the sight +of God, their guilt was as great, if not greater, than that of this +woman; therefore He gave them no answer, but "He that is without sin +among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And they which heard it, +being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one." None of +these Scribes or Pharisees could dare to pronounce themselves free +from sin, therefore they all retired. Then Jesus dismissed the woman +with the warning, "Go, and sin no more." + +At this time, Jesus spake many things to all who came into the temple +to hear Him. He spake to them of His death: He told them that if they +were really the children of Abraham, spiritually as well as by natural +descent, they would do the works of Abraham: and that if God were +their Father, as they pretended, they would love Him, who was the Son +of God; but that they were, in fact, the children of the Devil, who +was a liar from the beginning. During these discourses, "many believed +on him"; but many others would gladly have "laid hands on him": and +when at length, in answer to their questions, Jesus declared unto +them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am," +their rage could no longer be repressed: "then took they up stones to +cast at him": but "his hour was not yet come" to die, and therefore +"Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the +midst of them, and so passed by," disappointing the malice of His +enemies. + +After this, the seventy disciples, whom Jesus had sent out to preach +and to teach in the different cities, "returned again with joy, +saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name." +He then told them, that this need not surprise them, since God had +begun to destroy the power of Satan: and He also told them, that they +had a far greater cause for joy than the subjection of evil spirits; +even that they had been chosen to be the servants and children of God, +and were thereby set in the way that would, if they walked steadily in +it, bring them to everlasting life. + +The parable of the Good Samaritan was now told by Jesus to one of the +Scribes, or Lawyers, who came and asked Him a question: not from any +real desire to learn, but from a wish to make our Lord say something +that he could find fault with. To his question, "Master, what shall I +do to inherit eternal life?" he expected that Jesus would make an +answer not quite agreeing with the Law of Moses: but our Lord at once +showed him that His teaching was the same as that of Moses; for He +asked him, "What is written in the Law? How readest thou?" "And he +answering, said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, +and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy +mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." These words, taken from the Books +of Deuteronomy and Leviticus, were repeated twice every day in the +synagogue service, as a short statement of all that the Law was +intended to teach; that is, Love to God and Man. These same words were +written on some of the Phylacteries, or strips of parchment which the +Jews wore on their foreheads, and on the left wrist. Most likely, the +Lawyer who questioned Jesus had these very words written on his +Phylactery; and that Jesus pointed to the words when He asked, "How +readest thou?" The Gospel, as well as the Law, teaches us to love God +and Man; and shows us, that those who really and truly do so are sure +to find favour with God, who can alone admit us to eternal life. The +Scribe's answer was right, under the Gospel as well as under the Law: +and Jesus therefore replied, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and +thou shalt live": by obeying the words of Moses, he would, through the +tidings made known by the Gospel, inherit eternal life. May these +words be written in all our hearts, and may we make them the guide of +all our actions. + + + + +Chapter XXII.--THE LORD'S PRAYER. + + +The answer which Jesus gave, as to loving God with all the heart, and +his neighbour as himself, did not silence the Lawyer: he, "willing to +justify himself," being anxious to prove that he was a just and +righteous man, now asked, "Who is my neighbour?" The Jews had in many +points altered or explained the Law, to suit their own feelings and +wishes; and they would not look upon any man as a neighbour, unless he +were of their own religion. + +This Lawyer had probably always been kind to his Jewish brethren, and +if our Lord had, as he expected, told him that his neighbour meant one +of his Jewish brethren, he would have been able to boast that he had +obeyed this command. But very different was our Saviour's teaching: +instead of giving him a direct answer, He in a beautiful parable +taught him and us, that any fellow creature who needs our help, is our +neighbour in the sight of God: even though he be an enemy, or one +hated, as the Jews hated the Samaritans. + +The Lawyer could not but own that the Samaritan in the parable had +best obeyed the commandment of Moses; and in answer to the question, +"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that +fell among thieves?" he said, "He that showed mercy on him." "Then +said Jesus unto him, Go and do thou likewise," that is, copy this +example; and look upon every man that needs your help as a neighbour +and brother, whom you are to love; and take care that your love is not +in word and tongue only, but in deed and in truth. + +Journeying through the land of Judæa with His disciples, Jesus +"entered into a certain village"; this was Bethany, on the eastern +side of the Mount of Olives: "and a certain woman named Martha +received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which +also sat at Jesus's feet and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered +about much serving." Both these sisters loved the Lord, though they +showed it in a very different way: Mary, delighted to have such an +opportunity of listening to His teaching, sat at His feet to learn all +that He might teach her; Martha, anxious to show her pleasure at +receiving Jesus as her guest, appears to have busied herself in +preparing a feast in His honour. Presently, tired with her exertions, +and fearing that all might not be ready, "she came to him, and said, +Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? +bid her therefore that she help me." But instead of doing this, Jesus +rebuked Martha for thinking too much of worldly matters, instead of +giving her mind to the "one thing needful" for the salvation of man: +that one thing was faith in Jesus as the Son of God; such faith, as +would produce piety and holiness; and that as Mary had chosen that +good part, she must not be disturbed, but that Martha would do well to +follow her example. When, therefore, Martha asked that Mary might be +bid to help her, "Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, +thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is +needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be +taken away from her." + +Now, from this little history we should all learn this lesson: that +though worldly business must be done, and well done, too, it must not +take up too much of our thoughts and hearts, and so make us careless +in our religious duties: to please and serve God in every way is the +one thing needful for us. + +On one occasion, when Jesus had been praying, according to His +constant custom, "when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, +Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples." Jesus then +gave them that beautiful prayer, called the Lord's Prayer, because the +very words of it were dictated by the Lord Himself, in whose name we +pray unto God, the Father Almighty. The Prayer begins by acknowledging +God to be "Our Father"; and these words should ever remind us of two +things: that as "our Father," all we His children are bound to love +and obey Him; and, secondly, that we must love all our fellow +creatures as brethren, seeing that we are all the children of one +Heavenly Father. + +Next we pray, "Hallowed be Thy Name"; in which words we ask that all +men everywhere may hallow, or treat as holy, His name, His word, His +day, and all things that belong to Him. + +By "Thy Kingdom come," we ask that all mankind may become Christians, +and so be brought into the Lord's kingdom on earth: also, that we, and +all who are Christians, may have the kingdom of God in our hearts; +that is, may obey, and love, and serve Him with all our hearts; so +that when we die we may be admitted into His glorious kingdom in +heaven. Further, we pray, that the Will of God may be done by man on +earth, as perfectly and entirely as it is done by the Angels in +heaven. Let us remember that the sole object and work of the holy +Angels is to do the Will of God; and that therefore we, who use this +prayer, must always try to do the same, and not think of doing what +will only please ourselves. + +The next petition of the Lord's Prayer is, "Give us this day our daily +bread." By these words we ask for all things which are needful both +for our souls and bodies: the body needs daily food to preserve it in +life, and make it strong to do its work; the Soul also wants food, to +nourish and increase the spiritual life; and render it more active in +the service of God. The word of God, Prayer, religious teaching, all +the services of our religion, are the food of the Soul; by the proper +use of which, the love of God will be more and more shed abroad in +our hearts, producing the fruit of holy obedience, and devotion to His +service. + +Next we pray, that God will forgive us our sins, on condition that we +forgive all those who have sinned against us. When we consider how +dreadful will be our condition, if God does _not_ forgive us, we +should be very careful never to indulge angry, revengeful feelings +against those who have injured us. Nothing that man can do to us, can +be as bad as what we have done against God; and therefore we may well +forgive our fellow creatures; and we _must_ do so, if we would obtain +forgiveness of our heavenly Father. + +We then ask the Lord not to suffer us to give way to temptation, but +to keep us from all evil; to keep our bodies in safety, and above all +to keep our souls from the great evil of sin, from the power of our +ghostly or spiritual enemy, the Devil, who is always watching to do us +harm. We end the Lord's Prayer by declaring our firm belief, that God +is able to do all that we can ask or think. + +Now we often _say_ the Lord's Prayer with our lips, but do we really +say it with our hearts, wishing and striving to gain what we are +asking for? This we should all do; and besides this, throughout the +day, we must each of us try to _do_ those things that we pray may be +done. We must each of us try to reverence and obey our heavenly +Father; to be satisfied with whatever He gives us for our bodies; to +take every opportunity of feeding our souls, by learning all we can +about Him, and praying earnestly for His grace. We must also try to +keep down all angry feelings, and be kind to those who are unkind to +us; and we must watch over ourselves continually, and strive to resist +the Devil, and practise self-denial, that we may not fall into sin. + +The Lord's Prayer teaches us what things we ought to ask of God; and +we may do so more particularly in our own words; God is well pleased +when we do so. + +After giving His disciples this beautiful form of words, to be a model +for all their prayers, Jesus exhorted and entreated them to pray +earnestly for the help of the Holy Spirit: and told them to go on +praying, and not to be discouraged, because they did not immediately +receive those things for which they asked; for that the Lord would +hear their prayers, and "give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him." +"And as Jesus spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him; +and he went in and sat down to meat." The word here translated "dine" +means to eat the first meal of the day, and so ought rather to have +been called breakfast. The Jews were accustomed to have only two +regular meals in the day: breakfast, or dinner, as it is here called, +about twelve of the middle of the day; and supper, which was the +principal meal, in the evening, after the heat of the day was past. +The Pharisees were very particular about washing before they sat down +to meals, and this one who had besought the Lord to eat with him, +"marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner." + +The Lord took this opportunity of teaching, that no outward washings +can be pleasing in the sight of God, if the heart be full of sinful, +evil passions: no outward forms and observances of any kind, can ever +please God, unless those who do such things really love God, and try +to do their duty and please Him in everything. Many things also Jesus +said, rebuking the Scribes and Pharisees. + +He likewise spake to the people who crowded to hear Him, and warned +them to fear God rather than man; for though men might kill their +bodies, they had no further power. "And one of the company said unto +him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with +me." + +It would seem that this brother had acted very unkindly, if not +unjustly, in not sharing with his brother the money left by their +father; and the one who felt himself aggrieved came, hoping that Jesus +would interfere. But Jesus answered, "Man, who made me a judge or a +divider over you?"--meaning, that He was not come upon earth to act as +a Judge or Magistrate in settling such matters, but to teach men their +duty to God. He then took this occasion to warn his hearers against +covetousness, or the too eager desire for riches, or for any of the +good things this world can give: bidding them rather be contented, and +try to please God by doing good with what they have. Covetousness is, +as we are elsewhere told, idolatry,--and truly, if our hearts are set +upon riches, pleasures, or anything else, they will be drawn away from +God. + + + + +Chapter XXIII.--HEALING OF THE MAN BORN BLIND. + + +Much did the Lord say upon the subject of covetousness; an evil +passion which, if indulged, must draw the heart more and more from +heavenly things to things of the earth; saying unto them, "For where +your treasure is there will your heart be also." + +Jesus, then, in a short parable, showed the necessity of constantly +watching, that we may not be found unready whenever we are summoned to +die. + +Many other things Jesus said, and continued to teach through the +cities and villages: on one occasion He raised the indignation of the +ruler of a synagogue, because He had healed a poor woman, who was +"bowed down by a spirit of infirmity," which she had had for eighteen +years. + +But Jesus rebuked those who blamed Him, and so spake that "All his +adversaries were ashamed; and all the people rejoiced for the glorious +things that were done by him." + +"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. +And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or +his parents, that he was born blind?" + +Some of the Jews seem at this time to have taken up an idea held by +the heathen, that, after the death of a man, his soul was sent into +another body; and that the souls of bad men even went into the bodies +of animals. + +Another false notion of the Jews was, that any one who was a great +sufferer upon earth must have been a greater sinner than others, who +did not so suffer: an idea quite contrary to all the teaching of +Jesus. With these two ideas in their minds, some of those who had +become followers of Jesus, asked him, whether this blind man was born +so, as a punishment for sins he had committed in another body; or +whether his blindness was a punishment for the sins of his parents. +Jesus immediately answered, that it was neither for one nor the other +of these causes, that this man was born blind; but that God in His +wisdom had allowed it to be so, "That the works of God should be made +manifest in him." Jesus then, in a very remarkable manner, gave sight +to the blind man; clearly proving that it was the power of God only, +and not the means used, which had effected his cure: and He also +enabled the blind man to show his faith, by making the final +restoration of his sight, depend upon his obedience to the command, +"Go, wash in the pool of Siloam: he went his way therefore, and +washed, and came (back) seeing." + +"The neighbours and they which before had seen him that he was blind," +were much surprised; and began questioning whether he were indeed the +same man, or one like him; but he quickly put an end to all doubts, +and said, "I am he." + +Then, in answer to their questions, he told them the exact manner in +which this cure had been effected, by "a man that is called Jesus": +for at this time, he had no knowledge of Jesus as the Son of God, the +promised Messiah. Whether from a good or bad motive we do not know, +but "they brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind." And +it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. +Then the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He +said, "He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see." The +Pharisees could not deny the miracle; but immediately some of them +raised the objection, "This man is not of God, because he keepeth not +the Sabbath day." Others, however, less determined to disbelieve even +the testimony of their own senses, said, "How can a man that is a +sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say +unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened +thine eyes?" The blind man, though still ignorant of the real +character of Jesus, felt that He was most certainly more than a common +man, and said, "He is a prophet." + +But the Jews now affected to disbelieve that the man had ever been +blind, and called his parents, asking them, "Is this your son, who ye +say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered +them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born +blind: but by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened +his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for +himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews," +who "had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was the +Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue." His parents, +therefore, not wishing to bring this punishment upon themselves, +merely bore witness to the fact that he was their son who was born +blind: as to the rest, they told the Jews to let him speak for +himself. "Then again called they the man that was blind, and said +unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner." +That is, they called upon the man, who had been healed, to acknowledge +that Jesus was merely a sinful mortal, and had in reality no part in +his cure, which was the work of the God of Israel alone. The man, +however, would by no means allow this: "He answered and said, Whether +he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I +was blind, now I see." This answer by no means pleased the Jews, and +again they asked, "How opened he thine eyes?" He answered them, "I +have told you already, and ye did not hear (or believe): wherefore +would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they +reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses's +disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we +know not from whence he is." All the doubts and disputes of the +Pharisees, so far from shaking the faith of this man, seem to have +strengthened it; and now, fearless of consequences, he spake out +boldly the words of common sense, and said, "Why herein is a +marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath +opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any +man be a worshipper of God and doeth His will, him he heareth. Since +the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one +that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do +nothing." + +The answer of the man who had been born blind, made the Pharisees very +angry. They could not contradict what he said; but they were +determined not to allow that Jesus came from God, and as they chose to +believe that this man was a greater sinner than other men because he +had been born blind, they immediately cried out, "Thou wast altogether +born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out:" that is, +expelled him from the synagogue, as they had resolved to do to any one +who should confess that Jesus was the Christ. This casting out of the +synagogue, or excommunication, was a very severe punishment; there +seem to have been three degrees of it. In the first instance, the +person under sentence of excommunication was forbidden to enter a +synagogue, or to join in the services of the temple; and he was to be +looked upon as no longer belonging to the chosen people of God. After +such a sentence had been passed, no Jew would speak to, or have any +intercourse with, the excommunicated person: this was the sentence now +passed upon the man who had been so wonderfully healed. In the second +degree of excommunication, the loss of property was added to the +former sentence; all the goods possessed by the excommunicated person +were taken from him, and given to the service of God. The third degree +of this terrible punishment ordained the death of the unfortunate +wretch, who had already been cut off from all his friends, and +deprived of his property. When Jesus heard that the blind man had for +His sake been cast out, He appears to have gone in search of him; "and +when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son +of God?" The man, in doubt as to the real nature of Him who had healed +him, and anxious to know the truth, "answered and said, Who is he, +Lord, that I might believe on him?" Jesus, ever ready to teach those +who heartily seek to learn the truth, plainly answered, and "said unto +him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee." +All doubts now vanished; "and he said, Lord, I believe. And he +worshipped him." We may surely hope that this man, to whom the Lord +had given both spiritual and bodily sight, became a true and sincere +disciple of Jesus. + +After this, Jesus blamed the Pharisees for not believing in Him +themselves, and for trying to prevent others from doing so either. +Then He spake of Himself as the good Shepherd; comparing the people to +a flock of sheep. The meaning of what Jesus now said, was, that He who +came to teach the people the way of salvation is the only good +Shepherd; and that all who do not come to them in the way appointed by +God, teaching as He has commanded, are like thieves and robbers; who +only come to do mischief in the flock, and must be shut out; just as +the porters, who took care of the sheep brought up to be sold for +sacrifice, would not let any but the rightful owner enter into the +sheepfold. + +Jesus plainly declared Himself to be the good Shepherd, who would lead +the Jews to salvation, if they would follow Him, as the sheep in those +Eastern countries follow their Shepherd, when he calls them. Alluding +to the Gentiles, Jesus also said, that He had other sheep whom He +would also by means of the Gospel bring into His fold, the Church of +Christ on earth; and hereafter into His heavenly fold in heaven. + +All that our Lord now said, made a great impression upon some of His +hearers; and again caused a division of opinion among the Jews. Those +who were disposed to believe in Him were reproached by others, who, +foolishly as well as blasphemously, said, "He hath a devil, and is +mad; why hear ye him?" Others, who did not allow prejudice to blind +their common sense, reasonably answered, "These are not the words of +him that hath a devil,"--no man possessed with a devil could speak +such good and beautiful words; and then they referred to the recent +miracle, in proof that the Lord could not be under the influence of +Satan in any way; for they asked, "Can a devil open the eyes of the +blind?" No more appears to have been said: we will hope that many went +away determined to follow Jesus, but many, no doubt, hardened their +hearts and continued in unbelief. + +We next hear of Jesus being at Jerusalem, for "the feast of the +dedication, and it was winter." This Feast of the Dedication had been +appointed by Judas Maccabeus, in remembrance of the cleansing of the +temple, and devoting it again to the proper worship of God, after it +had been profaned by the heathen. By attending this Feast, Jesus set +us an example to keep solemn days appointed by man, in order to offer +up thanksgiving to God for particular mercies. The Feast of the +Dedication took place in the month which answers to our December. + + + + +Chapter XXIV.--JESUS'S LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM. + + +"And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was +winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch:" that is, +in a porch or colonnade, which stood on the same spot where Solomon's +porch had formerly stood; for the temple which existed in our +Saviour's time was the one built by the Jews, after their return from +their captivity in Babylon. The Jews came round about Jesus whilst He +was in this porch, and most unreasonably accused Him of keeping them +in doubt, as to whether He was the Messiah or not; saying, "If thou be +the Christ tell us plainly." Jesus in answer told them, that all the +works which they had seen would have convinced them of that fact, if +they had not been obstinately determined not to believe: and then, +when He did plainly declare that He was the Son of God, by saying, "I +and my Father are one," "the Jews took up stones again to stone him"; +telling Him that they did so, because He had spoken blasphemy in +making Himself, or saying that He was, the Son of God. In spite of +all He could say, they persisted in their unbelief; and when He again +referred them to His works as proving Him to be really the Son of God, +"they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, and +went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first +baptized." "Many resorted," or went out to him, there: those who had +before listened to the teaching of John the Baptist, could not but see +that He was greater than the Baptist; for as they truly said, "John +did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. +And many believed on him there." + +It seems to have been at this time, that those about our Saviour asked +Him, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" whereupon our Lord bid them, +"strive to enter in at the strait gate," by which He meant, that if +any one really wished to go to heaven, he must try with all his might +to walk in the path of holiness, by resisting the Devil and giving up +his own will or wishes, to do whatever would please God. + +The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get +thee out, and depart hence: for Herod "will kill thee." The answer +that Jesus made meant, that neither Herod nor any other man could put +Him to death before the time appointed by God for His death; but that +when the proper time came, He should perfect or finish His work by +dying. He added, moreover, that He must return to Jerusalem to die, +"for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem." + +By the Jewish Laws, a prophet could only be judged by the Sanhedrim, +or great Council of the Jews at Jerusalem. Jesus then lamented over +the troubles which he foresaw would fall upon Jerusalem, because the +Jews would not come to Him for safety. + +Again we hear of a miracle of healing performed on the Sabbath day, +when Jesus cured a man of the dropsy. At the same time, He spake +various parables to the people, and taught them many things. Amongst +the parables now spoken, were those of "the Prodigal Son" and "the +Unjust Steward": the first of these was intended to teach the Jews, +that they who had always been the chosen people of God, did wrong to +be angry because the Gentiles were admitted to share their privileges; +and also to show that, although the Pharisees would have nothing to +say to those whom they looked upon as sinners, God was more merciful, +and would receive and bless sinners who were truly penitent. The +parable of "the Unjust Steward" was intended to teach all men, that +they ought to use as much diligence in seeking for spiritual +blessings, as they would make use of in regard to temporal blessings. + +Shortly after this, we read of little children being brought to the +Lord, who received them kindly, and blamed those who would have kept +them from Him. + +The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus the beggar, was now told: an +awful warning to all who lead a life of luxury and self-indulgence, +denying themselves nothing. + +"And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be +received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem." + +The appointed time being near, Jesus now began His last journey to +Jerusalem, in the course of which He said many things to His disciples +and the people in general, speaking often in parables; and He told His +disciples plainly that He was going up to Jerusalem, not to become an +earthly king, as they still hoped, but to be ill treated and put to +death. During this time Jesus healed the ten lepers, only one of whom, +and he was a Samaritan, "returned to give glory to God" for his cure. +To him our Lord spake the comfortable words, "Arise, go thy way: thy +faith hath made thee whole." Then a certain young Ruler came, and +asked Jesus, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have +eternal life." Jesus first shows him, that he must not look upon Him +as man only, but as God; and then tells him that, to enter into +eternal life, he must keep all the commandments and precepts of God; +and then, when the young man "went away sorrowful," Jesus warned His +followers of the danger of letting the love of riches draw their +hearts from God. + +Another remarkable parable spoken by Jesus at this time was that of +the labourers in the vineyard. This parable taught two lessons; first +it showed to the Jews as a nation, that though they might be said to +have been labourers, from the time that they were first chosen by God, +they ought not to be envious and angry, because the Gentiles were now, +at the eleventh hour, called also to be the servants of God. The Jews +in general could not bear the idea of any other people sharing with +them, privileges, which they considered to belong to themselves alone; +and many of Christ's discourses and parables were meant to correct +this wrong feeling. The second lesson taught by this parable comes +home to every individual; and shows, that though those are most +blessed who from their childhood have truly served God, or, as it is +called, "worked in the vineyard," still, _all_ who, at any age, so +truly repent as to go and work, obeying the Word of God in everything, +will be graciously received by the Lord of the vineyard; and must not +therefore be despised by their fellow labourers, who were called at an +earlier age. Jesus next received a message from Martha and Mary, the +sisters of His friend Lazarus, saying, "Lord, behold he whom thou +lovest is sick." When, after a delay of two days, Jesus "saith to his +disciples, Let us go into Judæa again"; they reminded Him that the +Jews had of late sought to kill Him, and that He had better not go +back. But Jesus told them, that as long as it was day, that is, His +time for working, He was safe anywhere. He explained to them that +Lazarus was now dead, and that He was going to wake him out of the +sleep of death. The faith of the disciples seems to have been weak, +but their love was strong, for all agreed in Thomas's proposal, "Let +us also go, that we may die with him." "And as they went on their way, +Jesus took again the twelve disciples apart, and began to tell them +what things should happen unto him"; speaking plainly of being +betrayed, delivered unto the Chief Priests, mocked, spitefully +entreated, spitted on, scourged, and put to death by the Gentiles, and +rising again the third day. But "they understood none of these +things": so little idea had they of the literal meaning of our Lord's +words, that at this very time, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, +came with their mother, to beg that they might sit, one on His right +hand and the other on His left hand, in His kingdom. + +In earthly courts, to be nearest the king's person, was a mark of +dignity and favour; and, misunderstanding still the nature of Christ's +kingdom, the sons of Zebedee made this request, to the indignation of +the other Apostles; who did not see why two of their number should be +favoured so far beyond the rest. But Jesus rebuked them all; and told +them, that His followers must not seek for power and greatness as the +Gentiles did; for that those who were humble and meek were most +pleasing to God. And He bid them, and all Christians in all times, +follow His example; reminding them, that although he was Lord of all, +He came on earth to serve men, and give His life for them. + +Passing through Jericho, Jesus, when he came near the town, gave sight +to two blind men, who were sitting by the wayside begging. Hearing an +unusual bustle, as of many people passing by, they asked what it +meant; and being told that "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by," they, +believing in His power, cried out earnestly, "Have mercy on us, O +Lord, thou son of David:" and this prayer they continued to repeat, +although many of those who accompanied Jesus "rebuked them, that they +should hold their peace," and not trouble Him with their cries. + +In the Gospel accounts of this miracle, St. Mark and St. Luke only +mention the healing of one blind man; but St. Matthew tells us there +were two. St. Matthew, who was one of the twelve Apostles, was present +on this occasion, so we may be sure that he saw two blind men healed. +St. Mark and St. Luke, writing many years afterwards, only mentioned +one of these men, who seems to have been the most known amongst the +Jews: for St. Mark speaks of him by his name, "Bartimæus," as if those +for whom he wrote would know the man, and therefore think more of the +miracle, about which they could also ask him. Perhaps, too, Bartimæus +is more particularly mentioned, because his faith was greater than +that of his companion; for St. Mark tells us, that Jesus said to him, +"Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." However that may be, +these blind men cried to Jesus for mercy, and "Jesus had compassion on +them, and touched their eyes: and their eyes received sight, and they +followed him," "glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, +gave praise unto God." + +"And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho": and now he gave +another lesson to the Pharisees, against despising any of their fellow +creatures. + + + + +Chapter XXV.--ZACCHÆUS AND LAZARUS. + + +At Jericho "there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among +the Publicans, and he was rich." He had already heard much of Jesus, +and now "he sought to see Jesus, who he was; and could not for the +press," or crowd of people who surrounded the Lord, for Zacchæus was a +short man, or "little of stature." Being really anxious to see Jesus, +Zacchæus did not content himself with merely _wishing_, and +_regretting_; but he took some trouble to accomplish his object, and +met with his reward. We read that Zacchæus "ran on before, and +climbed up into a sycamore tree," under which Jesus must pass; and by +this means nothing could prevent his seeing the Lord. + +The sycamore tree here spoken of, is also called the Egyptian fig; the +leaves are like those of the mulberry tree, but the fruit resembles +the fig, in size, shape, and taste. + +Jesus, who knows all things, saw the heart of Zacchæus, and knew that +he was willing to become a true disciple; and none such will He ever +overlook. Therefore, "when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and +saw him, and said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for +to-day I must abide at thy house." Most joyfully did Zacchæus obey: he +had taken some trouble merely to see Jesus, and now he would have the +privilege of listening to His words. But many of the Jews who were +present were offended and displeased, because Jesus took such notice +of a man belonging to a class, whom they, in their self-righteous +spirit, condemned as unworthy to associate with them; "they all +murmured, saying, That he was gone to be a guest with a man that is a +sinner." Zacchæus, seeing that Jesus was blamed for noticing him, +thought it right to show that whatever his sins might have been, he +was now truly penitent, and determined to undo as much as possible any +wrong he had done to his fellow creatures, in making them pay more +taxes than were justly due: so he stood up, "and said unto the Lord, +Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give," that is, I will from this +time give, "to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by +false accusation," (or over-taxing,) "I will restore him fourfold": +that is, I will give him back four times as much as he has lost, +through any fault of mine. This was true repentance, springing from +faith, and as such it found favour with God. "And Jesus said unto him, +This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a +son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that +which was lost." + +Zacchæus had shown himself to be, spiritually, as well as by descent, +a son of faithful Abraham; and as such he and his family were to +receive that salvation, which Jesus came to bring to those who would +turn from their sins and be saved. + +At this time, "Jesus spake a parable; because he was nigh to +Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should +immediately appear." By this parable of the nobleman, who went into a +far country to receive a kingdom, and then returned to judge his +servants for the use they had made of the talents which he had given +them, Jesus showed that although He was Lord of all, He must leave +this world for a time, and return again to judge His servants, before +His kingdom could be visibly established,--before the kingdom of God +could appear in glory. + +It is very easy to understand the meaning of this parable: we all, +that is, all the men, women, and children, who have ever been born, +are sent upon earth that we may serve God, and show our love to Him, +by doing His will in all things; and in doing all the good we can to +others. Some have greater means and opportunities of doing good than +others; such means and opportunities, as riches, wisdom, health, +leisure, &c., are the "talents" entrusted to us; and we are to use +them in the service of God, and not for our own pleasure only. Some +have more of these "talents" than others; but all of us have +opportunities of being useful, if we are ready to practise +self-denial, and give up our own pleasure, wishes, and ease, in order +to do little acts of kindness to others, in obedience to the word of +God. If we do not do our duty to God and man to the best of our power +whilst we are on earth, the Lord will be angry with us, as the king in +the parable was with the "wicked servant," who had kept his talent +"laid up in a napkin," instead of using it so as to make a proper +return to the Master, who had given it to him. + +When Jesus reached Bethany, Lazarus had already been buried four days. +Bethany was a village about two miles from Jerusalem; "and many of the +Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their +brother." It was a custom amongst the Jews for friends and relations +to come in this way to the house where any one had died, and there to +mourn and lament, with particular ceremonies, for seven days. We have +no such custom; but when any one is in trouble, we should do all we +can to comfort and help: even in all the little troubles and vexations +which daily happen to those around us, we should try to do anything we +can to help them. The best rule in this, as in all other matters, is +to observe the precept, "Do unto others as you would wish them to do +unto you." That is, think how you would feel if the same misfortune, +trouble, or vexation, fell upon you; and thus try and feel for others: +then think what you would wish to be done for you in a like case, and +do the same for them. Show that you are sorry for them, by doing any +little act of kindness that is in your power, without thinking of +yourself,--your own wishes, pleasure, or convenience. Even children +can do this; and the sooner they begin to do so, the more will they +grow in favour with God and Man. + +The beautiful story of the raising of Lazarus is to be read in St. +John's Gospel (ch. xi.). + +Martha's faith seems to have been weak; for though she believed that +Jesus could have saved her brother's life had He come in time, she +certainly did not believe that He could now restore him to life. + +Mary, too, seems only to have thought that Jesus could have kept +Lazarus from dying; but her faith was stronger than Martha's, for she +made no objection to the taking away the stone that lay upon the cave +in which Lazarus was buried. + +Jesus here sets us an example of feeling for others: He saw the great +sorrow of Martha and Mary, and, although He was going to remove the +cause of their grief, yet He felt for them in their distress--"Jesus +wept." What a comfort to all who are in trouble upon earth, to know +that their Lord in heaven feels for them, and will hear their prayers +for help and comfort; though He will not answer them in the same way +that He answered the prayers of Mary and her sister. + +"Many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which +Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them," determined not to +acknowledge Him as the Messiah, "went their ways to the Pharisees, and +told them what things Jesus had done." + +The Chief Priests and Pharisees immediately called together the +members of the Sanhedrim, or great Council, and said, "What do we? for +this man worketh many miracles." They could not deny that Jesus had +worked many miracles; for multitudes of the people had seen, and been +benefited by them. To the question, "What do we?" or rather, what +shall we do? We might reasonably expect the answer, We will +acknowledge Him as the Messiah, the Son of God; but, no: they did not +say this; on the contrary, their only thought was to prevent others +from believing in Him. Rightly did they judge, "If we let him thus +alone, all men will believe in him": but they added, "and the Romans +shall come and take away both our place and nation." In their +blindness as to the spiritual nature of the Messiah's kingdom, these +Jews thought, that if they acknowledged Jesus, the Roman Emperor would +consider them as rebels, wishing to set up a temporal kingdom, and +would send his armies to destroy them utterly. Far better would it +have been for these unhappy men, if they had _only_ considered the +proofs before them, and acknowledged Jesus to be the Messiah, without +fearing what man could do unto them. In a few years moreover, the very +evil which they so wickedly strove to avoid did come upon them: their +nation was totally destroyed, the people scattered over all lands, and +the temple burnt to the ground. + +No doubt there were many different opinions amongst the members of the +Sanhedrim, for, after much discussion, "one of them, named Caiaphas, +being the High Priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing +at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should +die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this +spake he not of himself; but being High Priest that year, he +prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that +nation only, but that also he should gather in one the children of God +that were scattered abroad." + + + + +Chapter XXVI.--JESUS IN THE HOUSE OF SIMON THE LEPER + + +The speech made in the Sanhedrim by Caiaphas, meant a great deal more +than he did, when he _used_ the _words_. Caiaphas meant, that if there +were any chance of offending the Romans, it would be better at once to +put one man to death, than to bring destruction upon the whole nation. +But St. John bids us take notice that, without intending it, Caiaphas +thus proclaimed the blessed plan of salvation through the atonement, +which, by the death of One, would be made for all mankind. + +Caiaphas was the "High Priest that same year." By the appointment of +God, a man who once became High Priest continued to be so as long as +he lived; but the Romans forced the Jews to alter many of their +customs, and it had been so in regard to the office of High Priest, +which was now seldom held by the same person for more than a year. + +What Caiaphas said, seems to have decided the Sanhedrim as to what +should be done; and the only question that remained was, how it should +be done: how the death of Jesus could be safely managed, without +causing a disturbance amongst the people, who might not be willing to +see one who had worked such miracles for their good, put to death. +This required consideration on the part of the Sanhedrim: "and from +that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death." + +Jesus, knowing that His time was not fully come, went with His +disciples into a small city, situated among the mountains in the +wilderness of Judah, which lay on the borders of the Dead Sea. We +read, "Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went +thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called +Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples." "And the Jews' +Passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to +Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves": that is, to +observe certain forms and ceremonies, without which no man was looked +upon as fit to partake of this holy feast. + +This was the third Passover which had occurred since Jesus began His +public teaching; the last of which He was to partake. It was fitting +that "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," should +be sacrificed at this solemn season. The Feast of the Passover was +kept in remembrance of the deliverance of the Children of Israel from +death, by the blood of the paschal lamb; but it was also a type, or +sign, of a greater deliverance to come; when through the shedding of +the blood of the Lamb of God, all mankind would be delivered from a +far more terrible death. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is called +"our Passover." + +The Jews who now assembled in Jerusalem, to prepare themselves for the +approaching Feast, naturally spake to each other of Jesus, whom all +must have heard of, and whom many had, no doubt, seen. They sought for +Jesus amongst those who were purifying themselves, and not finding +Him, spake to each other, saying, "What think ye, that he will not +come to the feast?" Many of them probably thought, that Jesus would be +afraid to show Himself in public; for "both the Chief Priests and the +Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he +were, he should show it, that they might take him." + +Mean time Jesus was calmly preparing to finish the work given to Him +of the Father, by delivering Himself up to death; that through Him all +men might have life. Till the time was fully come, Jesus remained with +His disciples in the wilderness. "Then six days before the Passover +Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he +raised from the dead." It is probable that at this time Jesus abode in +the house with Lazarus and his sisters; but we read of Him as being +"in the house of Simon the leper," a man whom our Lord had, no doubt, +cured of leprosy; where "they made him a supper." Lazarus was one of +the guests who "sat at the table with him," "and Martha served"; +helped the giver of the feast to entertain and wait upon Jesus. + +An event now took place, which is spoken of by St. Matthew, St. Mark, +St. Luke, and St. John; though it is rather differently told by each, +some mentioning circumstances of which the others take no notice: so +much so, that some people have thought that they speak of different +events; but it seems much more probable that they all allude to the +same event, and therefore it will be so considered now. + +The circumstance which happened at the supper given to Jesus in the +house of Simon, (distinguished from others of that name by being still +called the Leper, though now no longer one,) must be related according +to what is generally believed. + +"Mary having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious +and very costly, brake the box, and poured it on his head as he sat at +meat, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her +hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment." Thus +did Mary show her love for the Lord. "But when his disciples saw it, +there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why +was this waste of the ointment made? Then saith one of his disciples, +Judas Iscariot, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment +sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?" + +Judas Iscariot, under pretence of wishing to give the money to the +poor, blamed Mary for thus wasting the ointment; and some of the other +disciples seem to have held the same idea, and "they murmured against +her." + +A Roman penny, the money here spoken of, was worth about 7-1/2_d._ of +our money; so the cost of this box of ointment was about 9_l._: and +probably some of the disciples, not understanding the meaning of +Mary's action as afterwards described by Jesus, really thought it +would have been well to give that sum away in charity. But this was +not the case with Judas, for St. John adds, "This he said, not that he +cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and +bare what was put therein." The joint stock of money, out of which the +necessaries of life were purchased for Jesus and his Apostles, was +trusted to the care of Judas, who was a thief, and took money out of +the common bag for his own private purposes. If so large a sum as +three hundred pence were to be added to the common stock, Judas would +be able easily to take some without being found out; especially if he +pretended that he had given it to the poor. Let us, as the Bible bids +us, beware of covetousness even in the smallest matter. This feeling +indulged in the heart is a great sin; and it constantly leads to the +breaking of the eighth commandment as well. + +When Mary was blamed for what she had done, the Lord defended her, +saying, "Let her alone,"--do not blame her,--"why trouble ye her? she +hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, +and whensoever ye will ye may do them good; but me ye have not always. +She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body +to the burying. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, +she did it for my burial." + +It was the custom among the Jews to anoint the bodies of the dead +before burial, with perfumes and spices: this was also a custom of +other nations, and the Egyptians had a manner of anointing, or +embalming, the body, so that it would keep its shape, and not turn to +dust, as it would otherwise do. Bodies so prepared are called mummies; +and many have been found, which have been in that state for 3,000 or +4,000 years. + +When Jesus said that Mary "had anointed his body to the burying," He +meant, that she had done an action which was significant of His +approaching death; but, of course, neither she nor the disciples +understood it as such. He also declared, that so far from deserving +blame, what she had done should be for ever remembered to her praise: +"Verily, I say unto you, Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached +throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be +spoken of for a memorial of her." + +Whilst Jesus was still in the house of Simon, much people of the Jews, +knowing He was there, came not only to see Him, "but that they might +see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead." Such a miracle +had naturally been much talked of; and the Chief Priests, fearing the +effect it might have on the people's mind, consulted whether they +could not "put Lazarus also to death, because that by reason of him +many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus." + +The next day,--that is, five days before the Passover,--the people +that were assembled at Jerusalem for the feast, "when they heard that +Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went +forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna; Blessed is the King of Israel, +that cometh in the name of the Lord." The word "Hosanna" is made up of +parts of two Hebrew words, which mean "_Save now_." It was a word +commonly used by the people to express their joy upon solemn +occasions. + + + + +Chapter XXVII.--CHRIST'S ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. + + +Then Jesus sent forth two of His disciples, with directions where to +find a colt, the foal of an ass, upon which He purposed to ride into +Jerusalem. The disciples did as they were directed, and "cast their +garments upon the colt, and they sat Jesus thereon": and He rode +towards Jerusalem, accompanied by many of the people who had been with +Him in Simon's house, and "that was with him when he called Lazarus +out of his grave." These were soon met by those who, with palm +branches in their hands, had come from Jerusalem. "And as they went, a +very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down +branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way." Casting +garments, branches of trees and flowers on the ground, for Kings and +Conquerors to tread upon, was a mark of honour and welcome in the +Eastern nations; and it was a fitting homage to Him, Who is King of +Kings, and the Conqueror of Sin and Death. + +"And when He was come nigh the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of +the disciples, and the multitudes that went before, and that followed, +began to rejoice, and praise God with a loud voice, for all the mighty +works that they had seen; and cried, saying Hosanna to the Son of +David--Hosanna in the highest. Blessed be the King that cometh in the +name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest." + +"All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken" 400 +years before "by the prophet" Zechariah, saying, "Tell ye the +daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting +upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." + +At the Feast of Tabernacles, it had long been the custom for the +Jewish people to sing Hosannas, and also to carry in their hands +branches of palm or other trees, in honour of the Messiah whom they +were expecting; and by receiving Jesus as they now did, the multitudes +did, in fact, acknowledge Him to be that expected Messiah--at once God +and man--the King spoken of by the prophets; promised by the Almighty. + +No other king ever entered Jerusalem in this manner, which had been +foretold by the prophets; and therefore what had now happened, ought +to have convinced all the Jews that Jesus Christ was indeed the +Messiah: but nothing will convince those who are obstinately +determined not to believe, and even now, "some of the Pharisees from +among the multitude," who chose to think it was blasphemy to give +Jesus, a man, the honour due to the Messiah, "said unto him, Master, +rebuke thy disciples." But instead of doing so, Jesus "answered and +said unto them, I tell you that, if these should, hold their peace, +the stones would immediately cry out." By this answer, Jesus plainly +told the Pharisees, that so far from meriting a rebuke for speaking +_blasphemy_, all that the people had said was so pleasing to God, that +if they were prevented from saying it, the Almighty would, even by a +miracle, raise up others to glorify His name, by proclaiming this +wonderful truth. Nothing, however, could overcome the obstinate +unbelief of the Pharisees. They "said among themselves, Perceive ye +how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him." + +They could not but own, that in spite of all they had done, the people +did believe Jesus to be the Messiah; but this had no other effect than +to make them the more anxious to put Him to death. Mean time Jesus +rode on; "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over +it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, +the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from +thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies +shall cast a trench about thee, and keep thee in on every side, and +shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and +they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou +knewest not the time of thy visitation." The meaning of what Jesus now +said is, that it would have been a happy thing for the inhabitants of +Jerusalem, if while He was with them they would have believed on Him, +for then He would have given them peace and happiness. And He wept in +pity, whilst He foretold the utter destruction that would come upon +the city, as a punishment to the Jews for refusing to believe in Him, +and receive Him as the Messiah. + +Everything that Jesus foretold, came to pass exactly a few years +afterwards, when the Romans laid siege to Jerusalem, and made a +trench, and a wall with strong towers all round the city, so as to +prevent the inhabitants getting any help. The consequence was, that +the want of food caused the most dreadful suffering and misery. When +at last the city was taken, the Romans did destroy it so completely, +that it might truly be said, that one stone was not left upon another. + +"And when Jesus was come into Jerusalem," accompanied by multitudes, +waving palm branches, and singing Hosannas, "all the city was moved," +or filled with astonishment, saying, "Who is this? And the multitude +said, This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus +went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and +bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, +and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is +written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have +made it a den of thieves." + +Very soon after our Lord's baptism, He thus cleared the temple for the +first time (Ch. VII.); then He blamed the people for making His +Father's house a house of merchandise; now he tells them that they +have made it like a den of thieves. There have always been people +wicked enough to break the eighth commandment. In the land of Judæa, +there were then many lawless men, who, instead of working to gain an +honest living, went about the country robbing their fellow creatures, +and so living on what they could get. These robbers joined together in +bands, and took up their abodes in hollow places in the sides of the +mountains, called dens or caves. These dens generally had a small +entrance, but inside were of different sizes: they had no light but +what came in through the entrance hole; but the inhabitants could burn +lamps or torches to give them light, and of course they were quite +sheltered from wind and rain. The robbers used to leave their +hiding-places at night, and prowl about to take whatever they could +find. Even if they met with cattle or sheep unguarded, they drove them +away into their dens, where they kept all manner of things which they +had stolen; and therefore when the court of the temple was filled with +oxen and sheep, and other animals, it might well be compared to a den +of thieves. Nothing like this can happen in our days; but let us +remember that Jesus referred to the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Mine +house shall be called an house of prayer for all people": Jesus blamed +the people for profaning the temple, and not making the proper use of +it: we are guilty of this sin, if we do not make a proper use of our +churches, and behave reverently when we are in them. Let us all be +careful to make our churches houses of prayer, by joining devoutly in +the prayers, and listening attentively to all that we hear there: +unless we do this, we shall sin against God by not hallowing His Name; +and He will be as much displeased with us, as He was with the Jews for +their desecration of the temple. + +The blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple; "and he healed +them. And when the Chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderful things +that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying Hosanna +to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, and said unto Him, +Hearest thou what these say?" meaning that He should stop these +children from so speaking: instead of that, Jesus again plainly +declared Himself to be the Messiah spoken of by the prophets, by +applying to what had now taken place, the inspired words of David; for +we read, that "Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of +the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" + +"And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at +the feast." The Greek language was very much spoken at this time, and +the Jews called all foreigners who spoke it, Greeks: many of these +persons had been converted, or turned, from the worship of idols to +that of the one True God: but as they were not really Jews, they could +only be admitted to worship in the Court of the Gentiles. These men +wished to see Jesus, and expressed their wish to Philip--"Philip +cometh and telleth Andrew; and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus." + +Our Lord in His answer, declared that the time was now come, when His +power and glory should be shown, not to the Jews alone, but to all +nations upon earth. But He also said, that before He could be +glorified, He must die; just as a corn or grain of wheat must be put +into the ground and die, or rot, before it could bring forth fruit and +fulfil its purpose: and then He warned His disciples, that any man +who really desired to serve and follow Him, must be ready to give up +everything he most values, and even to part with his life, if +necessary, for the service of God. + +Jesus in his human nature must have shrunk from suffering as a man; +though firmly resolved to suffer the utmost agony for our sakes. He +would not, therefore, ask God to save Him from the approaching trial, +because He had come into the world for the express purpose of going +through it, in order to purchase the salvation of man. + + + + +Chapter XXVIII.--THE VOICE FROM HEAVEN. + + +At this time Jesus saith, "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I +say? Father, save me from this hour; but for this cause came I unto +this hour. Father, glorify thy name." By these last words Jesus +expressed His willingness to give Himself up entirely to God, that God +might do with Him whatever would be for His own praise and glory. This +same feeling of perfect resignation and self-denial should also govern +us in all things. Jesus spake these words, and "then came there a +voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify +it again. The people therefore that stood by, and heard it, said that +it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him." + +One of the most ancient signs, or tokens, of the presence of God was a +voice from heaven, uttering words that could be heard by man. The Jews +called such a voice "the Bath Col," which means the "Daughter of the +Voice." It was often a deep, loud sound, attended, as in this case, +with thunder; and many would not now believe it to be anything more. +Others, who knew that their fathers of old had been spoken to in this +way, acknowledged it to be the voice of an angel. + +Jesus told those around Him, that this Voice came to show them that He +was the true Messiah. + +Many other things spake He unto them; but although they had seen so +many miracles done by Him, yet they believed not that he was the +Messiah; thus fulfilling the words spoken by Isaiah the prophet. +"Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many believed on him but, +because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should +be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more +than the praise of God." + +The fear of man bringeth a snare. Never let us be tempted, for fear of +man, to say or do the least thing which we know to be displeasing to +God. + +In the evening, Jesus again left Jerusalem, and lodged in Bethany, +with the twelve disciples. + +We are now come to the last week of our Saviour's life: we call it +"Passion Week," because of His sufferings and death, which are often +spoken of as "His Passion." The Sunday that begins this Holy Week is +often called Palm Sunday, in remembrance of Christ's riding into +Jerusalem, accompanied by multitudes carrying Palm branches; but in +our Prayer Book it is only called "The Sunday next before Easter." + +On this first day of the week, Jesus, after He had finished speaking +to the people in the temple, went out to the little village of +Bethany. Now the next morning, answering to our Monday in Passion +Week, Jesus and His disciples returned into the city. On the way "he +hungered, and seeing a fig tree by the way side having leaves, he came +to it, if haply he might find any fruit thereon; for the time of figs +was not yet,"--that is, it was not yet time for the figs to have been +gathered, and therefore a tree which looked so flourishing ought to +have had fruit upon it. But there was none; nothing, but leaves only. +"Then Jesus said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for +ever. And his disciples heard it." + +And they came to Jerusalem, and went into the temple. It appears that, +though driven out at the time, the buyers, and sellers, and +money-changers had again established themselves in their former +places. Again did our Lord cast them out, reminding them that His +house was to be a house of prayer only: and this time we are told, +that He "would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through +the temple." Jesus remained in the temple teaching the people, who +"were very attentive to hear him." "And the Scribes, and the Chief +Priests, and the chief of the people heard it, and sought how they +might destroy him"; but they could do nothing openly for fear of the +people, who were "astonished at his doctrine," and evidently inclined +at this time to believe in Him as the Messiah. + +The next morning, answering to Tuesday in Passion Week, Jesus and the +twelve again returned to Jerusalem; and "as they passed by, they saw +the fig tree dried up from the roots. And when the disciples saw it, +they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! And +Peter, calling to remembrance" (what had happened the day before), +"saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is +withered away! And Jesus, answering, saith unto them, Have faith in +God." Then He went on to speak to them of the necessity of having +faith; and told them that, if their faith were strong, the most +difficult things would become easy for them to do. He also told them +to pray earnestly in faith; for that the faithful never pray in vain: +but He again warned the disciples, that if they asked God to forgive +their sins, they must truly forgive all who had in any way offended or +hurt them; saying, "For if ye do not forgive, neither will your +Father, which is in heaven, forgive your trespasses." + +The fate of the fig tree teaches two lessons. In the first place, it +was a warning to the Jews, who made a great show of their religion, +and were very particular in performing all the outward forms and +ceremonies which could be seen by men, and lead them to believe that +those who did such things must be really good and religious men. Thus +they were like the fig tree, with its green leaves making a good show +to the eye. But the Jews, with all their outward show, did not do the +Will of God: they did not bring forth the fruit of good works, and so +their whole religion was valueless, and was to be put an end to by the +destruction of the temple. Here again they were like the fig tree, +which, in spite of its flourishing leaves, bore no figs, and being +therefore useless, was to wither away. + +But from all this we may learn an important lesson for ourselves. We +should each compare ourselves to this fig tree, and consider whether +we bear fruit, or have only a show of leaves. Leaves would be outward +observances; such things as can be seen of men. Going to Church, even +reading the Bible and saying our Prayers, may be looked upon as +leaves, because they can be seen and known by others: but, if under +these good leaves there is no fruit of obedience, kindness, +self-denial, and holiness,--in short, if we are not trying to please +God by growing better and better day by day, where is the fruit? + +If, in spite of our Bible and our prayers, we follow our own wills, +and indulge our own naughty tempers and feelings, then we are like the +barren fig tree; and in the end, like that, we shall be rejected by +our Lord in heaven. Let each of us often ask our own conscience this +question, Am I a good or bad fig tree? Have I only leaves, or do I +bear fruit also? + +At this time Jesus taught daily in the temple; and on one occasion the +Chief Priests and the Scribes and the elders of the people "spake unto +him, saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things? And +Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, +which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I +do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? was it from +heaven, or of men? Answer me." + +This question greatly perplexed those to whom it was put. They saw +plainly, that if they acknowledged that John the Baptist was sent by +God, Jesus would justly say, Why then did ye not believe him, when he +told you I was the Messiah? On the other hand, they were afraid to say +that John had no authority from God, because all the people looked +upon him as a prophet, and would be ready to stone any one who said +that he was not. "And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot +tell whence it was." They had not asked the question from any real +wish to know, for they would not speak what they felt to be the truth, +because it would show that they were wrong. Under such circumstances, +"Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what +authority I do these things." + +But our Lord did not leave them without an answer, if they would have +laid it to heart; for, in the parable of the man who bid his two sons +"go work to-day in my vineyard," He showed them plainly, that, in +spite of all their profession of religion, they did not do what God +had bade them, and therefore they would lose His favour; whilst the +Gentiles, and all who repented and became the obedient sons of God, +would go into the kingdom of heaven before them. + +"Then began he to speak to the people another parable" of the +householder; who, after planting a vineyard and doing all that was +necessary to make it produce good wine, sent first his servants and +then his son to receive the fruits: but instead of making the proper +return, the servants were ill-used, and the son killed. The people, on +being asked what the lord of the vineyard would do to such men, +answered, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let +out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the +fruits in their due season." Jesus then showed them, that this +parable exactly described what the Jewish nation had done; and He +said, "Therefore I say unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken +from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." +Jesus also spake another parable, wherein the kingdom of heaven is +said to be like unto a certain king, which made a marriage feast for +his son. This parable taught the same lesson; that if people will not +come to God when He calls them, He will deprive them of the blessings +they do not value. At the end of this parable, the king is represented +as sending away into punishment a man who had not on a wedding +garment. This is to warn us, that though the Lord has now given to +Christians the blessings refused by the Jews, it is not enough to be +called a Christian: each one of us must be really and truly a +Christian in heart and life; clothed, as it were, with faith, love, +obedience, and holiness, as with a wedding garment: without this, no +man can enter into Christ's Church in Heaven. + + + + +Chapter XXIX.--DISCOURSES ON THE TUESDAY. + + +In the parable of the Marriage Feast just spoken of, we read that when +the invited guests refused to come, beggars were compelled to come in +from the highways; now, though this may seem to us a strange thing, it +would not appear so to those who heard this parable, as it was +according to the customs of the East. + +Even now, the Arab princes often dine in the open air before their +dwellings, and invite all that pass, even beggars, to share their +meal: these guests sit down and eat, and when they have done, return +thanks and go away. + +Another custom of those times is also referred to in this parable: +kings and great men, when they made a feast, provided garments or +robes to be lent to any guests who came without a proper dress for the +occasion. As every man who needed it could have a garment if he asked +for it, there was no excuse for any person who sat down _without_ one. +The man spoken of in the parable, could have had a wedding garment if +he had sought for it; and so we read that he "was speechless," had +nothing to say in his own defence, and was cast from the presence of +the Lord. + +So it is with us; God will give faith, and love, and strength to keep +His holy Word, to all who ask, and seek: therefore, if we are not +covered with the garment of faith and holiness, it will be our own +fault that we are not allowed to sit down with the righteous in the +kingdom of Heaven. + +The righteousness of Christ is the real wedding garment of believers; +and this will cover and save all, whose faith is true and lively; such +as will show itself in their words and deeds. + +The Pharisees and Scribes saw that these parables were spoken against +them, to show them how wrong they were; and this made them the more +angry, and the more desirous to destroy Jesus. Being afraid to do this +openly by violence, they "took counsel (or consulted together) how +they might entangle him in his talk": that is, get Him to say +something which would either offend the people, or give them a +pretence for accusing Him to the Roman governor of teaching the people +to rebel against the authority of Cæsar. + +They, therefore, sent forth certain of their own disciples, with the +Herodians; spies, which should feign themselves just and good men, +anxious to learn the truth by asking questions; whilst all the time, +they hoped He would say something to enable them to "deliver him unto +the power and authority of the governor." The Herodians here spoken +of, seem to have been a party amongst the Jews, who were very +favourable to the Romans; and thought they had the best right to +appoint the kings and governors of Judæa. This party took its rise in +the time of Herod the Great. + +These Herodians, though Jews themselves, had been quite ready to join +with Herod, when, to please the Romans, he set apart temples for the +worship of their false gods: by such means they had got into great +favour with the Romans, as also with Herod the Great and all his +family. + +The Pharisees and Herodians then came to Jesus, and having first +declared their belief, that no fear of man would prevent His telling +them plainly what was the Will of God, they said, "Tell us therefore, +What thinkest thou, Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? +Shall we give or shall we not give?" + +The Romans had laid a tax upon Judæa when it became a Roman province: +the Jews hated this mark of subjection, and the Pharisees taught, that +as the Jews were God's chosen people, they ought not to pay tax or +tribute to any foreign power. The Herodians held the contrary opinion; +and some of the Jews followed them. Cæsar was a common name or title +given to all the Roman Emperors, who had each their own particular +name besides. Augustus Cæsar was Emperor of Rome when Jesus Christ was +born; and, at the time we are speaking of, Tiberius Cæsar was the +Emperor. If, to the question now asked, Jesus should answer, "Do not +pay tribute," the Herodians would be offended, and would get the Roman +governor to punish Him. If, on the other hand, Jesus should declare +that it was lawful and right to pay tribute, the greater part of the +Jewish people would be very indignant, and perhaps stone Him at once: +at any rate, He would lose their favour, so that they would not oppose +His destruction. Thus the Pharisees felt confident that Jesus must +fall into the snare. "But Jesus perceived their wickedness; and +knowing their hypocrisy, said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Show me +the tribute-money," that I may see it. "And they brought unto him a +penny"--a Roman coin, equal to 7-1/2_d._ of our money, having upon it +the image or figure of the Emperor's head, with some words, called the +superscription, round it: just as our money has the Queen's image upon +it, and writing also. "And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and +superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar's. Then saith he unto them, +Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God +the things that are God's." Thus teaching, that their duty to God as +His people, did not interfere with their duty to the Romans as +temporal rulers. The Pharisees could not take hold of such words: +"they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace, and left him, and +went their way." Let us remember that with us also, our duty to God +will not interfere with our duty to man: on the contrary, those who +most love God, will best do their duty as Parents and Children, Kings +and Subjects, Masters and Servants, Friends and Neighbours. + +The Pharisees having been put to silence in the matter of the +tribute-money, another party or sect amongst the Jews, who did not +believe in the future resurrection of the dead, came to Jesus, hoping +also to entangle him in his talk. These Jews, who were called +Sadducees, asked our Lord a question, which they thought it would be +impossible for him to answer: but Jesus showed them, that only their +own ignorance and inattention to what was written in their Scriptures, +made them find any difficulty as to the resurrection of the dead: and +He told them most plainly, that all the dead should certainly rise +again; and that those who were worthy to live in Heaven, should "be +as the angels of God." Some of the Scribes, who were present, agreed +to the truth of all that Jesus spake, and said, "Master, thou hast +well said." + +But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to +silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a +Lawyer, one of the Scribes, came, and having heard them reasoning +together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, "asked him a +question, tempting him"; that is, hoping that His answer might give an +opportunity of finding fault with Him. + +Before we speak of the question now asked, it is necessary to +understand, that at this time the Scribes and Pharisees had taken up +an opinion, that it was quite impossible for anybody to observe all +the precepts and commandments contained in the Law of Moses; and that, +therefore, every man might choose out one or two, and that if he +observed these perfectly, he would be forgiven for not keeping the +others. This was, of course, quite contrary to the teaching of +Scripture, where we learn that all men must do their very best to keep +the whole law of God, and do His Will in all things. The Pharisees +having thus settled that they need only keep one Commandment, the +question was, which it should be: some considered that the ordinances +as to sacrifices were the most important; others thought attention to +the wearing of phylacteries was the chief thing. No doubt it was much +easier to attend to such outward observances, than to keep the temper +in order and practise self-denial; but no outward service can please +God if the heart is not right. As the Scribes and Pharisees were +constantly disputing amongst themselves, as to which of the +Commandments it was most important to keep, this Lawyer now asked +Jesus, "Master, which is the first commandment of all?" which is the +great commandment in the law? "And Jesus answered him, The first of +all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: +and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all +thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is +the first and great commandment." This answer could not be found fault +with; for it agreed exactly with what Moses had said. But Jesus did +not stop here. He knew that the Pharisees behaved with great +unkindness to their Jewish brethren, who did not hold the same +opinions as they did; and that they actually hated all their fellow +creatures of a different religion: He therefore told them, that there +was a second commandment, of almost equal importance to the first, and +_both_ must be kept. He said, "And the second is like unto it, namely +this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other +commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the +Law and the prophets": meaning, that these two commandments contain +all that the Law and the prophets had taught, and that any man who +kept these, would indeed, keep the whole Law. + +Just as in our Catechism we say, that from the Commandments of the Law +we learn two things: our duty towards God, and our duty towards man: +nor can they be separated; he who really does love God with heart, and +mind, and soul, and strength, will try in all things to please Him, +and will not willingly break the least of His commands. + +He who so loves his fellow creatures, as to do them all the good he +can, and treat them as he would himself wish to be treated, will +certainly never injure any one in his person or his property; nor even +be unkind to him, in word or deed. + +The Scribe who had asked the question, "tempting him," appears to have +been more honest than many of his brethren: he felt the truth of our +Lord's words, and at once "said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said +the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: and +to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and +with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his +neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and +sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said +unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." Jesus meant, that +this Scribe was not far from being a true believer and disciple, and, +we may hope, that he did become a sincere follower of the Lord, and an +inheritor of the kingdom of Heaven. + +"And no man after that durst ask him any question." Seeing how all had +failed to entangle Jesus in his talk, the Pharisees appear to have +given up asking questions, which only gave Him an opportunity of +showing His wisdom and holiness. + + + + +Chapter XXX.--WEDNESDAY--JUDAS COVENANTS TO BETRAY JESUS. + + +Whilst the Pharisees, who had asked questions in the hope of finding a +fault, were gathered together, Jesus in His turn questioned them: He +"asked them, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto +him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in +spirit call him Lord? for David himself said by the Holy Ghost, in the +Book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, +till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore calleth him +Lord; if David then call him Lord, how is he his son?" The Pharisees +could make no answer to this, without contradicting what David had +said; or acknowledging that Christ, though in one sense the son of +David, was more, and must be the Son of God spoken of by David and all +the prophets. Therefore "no man was able to answer him a word, neither +durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. The +common people heard him gladly," however, not being so prejudiced +against Him. + +Jesus at this time reproved the Scribes and Pharisees for their pride +and hypocrisy; and for their observance of outward forms only, whilst +they did not even try to act according to the real meaning and spirit +of the Law of Moses. Jesus also told his disciples and the multitude, +that though they ought to observe and do whatever the Scribes (whose +business it was to explain and teach the Law) showed them that they +ought to do, they must be careful not to follow their example: "The +Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses's seat; all therefore +whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye +after their works: for they say and do not." Other things Jesus said +at this time (Matt xxiii., Mark xii., Luke xx.), and he ended with +again lamenting over the misery which Jerusalem was bringing upon +herself, by refusing to receive Him, the Lord of Life and Glory: and +He reminded His hearers, that He would have saved them had they been +willing. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and +stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered +thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her +wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you +desolate." Jesus was teaching in that part of the temple where stood +the chest, into which those who came to worship, put gifts of money, +to be used for the service of the temple. + +"And Jesus sat over against the treasury. And he looked up and beheld +how the people cast money into the treasury; and many that were rich +cast in much. And there came also a certain poor widow, and she threw +in two mites, which make a farthing." There was a curious law at this +time amongst the Jews, forbidding any one to put into the treasury so +small a sum as _one_ mite: this poor widow therefore put in the +smallest sum she could. Many who saw her, most likely despised her +offering; and thought that such a paltry sum was not worth giving. But +He who seeth the heart, judged very differently: "He called unto him +his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that this +poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the +treasury: for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the +offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all that she had, +even all her living." + +The difference was, that the rich men had given large sums, of which +they would not feel the loss: but the poor widow had practised the +greatest self-denial, in order to do something for the service of God. +She had to work hard to gain money to buy necessary food, and by +giving all she had at this time, she would be obliged to go without a +meal. Without self-denial, we cannot please God: and we can all +practise self-denial, though it seems very hard to do so. If we give +up our own wishes, and practise self-denial, in the most trifling +things, though men may not know it at all, God does: and if He sees +that we do it _because_ He has bid us deny ourselves, He will be +pleased with us. + +Our Lord now departed from the temple, and as he went out "his +disciples came to him, for to show him, the buildings of the temple"; +that is, to draw His attention to the strength of the walls, and the +size of the stones used in building it; as if they thought it almost +impossible that one stone should not be left upon another. But Jesus +again assured them that the temple, as well as the city, should be +utterly destroyed. + +Jesus then spake of the misery that would come upon the Jews, when the +destruction of their city should take place. From this, He went on to +speak of the end of the world, which must surely take place some day +or other: and He warned them, that as no man could know when this +event would take place, it was necessary that every one should be +prepared to meet their God. + +Let us remember this: let each one of us try to live every day as if +it was to be our last. Many things He spake, to enforce the duty of +watching, so as to be always ready. + +In order to impress more strongly upon His disciples the dreadful +consequence of not being ready, when the Lord should come to judge the +world, Jesus told them the parable of the Ten Virgins, five of whom +were wise, and five foolish. These latter were shut out from the +marriage; and Jesus showed how this parable applied to all men, by +saying, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour +wherein the Son of man cometh." + +Again, to show them the necessity of being found at the last day, +doing the will of God, and improving the talents committed to our +care, Jesus told His disciples another parable of the Servants and the +Talents; greatly resembling one spoken before, as given by St. Luke, +chap. xix. He likewise showed His disciples, that though here all men +seem to go on much alike, so that it is often difficult to know who +are really serving God with all their hearts, and who are not, there +will be no difficulty in the last day, when the godly and the ungodly +shall be as easily divided, "as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the +goats": and that while the Lord would take the one to live with Him +for ever, the others should go away into everlasting punishment. Jesus +also declared, that one way of gaining the favour of God, was by doing +acts of kindness and self-denial, to help our suffering fellow +creatures. + +All these discourses, which followed the last cleansing of the temple, +seem to have been uttered on the Tuesday in Passion Week. "And in the +day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and +abode in the mount, that is called the mount of Olives;" at Bethany, +as is generally believed. We have now come to the Wednesday in Passion +Week, two days before the feast of the Passover, called also the feast +of unleavened bread. Jesus, to prepare His disciples for what was +about to happen, said unto them, "Ye know that after two days is the +feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be +crucified." + +"Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the +Passover. Then assembled together the Chief Priests and the Scribes, +and the elders of the people" (who had long sought to destroy Jesus), +"unto the palace of the High Priest, who was called Caiaphas, and +consulted how they might take Jesus by craft and put him to death," +without causing any uproar among the people. If once they could +contrive to deliver Him up as a prisoner to the Roman governor, there +would be no possibility of His being rescued by the people. + +The Priests and elders were now offered help from an unexpected +quarter. "Then entered Satan into Judas, surnamed Iscariot, being of +the number of the twelve." Judas had probably taken offence at what +Jesus said, when Mary anointed His feet: he was a bad man, without any +real love for his Master; and instead of fighting against the sinful +lusts or desires of his own heart, he indulged them, and so let the +Devil enter in, and lead him to betray the Lord. "And he went his way +unto the Chief Priests, and communed with them how he might betray him +unto them. And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will +deliver him unto you? And when they heard it they were glad, and +promised to give him money. And they covenanted (or agreed with him) +for thirty pieces of silver." Thirty shekels or pieces of silver +(worth about 3_l._ 11_s._), was the sum which Moses had commanded to +be paid by the owner of any beast, which had by accident killed the +slave of another man: thus, in every respect, did Christ take upon Him +the form and condition of a servant or slave. + +Judas having consented to sell the life of his Master for thirty +shekels, "from that time sought opportunity how he might conveniently +betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude." It is a +terrible thing when a man is so hardened, as to watch for an +opportunity of committing a crime! That, indeed, is wilful sin. The +next day, Thursday, was "the first day of unleavened bread, when they +killed the Passover. The disciples came and said unto Jesus, Where +wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the Passover? +And He sendeth forth two of his disciples, Peter and John, saying, Go +ye into the city; and behold when ye are entered into the city, there +shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him into the +house where he entereth in; and say ye to the good man (or owner) of +the house, The Master saith unto thee, My time is at hand; I will keep +the Passover at thy house: Where is the guest chamber, where I shall +eat the Passover with my disciples? And he will show you a large +upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. And his +disciples went forth and came into the city, and found as He had said +unto them: and they made ready the Passover." What a strengthening of +the Apostles' faith this must have been: He who could thus foretell +all, even the most trifling events, must be God indeed. The blessed +thought that God knows and governs all things, should make us trust in +Him, and do our duty without any fear of the consequences. + + + + +Chapter XXXI.--MODE OF CELEBRATING THE PASSOVER. + + +In order to a better understanding of all that the Gospels tell us of +the Last Supper, it will be well to see how the Jews at that time kept +the Passover. + +In the first place, on the day when the Paschal Lamb was to be killed +and eaten, the Jews were to put away out of their houses all leaven or +yeast, and live for a whole week on cakes made of unleavened dough: +hence the Feast of the Passover was also called the "Feast of +unleavened bread." + +1. When the guests were assembled in the evening to eat the Passover, +the ceremonies began, by the master of the house giving to each one a +cup of wine mixed with water, saying at the same time, "Blessed be He +that created the fruit of the vine": then they all gave thanks and +drank the wine. + +2. All the guests after drinking the wine, washed their hands; and +then the three things ordered by the Law of Moses, were placed on +the table before the master of the house. These three things were, +the Paschal Lamb roasted whole; two cakes of unleavened bread; and +a dish of bitter herbs. To these were added the remains of the +peace-offerings offered the day before, and some other meats; also a +thick sour sauce, intended to remind the Jews of the bricks made by +their forefathers in Egypt. + +The master of the house, or whoever took the direction of the feast, +then ate, and gave to each of the guests a small piece of lettuce; at +the same time blessing God for the fruits of the earth; afterwards +each person present, ate a bit of the unleavened bread dipped in the +bitter herbs. + +3. In the third place, all the dishes were taken off the table, and +the children, who were not of age to keep the feast, were called in: +the meaning of the Feast was then explained to them, in obedience to +the commandment of the Lord, spoken by Moses, saying, "And it shall +come to pass when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, +and your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? +that ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, Who +passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He +smote the Egyptians and delivered our houses." + +4. After the young people had been duly taught, the supper was, in the +fourth place, again set upon the table. Each person then, in turn, +lifted up the bitter herbs and the unleavened cakes, and afterwards +joined in declaring, that they ate them in remembrance of the bondage +in Egypt, and the deliverance from it: then they praised God, by +singing the 113th and 114th Psalms; and having blessed the Lord, a +second cup of wine was drunk. + +5. In the fifth place, the guests again washed their hands; and then +the master of the family took the two unleavened cakes, broke one of +them into pieces, and placed the broken pieces on the top of the whole +cake: after this, he blessed it; and each person taking one of the +broken pieces with some of the bitter herbs, dipped them into the sour +sauce, and ate them; they then blessed God again. Thanks were now +given over the remains of the yesterday's peace-offering, and some of +that eaten. The next step was to give thanks over the Paschal Lamb, of +which all partook. The Passover Feast was now, in fact, finished; but +the Jews made the supper last longer, by eating any other food they +liked; always taking care to _finish_ by swallowing a little morsel of +lamb, as after partaking of that, they were not supposed to eat +anything more that night. + +6. In the sixth place, the hands were washed for the third time; and +the master of the house said a blessing over a third cup of wine, +which was then drunk by each guest. This third cup of wine was +commonly called the "Cup of Blessing." A fourth cup of wine was then +mixed with water; and over this, certain Psalms, from the 115th to +118th inclusive, were sung; and then a prayer concluded the whole +ceremony. + +This was the manner in which the Jews kept the Passover Feast, when +Jesus ate it with His disciples. When Jerusalem was destroyed, the +Jews who were forced to go and live in other lands, could not +sacrifice the lambs in a proper manner; and therefore they used to put +a bit of unleavened bread under a napkin, and keep it for a last +mouthful, instead of the morsel of lamb. + +In the impossibility of continuing to carry out the ordinances of the +Ceremonial Law, after the death of Jesus, we see the Hand of God, +fulfilling His Word. + +The Passover was a type of Christ--signifying the deliverance of His +people from bondage to the Devil. When Christ had come, and once for +all made atonement as the Lamb of God, a ceremony to _prefigure_ His +sacrifice was out of place. Another rite was instituted, "in thankful +remembrance of His death." But the Jews, who would not believe that +Christ was the true Passover, endeavoured, and still do endeavour, to +observe that Law which He has done away with. + +"And in the evening Jesus cometh with the twelve, and when the hour +was come, he sat down, and the twelve Apostles with him." Then He told +them plainly that this was the last Passover He should eat on earth; +saying, "With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you +before I suffer; for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, +until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then when Jesus, as +Master of the family, had given the first cup to the disciples, "He +gave thanks and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I +say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the +kingdom of God shall come." Jesus being the true Lamb of God, now +about to be sacrificed for the deliverance of His people, would not +Himself partake of things, only appointed as _signs_ or _types_ of +what He was to accomplish by the sacrifice of Himself. When the +supper, or some part of it, was ended, there arose some strife or +dispute amongst the disciples, as to "which of them should be +accounted the greatest." + +For this Jesus gently rebuked them; and then, wishing to set them an +example of humbleness and kindness, "He riseth from supper, and laid +aside his garments; and took a towel and girded himself:" that is, He +took off His robe or upper garment, and then bound His other garments +round him with a towel, as was usually done by those who served, or +waited upon others. "After that he poureth water into a basin and +began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel +wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter;" but he, +believing that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, could not bear the idea +of His acting a servant's part, and objected, saying "Lord, dost thou +wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest +not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." These words should have +overcome all doubts and scruples; but in his anxiety and zeal for what +he considered to be the glory of the Lord, Peter quite lost sight of +his own duty, which was to be obedient in all things, and hastily +exclaimed, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." + +Peter was quickly recalled to a sense of his fault, for "Jesus +answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." Such a +declaration might well alarm Peter, who really loved his Lord, and +wished to serve Him; and in his zeal he rushed into the opposite +extreme, and cried out, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and +my head." But true and perfect obedience is _doing exactly_, as _we +are told_, neither more nor less; and of this Peter was reminded by +Jesus, who "saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash +his feet, but is clean every whit." + +But these words of our Lord had a further meaning. By washing their +feet, Jesus meant to teach His disciples, that as washing with water +was necessary to cleanse the body, so holiness and purity were +necessary to cleanse the soul: and that as through Him alone they +could receive the latter, He now used that "outward and visible sign" +as a type, or proof, of "the inward and spiritual grace" He would give +to them. By washing the feet _only_, Jesus signified, that those who +through faith and repentance were by His mercy cleansed from their +sins, and redeemed from the curse by His sacrifice, would only in +future need to be cleansed from such sins, as the weakness and frailty +of man cause him daily to fall into: just as a guest, who after making +himself clean to come to a feast, would only need, on his arrival, to +wash off the dust which must settle on his bare feet during his walk. + +To the words thus spoken to Peter, Jesus added, "And ye are clean, but +not all": for knowing the hearts of all, He thus showed that the sin +of Judas was not hid from Him: the disciples naturally would not +understand these words, except Judas, whose conscience ought to have +reproached him. "After Jesus had washed their feet, and had taken his +garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I +have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so +I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also +ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, +that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto +you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent +greater than he that sent him." + +These words are too plain to require much comment. Washing the feet, +was looked upon as the business of the lowest servant; and by taking +such an office upon Himself, the Lord and Master of all, Jesus taught +the disciples and all of us, that it can never be beneath us to do any +kind office in our power, to help our fellow creatures. Let us ever +remember, that Jesus Christ came upon earth not only to be a +"sacrifice for our sins," but also "an ensample (or example) of godly +life"; and that it is our duty as well as our happiness, to try in +everything to follow His example where He has set us one; and in other +matters, to think _how_, under the circumstances, _He would have been +likely_ to act, that we may do the same. This is, indeed, to follow +Christ; and so following we shall enter into His kingdom in Heaven. + + + + +Chapter XXXII.--THE LAST SUPPER. + + +"And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto +you, that one of you which eateth with me shall betray me: behold, the +hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table." The disciples, +hearing this, "began to be exceeding sorrowful, and to enquire among +themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing: and one by +one, they asked him, Lord, is it I? and another said, Is it I?" + +It was well for the disciples to be sorrowful, and fearful of doing +wrong. When we hear of sin committed, we should never say or think, "I +am sure _I_ should not do this, or that"; because we do not know what +we might do, if we were tempted as others have been. Let us, on the +contrary, when we hear of others falling into sin, watch and pray the +more earnestly, that we may never be led to do anything which we know +to be wrong. + +In answer to the question asked by each one of the disciples, Jesus +repeated what He had said, that one of them should betray Him; and +"said unto them, It is one of the twelve that dippeth with me in the +dish; the same shall betray me." And then He told them that, although +He came on earth on purpose to die, yet the man who sinfully betrayed +Him would bring upon himself the utmost wrath of God. "The Son of man, +indeed, goeth as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the +Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not +been born. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom +he spake." But though eleven of the disciples knew not the meaning of +their Lord's words, there was one who could have had no doubt upon the +subject--one who had sold himself to do evil, and was only waiting for +a convenient opportunity to execute his wicked purpose. Even now he +might have taken warning, and given up his guilty purpose; but no: he +had listened to the Devil, and his heart was hardened against Jesus. + +According to the custom in those times, when people did not _sit_ as +we do to their meals, but lay upon couches, so that one guest leant +upon the one next to him, John, who was next to Jesus, was leaning on +Jesus's bosom. John is always spoken of as "the disciple whom Jesus +loved"; showing that he was, as a man, especially dear to his Master, +in consequence of which, doubtless, his place at supper was next to +that of Jesus. + +Simon Peter, always eager and active, now beckoned, or made signs, to +John, "that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then, +lying on Jesus's breast, saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus +answered, He it is to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. +And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son +of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him,"--that is, gained +more entire possession of his soul; as will always be the case when we +once listen to the Devil. What our Lord said to John does not appear +to have been heard by any of the other disciples. Judas himself now +dared to ask, "Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast +said,"--which was a most solemn form of saying "Yes." Jesus then said +unto Judas, "That thou doest do quickly." Judas immediately left the +company, and went out. + +Even then the other disciples do not seem to have understood that +Judas was the traitor. St. John tells us, that "no man at the table +knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, +because Judas had the bag (or common purse), that Jesus had said unto +him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or that +he should give something to the poor." + +There were still sacrifices needed for the remaining days of the +feast. + +After Judas was gone out, Jesus told the disciples that, as in His +life He had glorified the Father, He was now about to glorify Him +still farther by his death. Then he bade them love one another, as He +had loved them: and this He called "a new commandment," because the +love of His followers for one another, was to be something very +different from what the Jews taught and practised. + +Jesus then warned Peter, that Satan would tempt him, but that He had +prayed for him that his faith might not entirely fail, although he +would fall into sin: and He charged him, when he should have recovered +himself, to strengthen the faith of others. Peter had not yet learned +the lesson of humility, which would have made him distrust himself. He +knew that he loved his Master, and therefore he fancied, that for His +sake he could bear and do anything. Instead, therefore, of being +filled with fear at this warning, he exclaimed, "Lord, I am ready to +go with thee both into prison and to death." And Jesus said, "I tell +thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day before that thou shalt +thrice deny that thou knowest me." + +The Jewish day was reckoned from one sunset to another. The Passover +was always eaten in the evening; and thus a new day was beginning when +Jesus spake these words. + +Jesus next asked the disciples, whether they had lacked or wanted +anything when He sent them to teach throughout the country, taking +with them neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes. They answered, that +they had wanted for nothing. "Then said he unto them, But now, he that +hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that +hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto +you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he +was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me +have an end,"--an end or object,--that is, everything which the +prophets had spoken concerning the circumstances of our Saviour's +Passion, was intended to fulfil some especial purpose, and therefore +all must be exactly fulfilled. In answer to what Jesus said, the +disciples "said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto +them, It is enough." + +Simon Peter appears still not to have understood that his Master's +death was at hand, for "he said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? +Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but +thou shalt follow me afterwards." Peter was not to die with his Lord; +but he did afterwards follow Him indeed, for he was crucified some +years after, in the reign of the Emperor Nero. Peter, as usual in his +zeal and self-confidence, lost sight of the fact, that his duty was to +believe and acquiesce without questioning and gainsaying: he needed +the severe lesson he received afterwards, to teach him this. Now, in +his love for his Master, "he said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow +thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, +Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto +thee, The cock shall not crow till thou has denied me thrice." + +We now come to a very important event in the life of our Saviour, +namely, His instituting another Feast, or Ceremony, to take the place +of the Passover. The Passover was a means of reminding the Jews of a +past bodily deliverance, and also of keeping them in remembrance of +the promised Messiah, who _was to come_, and deliver them from +spiritual bondage. + +When the Messiah had actually come and finished His work, it would no +longer be right to keep the Passover, as given to Moses. Jesus +therefore, in doing away with this Feast, gave to His disciples +another, which was for ever to remind men of all He had done for them. +This Holy Feast we call "The Lord's Supper," "The Eucharist," or +giving of thanks, "The Communion" of His blessed body and blood. "The +Lord's Supper" is one of the Two Sacraments which Christ hath ordained +in His Church. The other is Baptism, whereby we are admitted into +Christ's Church. This is only partaken of once; just as in the natural +world a child can only be born once. The Lord's Supper, on the +contrary, should be partaken of constantly; just as we daily eat and +drink to keep ourselves alive. But children do not partake of this +Sacrament until they are old enough to understand its nature, and to +fight for themselves against the world, the flesh, and the Devil. + +The Four Gospels do not give us exactly the same account of what took +place at the institution of the Lord's Supper. Some mention one thing, +and some another; and therefore it is difficult to say _the order_ in +which the events took place: that is however, of little consequence, +since we are sure that everything they do tell us, did happen during +the Last Supper which Jesus ate with His disciples. + +"As they were eating,"--probably at that part of the Feast when the +master of the family broke one of the unleavened cakes (see 5, p. +123),--"Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to +the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is given +for you: this do in remembrance of me." + +They were to look upon this bread as the body of Christ, sacrificed +for them; and in the same spirit they were to eat bread in a solemn +manner, from time to time, in remembrance of all the blessings which +Jesus purchased for mankind, by giving up His body, or His human life, +for our redemption. + +"Likewise also, after supper, he took the cup,"--probably that one +called the Cup of Blessing (see 6, p. 123),--"and when he had given +thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: and they all +drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new +testament. This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed +for you and for many, for the remission of sins." + +The wine in the cup was to be taken as a memorial, or remembrance, of +that New Covenant, or agreement, made between God and man, by the +shedding of that precious blood wherewith the Saviour blotted out our +sins. + +The Old Covenant of works, made by God with the Children of Israel, +was now done away with. The New Covenant of Grace was to take its +place. In this New Covenant, God promised, that as Jesus bore our +punishment, and washed out our sins with His atoning blood, we for His +sake should be looked upon as righteous, because He was righteous: our +part of this New Covenant being to repent and forsake our sins, and +have such faith in Christ as will constantly show itself by our trying +to please Him, and prove our love by doing His will. + + + + +Chapter XXXIII.--JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. + + +Our blessed Lord loved His disciples to the end; and in order that +they might remember all the blessings secured to them by His death on +the Cross, He appointed the "outward and visible sign," of eating +bread and drinking wine, which were to figure, or represent to their +minds, His body and blood thus given for them: but not given for them +_only_, but for all mankind; and therefore it is just as necessary for +all Christians to remember these things. + +We consequently find, that ever since that last Supper, when Jesus +said, "Do this in remembrance of me," Christians _have_ constantly +done the same thing, that Christ then commanded His disciples to do. +We, as members of Christ's Holy Church, continue to receive bread and +wine in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, in token of our belief, +that the body of Jesus was broken and His blood shed for us; and that +we thereby hope, "that our sinful bodies may be made clean by His +body, and our souls washed through His most precious blood." + +When you are of an age to partake of the blessed Sacrament of the +Lord's Supper, you will learn more about it: mean time do not forget +that it was appointed by Jesus Christ, only a few hours before He made +that sacrifice of Himself, which we commemorate, or remember, in this +solemn service. + +After the institution of the Lord's Supper, Jesus told His disciples +(John xiv.) that though He was about to leave them, it was for their +good that He should go; because then the Holy Spirit would come upon +them, to teach and comfort them: and that if they believed in Him, and +followed in the way that He had already pointed out, they should abide +with Him in heaven. He likewise declared, that all who professed to +love Him must show their love by keeping His commandments. Jesus, +having spoken these things, said, "Arise, let us go hence." And when +"they had sung an hymn," according to the custom at the Passover, +where Psalms were sung after the fourth cup of wine, Jesus came out, +and went, as he was wont, "to the Mount of Olives; and his disciples +followed him." + +Here again Jesus spake many things to the disciples--(John xv., xvi.). +He compared Himself to a vine, and His disciples to the branches. He +is the root, without which there can be no tree: as long as the +branches remain part of the tree, they receive nourishment from the +root, and bring forth fruit: but if the branches are cut off, and so +separated from the root, they wither and die, and are of no use except +to be burned. In the same way all who will be His disciples, must by +faith abide in Him as their root; doing His will, copying His +example, and so bringing forth the fruit of good works to the glory of +God. + +Amongst other things, Jesus spake to the disciples of prayer; and +promised that God would give them whatsoever they should ask in His +Name. He also warned them, that if they faithfully followed His +precepts and obeyed His commands, they would in this world meet with +troubles, and be cruelly treated and even killed, by those who would +not believe in Him. The enemies of Jesus, those who knew not Him Who +sent Him, would persecute His faithful servants for their Master's +sake. Having warned His disciples that they must suffer for the sake +of their faith, Jesus bid them fear nothing so long as they continued +to love and serve Him: for whilst they did so, God would bless and +comfort them, and finally take them to Himself in heaven. "In the +world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome +the world." Now all that Jesus said to His disciples was meant for +_all_ His followers in all times, even unto the end of the world. + +Such promises and hopes have supported the "noble army of martyrs," +who in the early ages of the Church suffered tortures, and died the +most cruel death, rather than give up, or even _pretend_ to give up, +their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The same spirit should be in us: +we are not called to martyrdom as were the holy men of old; but should +the Lord allow it to be so again, should we be ready so to suffer for +our religion? But let us ask ourselves another question, of more +practical importance at the present time: Are we willing to give up +_anything_ for the sake of pleasing Jesus? Do we give up our own +wishes and pleasures to please Him, Who bids us deny ourselves? Do we +try to conquer our evil tempers, passions, and inclinations, because +He has said, "Resist the Devil"? If we have anything like the spirit +which guided the martyrs, we shall force ourselves to be attentive and +industrious, when we feel careless and idle: obedient, when we feel +wilful and perverse; kind and generous, when we feel selfish: gentle +and patient, when we feel cross and irritable; and so on. This is no +easy task; no easy life. But we must remember Christ's warning, that +those who will be His faithful servants, _must_ meet with difficulties +and hindrances in their way. Let us then pray for the Holy Spirit, to +teach, and guide, and support us; so that, our hearts being filled +with faith and love, we "may never be ashamed to confess the faith of +Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner, against sin, +the world, and the devil, and to continue Christ's faithful soldiers +and servants unto our life's end." + +When Jesus had said these things, He lifted up His eyes to Heaven, and +prayed to His Father, to support Him through the coming trial; so that +He might glorify the Father, by securing the salvation of men. Then +Jesus prayed for the disciples who did already believe in Him, and +besought that they might be kept in His faith and love, and enabled to +teach others all that He had taught them. + +Our Lord also prayed for all who should in after times learn true +religion from the teaching or writings of the Apostles, and so become +one of them, by having the same faith, the same wish to glorify God by +obedience to His holy Will. For all who do thus join themselves to +Him, Jesus prayed that they may be with Him in heaven. Our blessed +Lord thus prayed for us, and for all His followers in every age: and +He still prays for us, and intercedes for us in heaven. All Christians +are now one body, of which Christ is the Head; one vine, of which +Christ is the root; one flock, of which Christ is the Shepherd. + +We call this body the Church of Christ; by Baptism we are taken into +this Church, and made part of this body; therefore, we must try always +to know and do the Will of our Head. + +When Jesus had ended His prayer, He saith unto the disciples, "All ye +shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will +smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered +abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into +Galilee." + +By being "offended," Jesus meant that they would be afraid to own Him +as their Master, and would forsake Him: but to show them that He would +not punish their weakness by casting them off for ever, He told them +where they might see Him again, after He should have risen from the +dead. + +Notwithstanding the warnings already received, Peter was still full of +self-confidence, and "answered and said unto him, Though all men shall +be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended." Why should +Peter have thought himself more likely than others to do right? Why +should any of us think so? Whenever we do thus depend upon ourselves +to do right, we are almost sure to fall into sin, for the Devil takes +advantage of our pride and self-conceit, to tempt us; and then God +frequently leaves us to ourselves, that from our fall we may learn by +painful experience our exceeding weakness and sinfulness. Jesus now +showed Peter, that though he thought himself so safe, he would do +worse than his fellow disciples; for "he saith unto him, Verily I say +unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow +twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I +say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny +me thrice. Peter spake the more vehemently, and said unto him, Though +I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee in any wise. Likewise +also said all the disciples." + +Poor Peter little knew himself! No doubt he and all the disciples felt +what they now said: but if men would bear in mind their weakness and +proneness to sin, they would never feel _sure_ of not doing wrong; but +would watch and pray, so that the Devil may get no advantage over +them. "When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his +disciples" from the place on the Mount of Olives, where they were, +"unto a place called Gethsemane, over the brook Cedron, where was a +garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also +knew the place, for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his +disciples." Having entered into this garden with the eleven disciples, +Jesus saith unto eight of them, "Sit ye here while I go and pray +yonder. And he taketh with him Peter, and James and John, the two sons +of Zebedee, and when he was at the place" to which he had intended to +go, "he began to be sorrowful, and sore amazed, and to be very heavy." + +Now began the mysterious, and most bitter part of our blessed Lord's +sufferings for sinful man. What those sufferings were, we do not +exactly know: they were not bodily, but spiritual; his soul suffered +such agony, as we can form little idea of: we only know that sin, the +sin of man, _our sin_, caused His sufferings; and that the holy and +righteous Lord now bore for our sakes, all the agony that is the fruit +of sin. It seems likely that at this time the Devil and his evil +spirits again attacked Jesus, and tried by every means in their power +to prevail upon Him not to finish His work, even the salvation of man, +but to spare _Himself_, and leave His guilty creatures to the fearful +consequences of their sins. In His agony, prayer was our Lord's +refuge; and feeling the necessity of being alone with God, that He +might freely pour out His soul before Him, "he saith unto the three +who accompanied him, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: +tarry ye here and watch with me." Thus He asked them to help Him with +their prayers; setting, in His human nature, an example for all men to +follow. Then, knowing the power and malice of the Devil, Jesus added a +caution to pray for themselves, that they might not be led into sin, +by any temptation which should come upon them; "he saith unto them +Pray, that ye enter not into temptation." + + + + +Chapter XXXIV.--JESUS BETRAYED. + + +When Jesus had cautioned Peter, James and John, to watch and pray, "he +went forward a little, and was withdrawn from them about a stone's +cast, and kneeled down and prayed"; in the earnestness of His prayer, +"he fell on his face on the ground, and prayed that, if it were +possible, the hour might pass from him." It was not the death upon the +cross which Jesus prayed might pass from Him: human martyrs have borne +bodily sufferings and cruel deaths, supported by the grace of God; and +though in His human nature Christ might well shrink from the pain of +Crucifixion, He was ready to give His body for our redemption. + +But his sufferings in the garden of Gethsemane, were far beyond what +any human being could suffer, or than we can understand. His heavenly +Father saw fit to let Him suffer for a time, all the unspeakable agony +which the just anger of God can lay upon the impenitent soul. And we +may well believe that this agony was a hundred-fold increased for Him, +Who was thereby to redeem countless myriads of souls. And might not +this terrible agony be increased, by the foreknowledge that, in spite +of His tremendous sacrifice, men would reject Him as a Saviour, and +persevere in sin; until by their impenitence, they too would share +those horrible agonies which for a time were laid upon Him, that by +enduring them, He might save all men from so terrible a condition? +When we thus consider of what nature Christ's sufferings in the garden +of Gethsemane were, we can fully understand the prayer, that such an +hour might pass from Him. But mark His inconceivable love, as shown in +the words, "if it were possible"; that is, if man's redemption could +possibly be secured without his passing through such dreadful agony; +if that were _not_ possible, then He was willing even to undergo that +awful and mysterious extremity of suffering. + +Let us not pass on without taking a practical lesson from what has +been said: what made our Lord undergo such agony for us? Love. Then, +if He so loved us, what should be our feelings towards Him? Love. +Truly, love; sincere, heartfelt love; love that will show itself. But +how? Hear His own words, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." This +let us ever strive to do; and so, through the mediation of Jesus, +shall we escape those agonies, which for us He endured in the garden +of Gethsemane. + +Jesus prostrate on the ground, prayed in the agony of His soul, and +said, "Abba, Father--O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass +from me: all things are possible unto thee: if thou be willing, remove +this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done." All +through this dreadful scene of agony, our blessed Lord sets us an +example of perfect submission to His Father's Will, however much that +Will may be contrary to our wishes and desires: this example we should +do well to follow, in every time of trouble. We may pray, that God +will, if He sees fit, remove from us the affliction or sorrow which we +feel or fear; but, at the same time, our hearts must be perfectly +submissive to His Will, and willing to continue to bear the suffering, +should He not see fit to take it away from us. In this spirit our Lord +in His human nature prayed to God; but though God saw fit to let Him +for a time suffer all the agony which sin brings on man, He did +vouchsafe to send Him some comfort, in this bitter time of trial; for +"there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening him," to +complete His work. + +"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as +it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he +rose up from prayer, he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them +sleeping from sorrow." + +Had they obeyed the words of their Lord, to watch and pray, their +sorrow would not at such a time have made them sleep. But they had +failed to do this; and Satan, who _is_ ever watchful, had doubtless +taken advantage of this, and tempted them to sit thinking sorrowfully +of all that was coming upon their beloved Master, instead of obeying +His command, to watch and pray. Overcome with such sad thoughts, they +fell into a sort of stupor or heavy sleep, and were thus found by +Jesus when He returned to them. He awoke them, and "said unto them, +Why sleep ye? Simon, sleepest thou? What, could ye not watch with me +one hour?" Peter had but lately declared his readiness to do some +great thing, to give up his life for Jesus; and now he fails in doing +a little thing, merely praying for one hour. This is another proof of +man's weakness, and of the danger of self-confidence. Again our Lord +repeated the needful warning, "Watch ye, rise and pray, that ye enter +not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is +weak." Our Lord, who knew the weakness of man's nature, was thus +merciful to the failing of His disciples: but let us remember, that +the more we are convinced of the weakness of the flesh, and how it +hinders the spirit, the more earnestly must we strive to overcome it, +and be led by the spirit only. + +"And Jesus went away again the second time, and prayed, and spake the +same words, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me +except I drink it, thy will be done. And when he returned, he found +them asleep again (for their eyes were heavy), neither wist they what +to answer him. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the +third time, saying the same words." + +"Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, +and take your rest; it is enough, the hour is come: behold the Son of +man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." + +By this Jesus meant, that they had lost the opportunity of watching +with Him; they could no longer show any kindness by praying for Him: +He would no longer ask them to do this, for the time was come, when He +was to be given up to His enemies. Jesus did not mean that the +disciples were actually to lie still and sleep; for He added +immediately, "Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. +And immediately, while he yet spake, Judas, one of the twelve, having +received a band of men and officers from the Chief Priests and +Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns, and torches, and weapons." +Upon reading this passage, if we think at all, it must appear strange +that as the moon was at the full, it should have been necessary to +take lanterns and torches, as the light of the full moon in those +countries, is far too bright to need any other. But travellers tell +us, that in fact the light of the full moon only made the garden of +Gethsemane _darker_, for it is situated on the slope of the Mount of +Olives, away from the moon; that is, the moon at the time of the +Passover rises behind the Mount of Olives, and thus casts the shadow +of the mountain upon the garden of Gethsemane; so that whilst all +surrounding parts were lighted up, there was complete darkness amongst +the trees in the garden of Gethsemane. Judas, well knowing this, had +been careful to procure lanterns and torches, to render the execution +of his purpose easy; and now, leading the way, he cometh, "and with +him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the Chief Priests, +and the Scribes, and the elders of the people. Now he that betrayed +Him had given them a token," whereby the servants of the High Priests +might surely know which was Jesus. Judas had told them, "Whomsoever I +shall kiss, that same is he; take him, hold him fast, and lead him +away safely." A kiss was in those times a common form of salutation; +and a sign or token of respect and regard: Judas Iscariot now made use +of it for a very different purpose. + +"And as soon as he was come," with his band, into the garden, "he went +before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. And forthwith he +came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said +unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Judas, betrayest thou the +Son of man with a kiss?" Jesus did not ask this question because He +needed to be told; but in order to give Judas another warning against +the sin he was about to commit. + +The officers did not immediately lay hold upon Jesus; we can well +believe that His calm and dignified behaviour, and His question to +Judas, struck them with awe. + +But Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon Him, now showed +his readiness to do his Father's Will: for "he went forth and said +unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus +saith unto them, I am he." As soon then as He had said unto them I am +He they went backward, and fell to the ground: whether in fear or out +of respect, we are not told; but in any case their behaviour made it +clear that the Saviour's sacrifice was a voluntary act; for He could +certainly, even as a man, have escaped. "Then asked he them again, +Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have +told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their +way." Even at such a moment, Jesus took care for His disciples, that +they might not suffer with Him: "that the saying might be fulfilled +which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me I have lost none." + +By this time, the officers seem to have recovered from their surprise +and alarm: "Then came they and laid hands on Jesus, and took him." The +disciples now seem to have thought that it was time for them to use +the two swords, which they had brought for the deliverance of their +Master. "And behold one of them which were with Jesus, Simon Peter, +having a sword, stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck +a servant of the High Priest's and smote off his ear; the servant's +name was Malchus." "And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far." +These words seem to have been addressed to the Roman soldiers, who +would naturally be made very angry by such an occurrence taking place; +therefore he asked for their forbearance; though he at once removed +the cause of complaint--"for he touched the ear of the wounded man, +and healed him." + + + + +Chapter XXXV.--JESUS TAKEN BEFORE ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS. + + +After He had healed Malchus, Jesus said unto Peter, "Put up again thy +sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish +with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and +he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how +then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? The cup +which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" Here Jesus +plainly declares that He _gave_ Himself to fulfil the Scriptures, +which declared, that in no other way could man be redeemed from the +curse of the Law. His sufferings and death were the means appointed by +the Father for the redemption of man; but His sufferings and death +were voluntary--no man could _take_ His life unless He chose to give +it. He _could_ have saved Himself, but then His work would have been +unfinished, and mankind for ever lost. Therefore was He willing to +drink the cup which His father had given Him. "In that same hour Jesus +answered and said unto the Chief Priests and captains of the temple, +and to the multitudes, and to the elders, which were come to him, Are +ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? +I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on +me: ye stretched forth no hands against me: but the Scriptures must be +fulfilled; this is your hour and the power of darkness." + +Here, again, Jesus showed that those who came against Him, could only +succeed because the time was now come, when they were allowed to +execute their wicked purposes, "that the Scriptures of the prophets +might be fulfilled." + +Jesus Christ had now given Himself into the hands of His enemies: the +disciples seeing this, and being perhaps afraid of sharing His fate, +did the very thing they had lately thought impossible when their Lord +had warned them of it. "Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled." +"Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, +and bound him, and led him away to Annas first; for he was +father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was the High Priest that same year." + +It has already been said that the Romans had made Caiaphas High Priest +instead of Annas. Annas had filled that office for eleven years, and +ought to have continued in it as long as he lived: but the Romans, who +had no regard to the Jewish Law, had made this change. + +The Jews, however, had a great respect for Annas as their rightful +High Priest; and in spite of the Romans they still considered and +treated him as such; and therefore, in the first place, they took +Jesus before him, that he might advise them as to what was next to be +done. + +As they were on their way, leading their prisoner, "there followed him +a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body": +this young man felt sufficient interest in Jesus to follow Him; "but +when," for some reason which we are not told, "the young men" who +guarded the Lord, "laid hold on him," he gave a further proof of the +fear which now prevailed amongst all the disciples and followers of +Jesus; for "he left the linen cloth" upon which they had laid hold, +"in their hands," and so escaping, "fled from them naked." + +This young man seems to have been clothed in the manner common to the +poorer sort of people in those days. Even in later times travellers +tell us, that in some places the Arabs only wear a large blanket or +sheet, wrapped round them in a peculiar manner; and that the same +thing is done in some parts of Palestine also. Annas, it would seem, +sent Jesus at once to Caiaphas; no doubt fear of the Romans who had +unlawfully deprived him of his dignity, prevented his exercising that +authority, which by the law of God still belonged to him, and to him +only: so he sent Jesus away at once. "Then they took him, and led him +away to Caiaphas the High Priest. (Now Caiaphas was he, which gave +counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for +the people)." Jesus was then brought into the High Priest's house, +where were assembled with him all the Chief Priests and Scribes; +evidently waiting for the return of those whom they had sent out, +under the guidance of Judas Iscariot, to take Jesus. Mean time, Peter +and John had so far recovered themselves, as to venture to follow +Jesus at a distance: for they really loved their Master, and were +anxious to learn what would become of Him. "And Simon Peter followed +Jesus afar off, unto the High Priest's palace, and so did another +disciple: that disciple was known unto the High Priest, and went in +with Jesus into the palace of the High Priest." "That disciple" here +spoken of, was John, who himself gives us the account of the matter. +He was in some way known to Caiaphas, and was therefore allowed to go +into the palace. "But Peter stood at the door without." John, who had +been admitted into the High Priest's palace, was not one of those +selfish people who care only for their own comfort: he thought of +Peter standing outside, and went out and spake unto the young woman, +who, according to the custom of the Hebrews, kept the door or acted as +porter; and in consequence she "brought in Peter," who joined the +servants and attendants: "and when they had kindled a fire in the +midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among +them, and warmed himself at the fire; and sat with the servants to see +the end." + +Though the month Abib, which answers to our April, is very much warmer +in Palestine than it is here, still the nights are often very cold; +and a gentleman who travelled in Galilee tells us, that even in the +month of May, an Arab chief who entertained him, had a fire lighted in +a ruined building for them to sit by, because it was cold. + +The fire now kindled by the attendants, though in the same hall, was +no doubt at some distance from that part where Jesus was standing +before the High Priest; whilst John, being known to Caiaphas, was +probably standing much nearer to his beloved Master. + +"The High Priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his +doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever +taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always +resort; and in secret have I said nothing"; that is, He had said +nothing in secret contrary to what He had taught in public, and +therefore instead of now answering such questions, Jesus referred +Caiaphas to those who, having heard Him, were able to bear witness as +to what He had said. "Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, +what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. When he had +thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the +palm of his hand (or with a rod which he held in his hand), saying, +Answerest thou the High Priest so?" Jesus quietly rebuked this man, +showing that if he had said or done what was wrong, the officer should +have accused Him of it in a proper way, and not have struck Him, +contrary to the law, which forbids any one to be treated as guilty +until proved to be so. "Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, +bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?" + +The Jews knew very well that they could not ask the Romans to put +Jesus to death, unless they could find some fault to lay to His +charge: they must get persons to witness or declare, that He had done +things for which He deserved to die; and they well knew that no one +could with truth do this. Therefore, "the Chief Priests, and elders, +and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus to put him to +death; but found none" to answer their purpose: "yea, though many +false witnesses came, yet found they none," whose testimony would be +sufficient: "for many bear false witness against him, but their +witness agreed not together." No man could be put to death unless two +witnesses gave testimony as to his guilt: if witnesses speak the +truth, their testimony must be the same: but naturally when witnesses +tell lies, one will say one thing and one another, and therefore the +words of these men who spake against Jesus, "agreed not together." + +The sin of the Chief Priests and elders was very great; they _sought_ +for false witnesses: unhappily, there never is any difficulty in +finding men who care so little for what is right, that for a bribe or +reward they are ready to tell lies; but if liars are the children of +the Devil, what must those be who _encourage_ them, and almost force +them to speak untruly? "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy +neighbour," is one of the commandments: let us be very careful not to +break this commandment, even unintentionally. We may not _mean_ to say +what is _not_ true, and we may not _mean_ to make mischief; but we +shall certainly do both, unless we are very careful always to repeat +_exactly_ what we see or hear, _adding_ nothing, and _leaving out +nothing_. Even the manner or tone of voice in which anything is said +or done, makes a difference. For instance, things may be done or said +in fun, and there may be no harm in them; but if you repeat them, as +if they were done or said in earnest, they may appear very wrong; and +so you will cause people to be blamed, and thought ill of, when they +do not deserve it. + +There is, perhaps, no commandment which we all break more frequently +than the ninth--not wilfully; few, it is to be hoped, would act so +wickedly as to do that; but from carelessness: by chattering about +other peoples' concerns; repeating things when we are not _sure_ they +are true; telling tales; and so on. Our God is a God of truth: we are +told that He loves truth in the inward parts, that is, in the heart; +and therefore if we love Him, we shall always speak the truth from the +heart, and be very careful to tell the whole truth, and nothing but +the truth, even in the smallest matters. The perfect truth that God +requires, forbids deceit of all kinds. We may deceive others by our +actions, and even by our silence; but let us ever remember, that all +deception is in the eyes of God as the sin of lying, that sin which is +an abomination to the Lord. + + + + +Chapter XXXVI.--JESUS CONDEMNED BY CAIAPHAS. + + +"At the last came two false witnesses." They did not mean to speak the +truth; all that they wished was to please the Priests, who, far from +desiring them to speak truly, only wanted something to be said, which +would give them an excuse for having Jesus put to death. The two +witnesses who now came before them, furnished them with the pretence +they sought for: these men "bare false witness against him, saying, We +heard him say, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it +in three days. I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and +within three days I will build another made without hands." + +Now this is an instance of bearing false witness, by misrepresenting +the words spoken, and twisting their meaning to something which they +were never intended to express. We have read that Jesus did say in +reference to His own body, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I +will raise it up." The Jews did not understand what He meant; but +that did not justify these witnesses in what they now said, for Jesus +had _not_ said, "I _will_ DESTROY this temple," nor had He said one +word of "_building_." These witnesses meant to make it appear, that +He had said that He would destroy the temple so dear to the Jews, and +that in three days He would _build_ another. "But neither so did +their witness agree together." The Priests and elders were, however, +too anxious to condemn Jesus, to be particular about that; for to +speak disrespectfully of the temple was looked upon as blasphemy, +and blasphemy was a crime to be punished with death. Blasphemy is +really speaking disrespectfully of the Majesty and Power of the +Almighty--Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and ascribing to man that +power which belongs to God alone. + +After these two false witnesses had spoken, "the High Priest arose, +and stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, and said unto him, +Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?" + +Our Lord would make no reply to charges which even His enemies must +have known to be false; and therefore He "held his peace, and answered +nothing. Again the High Priest asked him, Art thou the Christ, the Son +of the Blessed? I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us +whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God." + +To "adjure" was to call upon a person to speak the truth in the Name +of God. Any one so _adjured_ was looked upon as bound by the most +solemn oath to speak the whole truth. When, therefore, the High Priest +called upon Jesus in this solemn manner to say whether He really was +the promised Messiah, the Son of God, our Lord kept silence no longer; +but in an equally solemn manner answered the question, adding words +spoken by the prophet Daniel--words always understood by the Jews to +be a prophecy respecting the Messiah: therefore, by applying this +prophecy to Himself, Jesus declared most plainly that He was indeed +the Messiah. In His answer to the High Priest, as to whether He was +the Christ, the Son of the Blessed God Almighty, Jesus used the Jewish +form of saying that what had been stated was true. "Jesus saith unto +him, Thou hast said"; and then He added, "I am: nevertheless I say +unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right +hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." + +"Then the High Priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken +blasphemy." The High Priest had asked his solemn question without any +intention of believing the answer: he must have felt sure what the +answer would be, and therefore he had asked the question, that he +might be able to accuse Jesus of claiming for Himself, a man, the +honour due to God alone. To show his grief and horror at such a +dreadful sin as blasphemy, he, according to the Jewish custom, rent +his robe. + +Then appealing to those around him, Caiaphas asked, "What further need +have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What +think ye?" + +There could be no doubt of the answer to such questions. The Priests, +and Scribes, and elders were bent upon destroying their victim; and +gladly seizing the opportunity now given them by the High Priest, +"They answered and said, He is guilty of death,"--that is, He is +guilty of a crime which the Law of Moses orders to be punished with +death. "And they all condemned him to be guilty of death." + +The Priests and elders had now accomplished their work, as far as they +were concerned; but its final execution did not rest with them. Judæa +was a Roman province, and as such the Jews could put no man to death +without the permission of the Roman governor, who was at that time +Pontius Pilate. To obtain Pilate's consent was the next step to be +taken; and that the Jews determined to set about as soon as possible +in the morning. It was now about midnight of the Thursday--the day on +which Jesus had eaten the last Supper with His disciples. Some six or +seven hours must pass before Jesus could be taken before Pilate, and +this time the Jews occupied in ill using and mocking our innocent and +holy Lord. + +The Priests and elders having passed sentence upon Jesus, now left Him +in the hands of the attendants and soldiers, who, as we have said, +passed the rest of the night in ill treating Him. "And the men that +held Jesus mocked him and smote him: and some began to spit on him, +and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, +Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? and the +servants did strike him with the palms of their hands." + +To spit upon a person, was the greatest affront and indignity that +could be offered by one man to another: it signified the utmost scorn +and contempt. Then, in mockery of our blessed Lord's claim to be the +Messiah, the Son of God, He was blindfolded, and then desired to show +His divine power, by telling the names of those who struck Him on the +face. It is most painful to think of Jesus being so treated: for our +sakes He bore meekly and patiently this savage treatment. He might +with one word have put an end to it, and struck dead those who thus +insulted Him. But these indignities were a part of the cup appointed +for Him by the Father, and this cup He was ready to drink to the last +drop, for the redemption of man. Should we not love the Lord in heart +and in deed, for all that He has done and suffered for us? + +"And many other things blasphemously spake they against him." Thus +passed the hours of this terrible night. + +All this time Peter sat in some part of the Palace; "and there cometh +one of the maids of the High Priest, the damsel that kept the door, +unto Peter: and when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked +earnestly upon him," as if trying to remember where she had seen him +before. Then she said to those around, "This man was also with him"; +and, referring to Peter himself to confirm her statement, she asked, +"Art not thou also one of this man's disciples?" We may well believe +that Peter was horrified at the treatment he had seen inflicted upon +his Master; and most probably, in spite of all Jesus had said, Peter +was disappointed at His not taking some signal measures to check His +persecutors. This for a time weakened his faith, and made him fearful +that if he confessed himself to be a disciple, he might bring upon +himself similar treatment, to that which Jesus was silently and calmly +undergoing. In his perplexity and fear, therefore, he committed a +fearful sin; for in answer to the damsel's question, "Art not thou +also one of this man's disciples?" "he saith, I am not." But the +damsel was not convinced, and presently said, "And thou also wast with +Jesus of Nazareth, of Galilee." One departure from truth is sure to +lead to another: and now Peter even pretends not to understand what +she can possibly mean by charging him with being one of Christ's +disciples: thus "he denied him before them all, saying, Woman, I know +him not. I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest." + +Perhaps Peter now hoped that he had silenced his accusers, and should +be left in peace; but he was shortly undeceived. "The servants and +officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: +and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed +himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his +disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of +the High Priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off," seems, +however, to have recognized Peter as the person who did this act, and +saith, "Did not I see thee in the garden with him?" What had been +denied before was not likely to be confessed now. "Peter then denied +again; and he went out into the porch; and immediately the cock crew." + +These three denials,--first, to the damsel; secondly, to the servants +and officers; and thirdly, to the kinsman of Malchus,--which are +related in the different Gospels, all took place much at the same +time, and are therefore to be looked upon as one act: thus we see how +every word spoken by Jesus on the subject of Peter's denial came true. +He said that before it was time for the cock to crow at all, Peter +would have denied Him three times; and this he had done, and the +warning voice of the cock had been heard for the first time. + +If we resist the Devil, he will flee from us: if we give way to one +temptation, we shall be more likely to fall again: so it was with +Peter. "When he was gone out into the porch, after a little while +another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, +I am not. And another maid saw him, and began to say to them that +stood by, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. This is one of +them." Peter now added to his sin, "for he denied with an oath, I do +not know the man,"--thus calling upon God as a witness to the truth of +what he was saying. This was Peter's second denial of his Lord and +Master. + +About an hour afterwards, when it was nearly three o'clock in the +morning, Peter seems to have been again in the hall, where the +soldiers were waiting with Jesus, until it should be time for them to +take Him before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Here the third +denial took place. + +Before we go further, some little explanation is necessary. You know +that in different countries, as in France, Spain, China, &c., the +people speak different languages; so that without learning one +another's language, the natives of different countries cannot talk to +each other. But even in different parts of the same country, the +people often pronounce their words in such a different manner as to +make it almost a different language, so that the "dialect," or manner +of speaking, in one province, would be hardly understood in another +province of the same country. Even in England we have something of the +same kind; and if you were to hear the people of Yorkshire or of +Somersetshire talking to each other, you would not understand much of +their conversation. + + + + +Chapter XXXVII.--PETER'S THIRD DENIAL. + + +When Peter had returned into the hall where Jesus still was, another +man "confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was +him: for he is a Galilean." The Jews, who were natives of Galilee, +used a different dialect to that of the inhabitants of Judæa; and this +man, having heard Peter speak, at once perceived that he was a +Galilean, and doubtless the follower of Jesus. But Peter at once said, +"Man, I am not": he would not even now allow that he was a Galilean; +but the fact was too plain; for his manner of speaking betrayed or +showed that he was certainly a native of Galilee. They that stood by +could not therefore be deceived, and said again to Peter, "Surely thou +also art one of them, for thou art a Galilean: and thy speech agreeth +thereto, for thy speech bewrayeth (or betrayeth) thee." Peter now went +still further in his denial, and added to his sin; for getting +frightened and angry, he allowed himself to use language sinful in +itself. "Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the +man: I know not this man of whom ye speak. And immediately, while he +yet spake, the cock crew; the second time the cock crew. And the Lord +turned and looked upon Peter." + +What a look must that have been! a look of reproach for Peter's sin; +of grief for his sad fall mixed with love for His weak and erring +follower. Such as it was, it went straight to Peter's heart; bringing +all things to his memory, and making him feel deeply the sin he had +committed against One, whom he did truly love; though under +temptation, he had acted very contrary to what that love demanded from +him. But the Saviour's look awakened all Peter's better feelings: "And +Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he had said unto him, +Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice. Before the cock crow +twice thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept; +he went out and wept bitterly." + +Peter's tears were tears of true repentance: we know this, because in +future we find him no longer confident in himself, and boasting of his +love, but humble, and looking to God for strength; whilst he devoted +his life to doing his Master's work, never letting the fear of man +prevent his declaring the truth, as it is in Jesus. + +When we blame Peter for denying the Lord, let us remember that he +sinned, _because_ he trusted too much in himself, and did not watch +and pray as he ought to have done. This is a warning to us, not to do +as he did. But let us also remember, that having sinned, he repented +truly; and showed his repentance, by his changed conduct during the +rest of his life. Here is an example for us to follow. + +This terrible night was over at last. "And straightway in the morning, +as soon as it was day" (about four o'clock in the morning of Friday), +the Chief Priests seem to have called the whole Council of the +Sanhedrim together, to consult what was next to be done to secure +their object: "they took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. +And they led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell +us." Jesus had already answered this question before Caiaphas, and +knowing their motive in repeating it, "he said unto them, If I tell +you, ye will not believe. And if I also ask you, ye will not answer +me, nor let me go." Jesus would not, however, allow them to suppose +that He denied being the Messiah: and He therefore repeated the words, +which they chose to call blasphemy, saying, "Hereafter shall the Son +of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, +Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. +And they said, What need we any further witnesses? for we ourselves +have heard of his own mouth." + +"Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was +condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of +silver to the Chief Priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that +I have betrayed the innocent blood." Some feelings of sorrow and +remorse for having given up an innocent man to be put to death, now +led Judas to bring back the "reward of iniquity," and at once to +confess his own sin, and bear witness to the innocence of Jesus. +Perhaps he had a hope of thus saving Jesus from the fate which awaited +Him: if so, Judas soon learnt, what many have learnt before and since, +that it is easy to do wrong, but by no means easy to undo the wrong +when done. Many of us, in a moment of passion or self-will, commit +acts which embitter our whole future lives. Let the young beware, lest +they bring upon themselves such life-long misery; they may truly +repent and mourn, and God, for Jesu's sake, may forgive the sin; but +the act itself, and its bitter consequences, can never be undone. + +The Priests and elders cared not whether Jesus was innocent or guilty, +so as they could treat Him as if He _were_ guilty. His holy life, His +heavenly teaching, showed them their own sinfulness, and therefore it +was _because_ He was good, that they sought to destroy Him. Neither +did they care for Judas's sufferings: they had gladly profited by his +sin, and given him the reward agreed upon: now that they had got from +him all that they wanted, they cared not what became of the miserable +sinner. And this is often the case amongst men, who to gain something +they want, persuade others to do wrong. Those who have sinned to help +them, may afterwards be filled with remorse and misery; but they will +meet with neither help nor pity from those who led them into sin. Like +the Priests, they will say, What is that to us? + +In vain did Judas look for pity from his partners in guilt; the +unfeeling answer of the Priests was, "What is that to us? see thou to +that." Had Judas repented truly, he would, like Peter, have gone out +and wept bitterly, and sought forgiveness of his Lord; but, unable to +bear the feeling of remorse which lay heavy upon his heart, he +committed a crime for which there is no repentance: "he departed, and +went and hanged himself, and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the +midst, and all his bowels gushed out." What may be the exact meaning +of this passage, it is difficult to say; but it is certain that Judas +perished in some remarkable and dreadful manner. + +After Judas had departed from the Council, leaving the money behind, +"the Chief Priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful +for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood." + +The Jews considered it unlawful to put into the treasury of the +temple, any money which had been got by taking away life. The +executioners, whose duty it was to put criminals to death, were not +allowed to make any offering to the treasury, because the money that +they gained was looked upon as the price of blood. These Priests, who +were ready to break a positive commandment by putting an innocent +person to death, would not break the Law in a small matter. + +The fact is, that by this time the religion of the Jews had become a +mere form: they made a great fuss about observing ceremonies and +customs, which required no self-denial; but they did not care to obey +the Will of God, when it interfered with their own wishes and +inclinations. They had had no scruple in buying the life of an +innocent man, but they would not put the price of his blood into the +treasury. So "they took counsel," or consulted together, as to what +should be done with the silver pieces, "and bought with them the +potter's field, to bury strangers in." By "strangers" was probably +meant Jews, who came from distant parts of the country, or from some +of the nations through which Jews were scattered: these people had, of +course, no burial-place of their own in Jerusalem, and therefore this +field was bought, in order that any foreign Jews, who died in the +city, might be buried there. + +The potter's field lay to the S.E. of Jerusalem, on the other side of +the brook Gihon. From this time, this field was called "Aceldama," a +Hebrew word, meaning the Field of Blood: now the Christians in those +parts call it "the holy field." + +This buying of the field, was foretold 457 years before, in the time +of Ezra. "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the +prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price +of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; +and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me." + +This prophecy is not, however, to be found in the book which we call +by the name of Jeremiah, but in that of Zechariah (xi.), another of +the prophets. The Jews had an old custom of dividing the Scriptures of +the Old Testament into three parts. The First Part, called "the Law," +contained the books of Moses and those of Kings and Chronicles: the +Psalms formed the Second Part: and the Third Part contained the +writings of the prophets. As this Third Part began with the prophecies +of Jeremiah, the whole division was often called by his name; and thus +any words spoken by another prophet, might be said to be in Jeremy or +Jeremiah. + +The Priests and the whole Council of the Sanhedrim had condemned Jesus +to death, for what they called blasphemy; and the next step was to get +Pilate's permission to execute the sentence. "And the whole multitude +of them arose, and bound Jesus, and when they had bound him, they led +him away from Caiaphas unto the Hall of Judgment, and delivered him to +Pontius Pilate the governor: and it was early," probably about five +o'clock in the morning. "And they themselves went not into the +Judgment Hall lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the +Passover." + +These Jews were _preparing_ to eat the Passover, in the evening of +that day, Friday; but Jesus and His disciples had eaten it the evening +_before_; that is, on Thursday. This difference needs some +explanation. We divide our year into 12 months, some of 30 days, and +some of 31, whilst, as a general rule, February has only 28. The earth +on which we live goes round the sun in 365 days and 6 hours, all but a +few minutes. By "the day" we mean 24 hours, or what we call a day and +a night. Our 12 months, therefore, contain the 365 days; but the extra +hours are unaccounted for. Now in four years the 6 extra hours amount +to 24--another day: and therefore every fourth year February has an +additional day to provide for them. The year in which February has 29 +days is called "Leap Year," because we seem to leap over a day. For +instance, suppose Christmas Day to be on Saturday one year, it would +naturally fall on Sunday the next year: but if it were Leap Year, it +would leap over Sunday and fall upon Monday instead. Our year is +called a Solar Year, because it is regulated by the course of the +earth round the sun, and _Sol_ is the Latin word for the Sun. + +The Jews, on the contrary, divided their year according to the course +of the Moon, which goes round the Earth in something more than thirty +days. Theirs was a Lunar Year, because _Luna_ is Latin for the moon. + +The twelve months amongst the Jews had not the same fixed number of +days every year, because they reckoned the month to begin when the new +moon first appeared. This practice often led to mistakes, so that what +ought to have been the 14th day of any month was frequently called the +15th, or the 13th. Something of this kind seems to have taken place at +this time: so that whilst Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover on +the evening of the right day, the 14th of Nisan or Abib (answering to +the end of March with us), many of the Jews celebrated the feast on +the next day, calling that the 14th, though it was, in reality, the +15th. + + + + +Chapter XXXVIII.--JESUS SENT BY PILATE TO HEROD. + + +Whatever might be the cause, it is plain that the Priests and elders +were preparing to keep the Passover, on the evening _after_ that on +which Jesus had eaten it with His disciples: and that lest they should +be defiled and rendered unclean according to the Law, they would not +enter the Judgment Hall, which was full of Roman soldiers. Any Jew who +(in one of the many ways) became unclean, could not partake of the +Feast of the Passover: and it was even held, that upon occasions of +such peculiar holiness, mixing with the Gentiles or heathens, made a +Jew unclean; therefore, to avoid all risk, they went not in. They did +not consider that all the laws about purity and uncleanness, were only +meant to show the necessity of being pure and holy in thought, word, +and deed; and that their persecution of an innocent being, rendered +them far more unclean in the sight of God, than any ceremonial +defilement could possibly do. But it was ever so; they paid more +attention to outward forms than to real holiness and goodness. Let us +beware never to fall into the like fatal sin. + +As the Jews would not go into the Judgment Hall, "Pilate then went out +unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?" +Instead of naming any crime of which their prisoner had been guilty, +the Jews merely answered, "If he were not a malefactor, we would not +have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye +him, and judge him according to your law." This was not at all what +the Jews wanted, and they "therefore said unto him, It is not lawful +for us to put any man to death." + +Some writers think that the Jews were _not_ deprived of the power of +putting to death criminals found guilty according to their law; but +that at the time of this holy feast, it was _not lawful_ for them to +put any man to death. In any case, in all this we see the hand of +God; "that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, +signifying what death he should die." + +"And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting +the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he +himself is Christ a king." + +In answer to Pilate's desire to know the crime of which they accused +Jesus, the Jews said not one word about blasphemy, for which alone the +Sanhedrim had condemned Him to be deserving of death: they knew very +well that Pilate would take no notice of such a charge as that, for +he, being a heathen, would care for none of these things; and +therefore, by a very false representation of what Jesus _had_ said, +they now tried to make Pilate believe that Jesus claimed to be king of +Judæa; and that He endeavoured to pervert or turn the nation from +paying any obedience to the Emperor of Rome. Such a charge as this +could not be disregarded by a Roman governor; for the Romans would not +tolerate anything like revolt or sedition in their conquered +provinces. "Then Pilate entered into the Judgment Hall again, and +called Jesus, and Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor +asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus answered him, +Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?" +The meaning of this question was, Dost thou ask this question of +thyself, from a real wish to know whether I am the Messiah so long +expected by the Jews? or have others laid it to my charge as a crime, +that I have declared myself to be that Christ their king? "Pilate +answered, Am I a Jew?" meaning that as he was not a Jew, he was not +likely to know or care whether Jesus was the Messiah or not; and then +he called upon Jesus to tell him for what crime He had been delivered +up by His own countrymen, who had thus plainly shown that they did not +believe Him to be their Messiah. "Thine own nation and the Chief +Priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?" Jesus in +his answer, showed Pilate, that, declaring Himself to be a king, could +be no crime against the Roman Emperor, as He neither claimed nor +sought for power upon earth: if He had done so, His followers would +have fought for Him. "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: +if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I +should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from +hence. Pilate, therefore, said unto him, Art thou a king then?" that +is, dost thou really mean that thou art a king? "Jesus answered, and +said unto him, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, +and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness +unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." + +Jesus here states again the nature of His kingdom. It was founded only +upon truth. His conquests were to be only over falsehood and sin. He +came into the world on purpose by His words to bring men to believe +all that God had said, and to do His Will in all things; such were to +be His subjects. He came to win the _hearts_ of men, and rule and +govern them. Such a kingdom could in no way interfere with the +dominion of Cæsar, or any other earthly sovereign. On the contrary, +those whose hearts are ruled by Christ, will be the most obedient +subjects to the powers that be. + +Pilate was evidently convinced by the words of Jesus, that He could in +no way be found guilty of stirring up the people to disobey Cæsar, but +before he told the Jews this, he put to our Lord the question, "What +is truth?" that is, what dost thou mean by that truth, which will make +every one hear Thy words. Had Pilate asked this important question +with a sincere desire to _know_ the truth, it would have been a happy +day for him; for the truth which Jesus would have taught him, is the +only thing to give real happiness in life or death. But Pilate did not +even wait for an answer, for when "he had said this, he went out again +to the Jews, and saith unto the Chief Priests and to the people, I +find no fault in this man; I find in him no fault at all." Thus did +the Roman governor, a heathen, bear witness to the blamelessness of +our blessed Lord; but the Jews, determined on the death of their +victim, would by no means accept such a sentence. It is plain from all +that follows, that though Jesus remained in the Hall, He was so placed +as to be able to hear all that was said outside. + +"And the Chief Priests accused him of many things: but when he was +accused of the Chief Priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then +said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness +against thee? And he answered him to never a word. And Pilate asked +him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they +witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing: insomuch that +the governor marvelled greatly." + +Men are in general eager enough to say all they can in their own +defence, especially when conscious of their innocence: well, +therefore, might Pilate be astonished at the calm and dignified +conduct of one accused of so many crimes; and whom even he held to be +guiltless. But our Lord's behaviour was thoroughly consistent with His +character, and with His work. When He had an opportunity of declaring +the great truth that he was the Son of God, the Messiah, then He spake +boldly before the Priests and the Council, as well as to Pilate: but +now, when the Jews were saying all manner of evil falsely against Him, +He treated their charges with the silent contempt they deserved. But +this seems to have increased the rage of His accusers, "and they were +the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching +throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place." + +It was true that Jesus had taught throughout the whole land of Judæa: +but the Jews wished to make Pilate believe that his object was to stir +up the people to rebellion against Cæsar, and other crimes: whereas +all He did was to stir up the people to believe in Him as the Messiah, +and to turn to God with all their hearts, and keep His commandments. +Pilate was greatly perplexed what to do; he could not but see that +Jesus was innocent, and he had not strength of mind to do his duty +conscientiously, without any fear of what man could do unto him: he +was, therefore, too glad of an opportunity of throwing the +responsibility of passing sentence upon another; and when he heard the +Jews thus speaking of Galilee, "he asked whether the man were a +Galilean." In Galilee our Lord had dwelt from childhood, and as a +resident in that province, He was subject to the authority of Herod +Antipas, appointed by the Romans to be king of Galilee. "And as soon +as Pilate knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him +to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time," in order to +keep the Passover Feast. Herod being acquainted with the Jewish +religion and customs, would be better able to judge between Jesus and +His accusers; and thus his opinion might help Pilate in deciding upon +the case. + +Herod Antipas (who had caused John the Baptist to be beheaded) was, we +are told, exceeding glad to see Jesus: he had long been desirous to +see One, of whom he had heard many things; "and he hoped to have seen +some miracle done by him." + +It does not seem that Herod wished to see Jesus from any good motive, +or from any desire to _learn_ of Him, but simply out of curiosity: he +was, therefore, disappointed. Jesus worked no miracle, neither would +He give any account of what He had done and taught. Herod "questioned +with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the Chief +Priests and Scribes stood and vehemently accused him," as they had +done before Pilate. Herod was probably provoked by our Lord's silence: +at any rate, he allowed Him to be ill treated, and himself joined in +showing contempt for His claims to be a king: for in ridicule, "Herod +with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked, and arrayed him in +a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate." + + + + +Chapter XXXIX.--JESUS CONDEMNED. + + +St. Luke tells us, that "the same day Pilate and Herod were made +friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves." +"Enmity" means just the contrary to friendship: Pilate and Herod had +quarrelled, as the different governors throughout the Roman provinces +were very apt to do. The Bible does not tell us the cause of this +enmity; but from other histories we learn, that some time before this, +Pilate had dedicated some shields of gold to the Emperor Tiberius, and +placed them in the palace called Herodium, built by Herod the Great. +The Jews looked upon this as an insult to their religion, and with +Herod's permission, sent messengers to Rome, to petition the Emperor +to order these shields to be removed. This caused a quarrel between +Herod and Pilate: but when the latter, not wishing to help the Jews in +condemning Jesus, sent Him to Herod, the king, considering this as an +acknowledgment of his authority, was pleased; and willing again to +become friends with the Roman governor. + +The Herodium was a very large palace, consisting of two separate +buildings, one called Cæsareum and the other Agrippeum: it stood near +the temple. It is probable that Pontius Pilate inhabited one of the +buildings, and Herod the other, so that Jesus was not long gone. +Pilate, seeing that Herod had pronounced no sentence against Jesus, +was still more unwilling that He should die: he was, however, too much +afraid of the people to act as a just Judge should have done, and set +the prisoner at liberty; so he thought that, if he offered to punish +Him in some way, he might satisfy the Jews, and yet save the life of +his innocent prisoner: to propose to punish Him at all was unjust; but +even this expedient availed nothing, as we shall see. Herod having +sent Jesus back, it was necessary that Pilate should take some further +steps. "And Pilate, when he had called together the Chief Priests and +the rulers and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought this man +unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I, having +examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching +those things whereof ye accuse him. No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you +to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will +therefore chastise him, and release him." + +There was a custom amongst the Jews at this time, that at the Feast of +the Passover the Jews might claim any one of the criminals then under +sentence of death for their crimes. Whoever the Jews chose was to be +set at liberty: this custom appears to have been introduced by some +Roman governor of Judæa, in order to gain favour with the Jews; who +were thus allowed to choose one amongst the prisoners to be pardoned. + +"Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a +prisoner, whom they would; and they had then a notable prisoner, +called Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection +with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the +multitude, crying aloud, began to desire Pilate to do as he had ever +done unto them. (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the +feast.)" + +"Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, +Ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover: +Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is +called Christ? Will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of +the Jews? For he knew that the Chief Priests had delivered him for +envy." + +The Roman governor saw truly that it was to gratify private passions +alone, that the Chief Priests had brought Jesus before him; and, +hoping that the people might be more just, he offered them a choice +between Jesus and one of the greatest criminals then in prison: a man +who had committed the very crime, which the Priests pretended that +Christ was trying to stir up the people to commit; who, in the +prosecution of his designs, had committed the murder; and who was also +a robber: his evil deeds had been many; and many must have suffered +from his wickedness and violence. Well might Pilate hope, that the +contrast between such a man and Jesus, Whose whole life had been spent +in going about doing good, would have inclined the people to demand +His liberty, and leave Barabbas to the fate he had so justly deserved. +But no; "the Chief Priests and elders persuaded the multitude that +they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus. And they cried out all at +once saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas." + +One reason why Pilate strove anxiously to release Jesus was, that +during the night his own wife had some remarkable dreams concerning +our Lord: what they were, we are not told; but they had convinced her +that He was an innocent and righteous man, and that it would be a sin +to allow any harm to befall Him. Therefore, "when Pilate was set down +on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou +nothing to do with that just man": nothing, that is, in the way of +punishing or harming Him; "for I have suffered many things this day in +a dream because of him." + +"Pilate the governor therefore, willing to release Jesus, answered and +spake again to them, and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye +that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Then cried they all +again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. And Pilate answered and +said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do with Jesus +which is called Christ? unto him whom ye call King of the Jews? And +they cried out again, Crucify him; they all say unto him, Crucify him, +Crucify him, Let him be crucified." Pilate made another effort to save +Jesus, by reminding the people of His innocence; and in answer to +their savage cry, "Crucify him, Crucify him," he "said unto them the +third time, Why? what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of +death in him: I will therefore chastise him and let him go. And they +cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And they were instant +with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices +of them and of the Chief Priests prevailed." Pilate could stand out no +longer; the people showed symptoms of breaking out into a riot, which +at that moment would have been a serious matter; as there were an +unusual number of Jews assembled for the Passover, and Pilate had not +soldiers enough to keep order, if the people should make a +disturbance. If anything like a riot had occurred, the Emperor +Tiberius would probably have considered Pilate to blame; and would +certainly have deprived him of his office, and most likely of his life +also. Pilate had not that fear of God, which admits no fear of man; +neither was his wish to save Jesus strong enough to make him risk his +life to deliver Him. As a heathen, the life of one man would seem to +him of little consequence; but whilst he gave way to the clamours of +the Jews, he performed a symbolical action, whereby he testified that +Jesus was innocent, and that he, Pilate, did not consent to His death, +though forced to allow it. For "when Pilate saw that he could prevail +nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed +his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of +this just person; see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and +said, His blood be on us, and on our children." Fearful words in the +sense in which they uttered them! meaning, that if Jesus was innocent, +they were quite willing that the punishment for putting him to death +should rest upon them and upon their children. Little did they foresee +how dreadful would be that punishment; and how severely they and their +descendants would suffer, in consequence of the crime they were +wilfully committing. In one sense, we may all pray that "His blood may +be on us and on our children"; even as the blood of the paschal lamb +upon the door-posts turned aside the visit of the destroying angel. + +In regard to Pilate's action on this occasion, we must recollect that +it was ordered by the Law of Moses, that if a man were found dead in a +field, and it was not known who or what had killed him, the elders of +the nearest city should sacrifice a heifer, or young cow, with +particular ceremonies: after which they should wash their hands over +the slain beast, and declare solemnly before God, that they had had no +hand in the death of the man, and that they knew not by what means he +had met his death. In imitation of this custom, Pilate now washed his +hands; meaning thereby to show that, if Jesus were put to death, he +was no party to His death. But even in this Pilate was mistaken; for +to allow a bad action to be committed, when we can prevent it, is to +incur the guilt of it. As governor, Pilate might have refused to allow +Jesus to be slain, and it was his duty to do so: had a riot followed, +he could have been in no way guilty in the sight of God: but Pilate, +being a heathen, did not consider the matter in this light. Do not +many Christians, who should know better, act upon the same principles +as those which influenced the Roman governor? They know some +particular act to be wrong, and yet it seems so expedient, so likely +to be useful in some way or other, that they do it. Then, again, they +perceive that they ought to do something which may bring trouble upon +themselves, or displease some one whose favour they wish to gain, and +therefore they leave such action undone. + +"Pilate, willing to content the people," and put an end to the tumult, +"gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released +unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom +they had desired." + + + + +Chapter XL.--JESUS CONDEMNED BY PILATE. + + +"Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him." This was a very +unnecessary piece of cruelty practised by the Romans; whose custom it +was to scourge, or whip with cords, every criminal condemned to death. +We must now think of our blessed Lord, with His back all cut and +bleeding from the stripes laid upon Him, aching and smarting all over; +then we must remember that this was the punishment of _our_ sins, +which He bore, and that, "with his stripes we are healed." Shall not +such thoughts stir us up to show our love for Him, Who, out of His +wondrous love for us, bore all these tortures? "And when Pilate had +scourged him, he delivered Jesus to their will, to be crucified." + +"Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus, and led him away into +the common hall, called Prætorium"; where fresh insults and sufferings +were inflicted upon the holy Jesus, the Messiah: for "they call +together the whole band of soldiers," and in mockery and ridicule for +His having styled Himself a king, "they stripped him" of his own +clothes, "and put on him a scarlet or purple robe," (for the same word +signifies both colours,) and then made a crown or wreath, by twisting +together some branches of a prickly plant. "And when they had platted +a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right +hand," to represent the sceptre, carried by kings. When the soldiers +had thus arrayed our Lord, in ridicule of His claim to be a king, they +went a step further, and in derision, "they bowed the knee before him, +and worshipped him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!" +Not satisfied with this mockery, "they smote him with their hands. And +they spit upon him," to show the greatest possible degree of hatred +and contempt; "and took the reed, and smote him on the head"; thus +driving the thorns into Him, and so increasing His sufferings. All +this He bore for us; and all He asks in return is, that we should take +Him for our King, so as to let Him reign in our hearts, and rule our +lives. Pilate made another attempt to save the life of Jesus; he +probably hoped, that if the people saw Him bleeding and suffering, +they would feel pity, and be ashamed of so treating a man, declared to +be innocent, and known to all as going about doing good. "Pilate +therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him +forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came +Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And +Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!" + +The Priests, however, were determined that nothing should save the +life of their victim, and "therefore, when the Chief Priests and +officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, Crucify him." +Pilate finding all his efforts vain, and being still afraid to offend +the Jews, "then saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I +find no fault in him." As if he had said, If you are determined to +crucify Him, do it; but remember it is not my doing, "for I find no +fault in him." + +"The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, +because he made himself the Son of God." The Jews now changed their +ground of accusation, and simply named the sin of blasphemy, as the +cause for which their Law required our Lord's death. + +"When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid": the +heathen governor had clearly seen that Jesus was no common man: if He +were put to death for declaring Himself to be the Son of God, He would +probably suffer for saying what was _true_; and though Pilate, as a +heathen, had no knowledge of the nature and power of the Lord God +Almighty, he was afraid to crucify One, whom he believed to be the Son +of God. Hesitating and perplexed, Pilate "went again into the Judgment +Hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no +answer. Then saith Pilate, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not +that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? +Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except +it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto +thee hath the greater sin." + +Jesus meant to tell Pilate, that no earthly Ruler or Governor could +have power to put Him to death, unless it had been the Will of God, +who dwells in Heaven above, that He should suffer whatever the Jews +chose to do to Him. The Jews had cruelly and unjustly persecuted Him, +and in spite of His acknowledged innocence, had treated Him as the +worst of malefactors: and therefore Jesus told Pilate, that the sin of +the Chief Priests and others in insisting upon His death, was far +greater than the sin of Pilate in giving way to them, in order to +prevent a tumult amongst the people. + +The words spoken by Jesus, His whole conduct and manner, so totally +unlike that of a guilty person, convinced Pilate more and more, that +He had _not_ "spoken _blasphemy_" in declaring Himself to be the Son +of God; and "from thenceforth he sought to release him." + +To prevent the escape of their innocent victim, the Jews now returned +to their original charge of treason and rebellion against the Roman +Emperor, "and cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not +Cæsar's friend; whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against +Cæsar." Tiberius, who at that time was Emperor of Rome, was a +suspicious and cruel tyrant; and would have punished with death any +governor, supposed to have spared the life of a man, who had set +himself up to be a king in any of the Roman provinces. Pilate, +therefore, did not dare to give the Jews any excuse for thus +complaining of him to Tiberius: so "when he heard that saying, (If +thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend,) he brought Jesus +forth," from the Judgment Hall into which the Jews would not enter, +"and sat down in the judgment seat, in a place" outside, "that is +called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the +preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith +unto the Jews, Behold your king! But they cried out, Away with him, +away with him, crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify +your king? The Chief Priests answered, We have no king but Cæsar. Then +delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified." + +As St John's account of the hour at which the crucifixion took place +appears to differ from that named by the other Evangelists, it may be +well to explain why St. John says, "the _sixth_ hour," and St. Mark +"the _third_." + +St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke, speak according to the Jewish +mode of computing time. The Jews reckoned the day to begin at one +sunset, and end at the next; so that their night came before the day, +instead of after, as with us. From sunset, (about 6 o'clock of our +time,) they divided the night into four equal portions or watches, of +three hours each. The First from 6 o'clock P.M. to 9 o'clock; the +Second from 9 P.M. to 12 o'clock, or midnight. The Third watch, called +also the First Cock Crowing, ended at what we call 3 o'clock A.M.; and +the Fourth and Last, called the Second Cock Crowing, at our 6 o'clock +A.M. The next hour after 6 o'clock was called the 1st hour, and so on; +the 3rd hour answered, therefore, to our 9 o'clock A.M.: and this was +the hour at which St. Mark states that they crucified Jesus. It must +be remarked, that the Jews also divided their day into four portions, +calling each by the name of the hour at which it began: thus the 3rd +hour, being the beginning of a portion, would include the other two +hours in that portion. In this manner, the 3rd hour, our 9 o'clock, +would include the 4th and 5th hours, or our 10 and 11 o'clock. Then +the 6th hour, answering to our 12 o'clock mid-day, would extend to 3 +o'clock, the 9th Jewish hour, and so on. + +St. John, on the other hand, reckoned the time according to the Roman +and Asiatic mode, still used by us. Thus the day, as spoken of by him, +began at midnight; and therefore, his 6th hour was our 6 o'clock in +the morning, or 6 o'clock P.M. But the Romans also divided their time +into watches of three hours each, speaking of the whole three hours +under the name of the hour with which the watch began. Thus the 6th +hour, or 6 o'clock A.M., would include all the time up to 9 o'clock, +which according to the Romans was the 6th hour, and according to the +Jews the 3rd hour. + +St. John further says, that it was "_about_ the sixth hour when they +crucified him"; now _about_ may mean a little before, or a little +after, the time mentioned; and therefore, we find that all the +Apostles mean the same thing; viz., that Jesus was crucified soon +after 9 o'clock in the morning. + +The following table may help us to understand clearly the time at +which the different events happened; beginning with the Passover, +which Jesus ate with His disciples:-- + + --------------------+---------------------+----------------------- + | | + Our Time. | Jewish Time. | Events. + | | + Thursday, probably | | + about 5 o'clock. | Evening. | Jesus eats the + | | Passover. + --------------------+---------------------+----------------------- + 6 o'clock P.M. | End of Day. | + 7 " " | First Night Watch. | Jesus on the Mount of + | | Olives. + 8 " " | | + --------------------+---------------------+----------------------- + 9 o'clock P.M. | Second Night Watch. | Jesus in Garden of + | | Gethsemane. + 10 " " | | Betrayed by Judas, + | | and taken to Annas. + 11 " " | | Taken before Caiaphas. + --------------------+---------------------+----------------------- + 12 o'clock Midnight.| Third Watch. | Peter's First Denial. + | First Cock Crowing. | Jesus condemned by the + | | Priests. + 1 A.M. Friday. | | Abused by the + | | Attendants. + 2 " " | | Peter's Second Denial. + --------------------+---------------------+----------------------- + 3 o'clock A.M. | Fourth Watch. | Peter's Third Denial. + | Second Cock Crowing.| + 4 " " | | Jesus condemned by + | | the Sanhedrim. + 5 " " | | Taken before Pilate. + --------------------+---------------------+----------------------- + 6 o'clock A.M. | Romans' 6th Hour. | Jesus sent to Herod. + | | Returned to Pilate. + 7 " " | Jews' 1st Hour. | Crowned with thorns. + 8 " " | " 2nd Hour. | Delivered to be + | | crucified. + --------------------+---------------------+----------------------- + 9 o'clock A.M. | Jews' 3rd Hour. | Jesus crucified. + --------------------+---------------------+----------------------- + + + + +Chapter XLI.--JESUS CRUCIFIED. + + +In reading the account of our blessed Lord's condemnation, it may seem +strange to us that Pilate was ready to receive Him so early as five +o'clock in the morning; though we can understand the Priests and the +Sanhedrim sitting up all night, to accomplish their wicked purpose. +But we must remember, that the Jews were at all times ready to make +disturbances; and that as very great multitudes came into Jerusalem +for the Passover, those who were in authority were obliged to be very +watchful, so as to check the first symptoms of a riot: and no doubt +they were doubly watchful now, remembering that when Jesus rode into +the city, a few days before, all the people accompanied Him, shouting, +and declaring Him to be that King, the promised Messiah. "And they +took Jesus, and led him away. And after that they had mocked him, they +took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led +him out to crucify him. And he, bearing his cross, went forth into a +place called the place of a skull, which is called, in the Hebrew, +Golgotha." + +It was the custom of the Jews and Romans never to put condemned +persons to death within the city walls. Golgotha was a hill outside +the city, set apart for executions, and was, of course, an unclean and +polluted place. It is thought that the name Golgotha was given to this +hill because, in shape, it resembled a head or skull; and that for the +same reason, the Romans called it Calvary: the Latin word so +translated, meaning the same as the Hebrew word Golgotha. + +The Romans compelled those who were to undergo the terrible death by +crucifixion, to carry their own cross to the appointed place. Thus we +find Jesus "bearing his cross": but when we remember how our blessed +Lord had passed the whole night, we shall not be surprised that He had +no strength to carry a heavy cross of wood up a hill. Most likely He +fell under the load; and those who led Him out saw, that faint and +weary as He was, it was impossible for this part of His sentence to be +carried out, and therefore, "they laid hold upon one Simon, a +Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country: him they compelled +to bear his cross. And on him they laid the cross, that he might bear +it after Jesus." + +"And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which +also bewailed and lamented him." + +Many of these, doubtless, had benefited by His miracles of healing, +either in themselves or in their children; and all were grieved to see +such cruelty practised upon One, who had ever gone amongst them doing +good. + +Jesus, always mindful of others, and foreseeing the dreadful +sufferings that would come upon the city in consequence of His death, +"turning unto them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but +weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are +coming in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren" (that is, +the women who have no children to suffer). "Then shall they begin to +say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if +they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" + +This is figurative language, meaning that the calamities about to fall +on Jerusalem would be so dreadful, that the Jewish women, who +considered it a great misfortune to have no children, would then be +thankful, and considered blessed because they had none: and that, in +the impossibility of escaping from their miseries, all people would be +glad if the mountains could fall and crush them. + +Then Jesus reminded them, that if a green tree is quickly burnt up, a +dry and withered one will be burnt much more quickly. In the +Scriptures, good men are often compared to green and flourishing +trees; and bad men to dry and barren ones. The meaning of our Lord was +therefore, If God in His wisdom sees fit to let Me, who am holy and +righteous in His sight, suffer such things as ye have seen; what think +ye will He do to the wicked and unrighteous? + +Jesus was not crucified alone: it seems that at this time there were +two criminals sentenced to a similar death. "And there were two other, +malefactors, led with him to be put to death." In reading these words, +we must be very careful to pause at the comma after other, because the +meaning is, "and there were two other (persons, who were) malefactors, +led with him," &c. + +Malefactors mean persons that have done evil. St. Matthew tells us +that these men were thieves: probably some of those robbers who +troubled Judæa at that time, carrying off cattle and whatever they +could lay their hands upon, and often killing those who tried to +defend their property. These men were justly condemned to death in +punishment of their sins, and they were now led out to be crucified +with the innocent and holy Jesus. The prophet Isaiah, speaking seven +hundred years before of the Messiah, had said, "He was numbered with +the transgressors"; "and he made his grave with the wicked." He was, +indeed, "numbered," or considered to be one of the transgressors, fit +only to share the fate of such. Literally was Isaiah's prophecy +fulfilled, when Jesus was led out with two malefactors to die with +them. + +"And when they were come to the place, which is called Golgotha, they +gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted +thereof, he would not drink. And they gave him to drink wine mingled +with myrrh: but he received it not." St. Matthew mentions the vinegar +and gall; St. Mark, the wine and myrrh. Some people have thought that +both mean the same thing; but it is most probable that two separate +mixtures were offered to Christ at this time. + +The Jews always gave wine, with myrrh in it, to the criminal about to +be executed, to stupefy him, and make him less able to feel pain. The +first draught of vinegar and gall was probably offered to Jesus in +mockery. Any one expecting the usual stupefying draught, would be +disappointed at getting another instead. Jesus submitted for our sakes +to every suffering and insult inflicted by His persecutors, therefore +He tasted the mixture; but when the stupefying draught was offered, +"he received it not"; for He would do nothing to lessen His appointed +sufferings, nor to render Him less able to pray to God. + +"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there +they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and +the other on the left, and Jesus in the midst." "And the Scripture was +fulfilled which saith, And He was numbered with the transgressors." + +Crucifixion was not only a most painful death, but it was also looked +upon as a very shameful one; only to be awarded to the vilest +criminals, in order to show contempt and hatred. Sometimes the +criminal was merely bound to the cross with ropes, and there left to +die of hunger and exposure. But our Saviour was actually nailed to the +cross, according to the words spoken by King David, one thousand years +before, "they pierced my hands and my feet." + +The manner of crucifixion was as follows: the cross of wood being laid +upon the ground, the poor victim was laid upon it; and his arms being +stretched out along the cross bar, a great nail was driven through the +hollow of each hand into the wood: the feet were then crossed over +each other upon the perpendicular part of the cross, and then a very +long nail was forced through both into the wood beyond. There appears +to have been under the feet a small ledge of wood, just to support +them. The poor victim being thus made fast to the wood, the cross was +raised up, and placed upright in a hole already prepared to receive +it. The torture felt by the unhappy sufferer was most intense: the +ledge beneath the feet did not prevent the weight of the body hanging +from the hands, nailed to the upper part of the cross. The agony of +such a position was beyond all that we can conceive; and this agony +often lasted many hours, before death put an end to suffering. + +Such was the death Christ endured for us. Surely no one can think of +all Jesus suffered at this time, without feeling the deepest grief, +and shrinking with horror from the idea that we could have joined His +enemies. And yet the Word of God tells us that, if we persist in sin, +we "crucify the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." + +We can all understand, that if we have taken a great deal of trouble, +and put ourselves to inconvenience and even to pain, in order to do +good to some person, it would be very grievous to see that person not +a bit better or happier than he would have been, had we _not troubled_ +ourselves about him. Then let us remember that Jesus Christ suffered +and died that we might be taken into heaven. But we cannot go into +heaven, unless we forsake our sins and try to obey God: if, therefore, +we will not take the trouble to resist the Devil, all that Jesus has +done and suffered will be of no use to us. Let us take care that He +has not suffered in vain: let us pray for faith; that true and lively +faith which will constrain us to repent, and love, and obey. + +Now let us turn our thoughts again to Jesus hanging on His cross, +between those upon which the two thieves were fastened. + +It was the custom of the Romans, to cause a list of the crimes for +which a malefactor was condemned, to be carried before him, or +fastened to the instrument of his punishment. This was called his +"accusation." + +In compliance with this custom, "Pilate wrote a title, and set up over +his head his accusation written, and put it on the cross. And the +writing was in letters of Greek, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE +JEWS; and in Latin, THE KING OF THE JEWS; and in Hebrew, THIS IS JESUS +THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the +place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was +written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin"; so that all strangers who +did not understand Hebrew might also read this "accusation." + + + + +Chapter XLII.--CHRIST ON THE CROSS. + + +The Chief Priests were by no means satisfied with the superscription +written by Pilate, for they persisted in believing that Jesus had no +_right_ to be called King or Messiah. "Then said the Chief Priests of +the Jews to Pilate, Write not, the King of the Jews; but that he said, +I am king of the Jews": an alteration which would have made it appear +that He had been justly punished by the Romans, for claiming a power +to which no one had any right in the Roman provinces. + +"Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written." This was a +common mode of expression, meaning that a thing was done, and could +not be undone. Probably Pilate wrote this title on purpose, knowing +that the Jews would not like it; for he was displeased with them for +forcing him, as it were, to do what he felt to be wrong: at any rate, +in this title he declared a blessed truth: even that the King of the +Jews, the long-expected Messiah, the Son of God, was actually hanging +on the cross, atoning for the guilt of man, and purchasing our pardon +by the sacrifice of Himself. Let us remember this with such +thankfulness and gratitude, as will lead us to love, so as to obey. + +Whilst Jesus was hanging in agony upon the cross, He prayed for those +who had so cruelly persecuted Him. He had often taught the lesson of +loving our enemies, and doing them good whenever we have the +opportunity; and now He set us a most wonderful example of that love +which we are to show to them. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; +for they know not what they do": well might He say of those who had +delivered Him to be crucified, "they know not what they do." Little +did they indeed consider the sin they were committing; still less did +they know what blessings their sin would bring upon all mankind. But +their ignorance was in a great degree wilful, and wilful ignorance +must always be a great sin: they had, therefore, much need that Christ +should pray for them, as now He did. + +By law, the executioners had a right to the clothes of their victim; +and accordingly we read, "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified +Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; +and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top +throughout." "They said, therefore, among themselves, Let us not rend +it, but cast lots for it whose it shall be. And they parted his +raiment and cast lots, that the Scripture might be fulfilled which +saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did +cast lots. These things, therefore, the soldiers did:" according as +David had spoken in the 22nd Psalm. + +Thus having finished the work of crucifixion, the soldiers, "sitting +down" at the foot of the cross, "watched him there. And the people +stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He +saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of +God." Had Jesus, indeed, been the worst of criminals, mocking or +deriding Him thus, whilst He hung in agony upon the cross, would have +been a most cowardly and brutal act: but these insults were borne +patiently by One, who with a word could have silenced these mocking +tongues, and have confounded all, by coming down from the cross, and +leaving man's redemption for ever unfinished. Blessed be God, that no +taunts or mockings could so move Him, Who suffered all for our sakes. + +We cannot wonder, that following the example of the Jewish priests and +rulers, the heathen "soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and +offering him vinegar," or a light wine drunk by the common people, +"and saying, If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself. And they +that passed by reviled him, and railed on him, wagging their heads, +and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in +three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross. If thou be the +Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the Chief Priests +mocking him, with the Scribes and elders, said among themselves, He +saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let +him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted +in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I +am the Son of God. Let Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from +the cross, that we may see and believe." + +Would they have believed, if Jesus had indeed come down from the +cross? No; their hearts were hardened in wilful unbelief, and their +words were empty mockery. One great truth, however, the Chief Priests +unknowingly proclaimed, when in mockery they cried out, "he saved +others, himself he cannot save": truly the choice lay between the two; +Jesus could not save Himself and us. For our salvation an atonement +must be made: the only effectual atonement was the death of Jesus, He +might have saved Himself from this, and left us to perish. Blessed be +God for the love, that endured to the end, and thus saved us. + +We are told, that even "they that were crucified with him, reviled +him"; joining in the abuse now heaped upon him; but without provoking +one word of reproof or complaint. No doubt the behaviour of our Lord +at this time must have gained the admiration of many, and convinced +them that He who now hung upon the cross was no mere man. The Lord +certainly saw fit to touch the heart of one of those who were +crucified with him, for while "one of the malefactors which were +hanged," continued to rail "on him, saying, If thou be the Christ, +save thyself and us," the other, answering, rebuked him, "saying, Dost +not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? and we +indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this +man hath done nothing amiss." Here was true repentance; an +acknowledgment of the justice of the punishment inflicted, coupled +with a declaration of the innocence of Him, whom the dying thief now +believed to be indeed the Son of God, the promised Messiah. In +Christ's agony and humiliation, the penitent malefactor looked to Him +as the King of the Jews, the Saviour of mankind; and in the strength +of his new-born faith, "he said unto Jesus, Lord remember me when thou +comest into thy kingdom": he felt the true nature of Christ's kingdom: +and Jesus, who knows the hearts of all "said unto him, Verily I say +unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." What blessed +words for the poor penitent thief to hear! May each one of us, when we +are dying, have the comfort of believing, This day shall I be in the +kingdom of the Lord: but unless our actions during life have shown +that we do belong to His kingdom on earth, we cannot feel this +comfort. + +"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's +sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene." Mary's sorrow +at witnessing the suffering of her Son, must indeed have been, as if a +sword had pierced through her own soul, as Simeon had foretold, when +three and thirty years before she had carried the Holy Babe into the +temple, to do for Him according to the law. Mary, the wife of Cleophas +or Alphæus, was the mother of James called the Less, to distinguish +him from James the brother of John, the son of Zebedee. The Apostles +had, as we have seen, fled away; but John, who had followed Jesus to +the High Priest's palace, now stood with the women beside the cross. +Even in the midst of all His agony, Jesus could think of others: He +felt for the misery and desolation of His mother, and was anxious to +provide for her future comfort; thus He set a double example, showing +children that they should never cease to love and honour their +parents; and teaching us all, never to let our own troubles or +sorrows, whatever they may be, make us unmindful of the sufferings of +others. + +"When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother, and the disciple standing by +whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then +saith he to his disciple, Behold thy mother!" By these words, He bade +His mother look for comfort to His beloved disciple; bidding him treat +her for the future as if she were his own mother. Faithfully was this +last commandment obeyed, "And from that hour that disciple took her +unto his own home." + +Jesus had now been hanging on the cross for three hours, suffering the +extreme of bodily agony; but the worst was not yet over. It was the +sixth hour, or twelve o'clock,--mid-day, as we call it,--when an event +took place, which must have greatly alarmed all men. Without any +apparent cause, "the sun was darkened"; "when the sixth hour was come, +there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour." During +these three hours of darkness, we have reason to believe that Jesus +was allowed to feel the full weight of God's wrath against sin. All +the misery deserved by sinful man was in some wonderful and mysterious +way laid upon Him, so that in some incomprehensible manner, He, holy +as He was, tasted the bitterness of that death from which by His +agonies He delivered man. What His sufferings really were, we know +not. God grant we never may! But for the time He felt as if His Father +had cast Him off for ever. What a dreadful thing must sin be, since it +could not be forgiven without such terrible agony, as for three hours +was endured in silence by our blessed Lord; and at length wrung from +Him that heart-rending cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken +me?" Let us, for whose redemption He thus felt the wrath of God, watch +and pray, that His sufferings may not have been in vain for any one of +us. + + + + +Chapter XLIII.--JESUS DIES. + + +Three hours of agony beyond what we can imagine passed slowly away; +and then, "at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, +lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why +hast thou forsaken me?"--the very words which stand, at the beginning +of the 22nd Psalm, wherein David foretells many things that would +happen at this time. "Some of them that stood by," not understanding +Hebrew, "when they heard the words spoken by Jesus, said, Behold, he +calleth Elias. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now +accomplished," and that His release was at hand, "that the Scripture +might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full +of vinegar: and straightway one" of the by-standers, more humane than +the others, "ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and +put it upon hyssop, and put it on a reed," with which he raised it +high enough "to put it to his mouth, and (so) gave him to drink. The +rest said, Let be; let us see whether Elias will come to take him +down." + +The common drink of the Roman soldiers was "posea," a poor kind of +wine, often called vinegar, but not like what we mean by vinegar. This +"posea" was now offered to Jesus. "When Jesus therefore had received +the vinegar, he said, It is finished." All was now accomplished; every +prediction uttered by the Prophets concerning the Messiah, had been +fulfilled; the Redemption of man was completed. Let the cost of that +Redemption make us give ourselves to our Redeemer, to be His faithful +followers and servants. + +"Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, said, Father, into +thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he bowed his +head, and gave up the ghost,"--he yielded up his life, according to +his own words, "I lay down my life for the sheep. No man taketh it +from me, but I lay it down of myself." The sacrifice was voluntary, +otherwise it could have availed us nothing. Jesus died: His spirit +departed from the body; and His last words prove that the mysterious +suffering had passed away, that He again felt the comfort of His +Father's love, and that He was no longer forsaken. + +The Almighty God now again bore testimony to the Divine nature of Him +who had just yielded up his human life: heaven and earth alike +testified that this was indeed the Son of God. During the time of His +deepest agony, "the sun was darkened"; now that He had given up the +ghost, "the earth did quake, and the rocks rent, and the graves were +opened. And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain, in the +midst, from the top to the bottom." + +The veil which divided the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, +was a thick curtain, something like a worked carpet. The tearing of +this down the middle was a very significant action, showing that the +death of Jesus had done away with all the ceremonial observances +established by the Law of Moses. A new Covenant, the Covenant of +Grace, was now to replace the old Covenant of Works. + +The Holy of Holies was looked upon by the Jews as a type of heaven; +and only the High Priest was allowed to enter into it. Christ died to +open the way into heaven to all mankind, whether Jews or Gentiles; +thus the veil was rent, to show that through the mediation of Jesus, +all might have access to God the Father. + +"Now when the centurion which stood over against him, watching Jesus, +and they that were with him, saw the earthquake, and those things that +were done, and that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, they +feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God." + +The Roman centurion had witnessed many executions, and the wonderful +events attendant upon this one had convinced him of the truth of all +that Jesus had said; "and he glorified God, saying, Certainly, this +was a righteous man." The very people, who had been persuaded by the +Priests to ask for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of +Jesus, now shared the feelings of the centurion; for we read that "all +the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things +which were done, smote their breasts," in token of remorse and grief, +"and returned." + +"And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from +Galilee," "among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James +the Less and of Joses, and Salome" "the mother of Zebedee's children," +"and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem," "stood +afar off, beholding these things." + +The ninth hour, after which our Saviour breathed His last, answers to +our 3 o'clock P.M., and a new day, according to the Jewish mode of +reckoning, would begin at 6 o'clock P.M. As Jesus was crucified on +Friday morning, the day now about to begin, was the Sabbath; and being +the Sabbath in the Passover week, it was a particularly solemn, or +"high day," to be observed with special reverence. On the morrow after +that Sabbath, the Jewish people, according to the ordinances of the +Mosaical Law, were accustomed to assemble in the temple, bringing with +them, as a thank-offering to the Lord, a sheaf of corn, the "first +fruits" of the harvest, which began at this season of the year. At the +same time, particular sacrifices were to be offered, all in +thanksgiving to Him who giveth us the fruits of the earth in due +season. + +Crucifixion, as we have said, was often a lingering death: and +sometimes, to hasten the end, the legs of the poor wretches hanging +upon the cross were broken. The beginning of the Passover Sabbath was +now fast approaching: it was not lawful, according to the Jewish Law, +for any criminal who had been hanged, to be left hanging all night; +that is, beyond the close of the day of their execution. The bodies of +criminals who had been executed, were usually buried without any form +or ceremonies; but sometimes, at the earnest entreaty of the family, +they were allowed to take the body, and bury it with funeral honours. + +The Jewish priests and rulers were very particular in observing all +outward rites and ceremonies, even when they had just been guilty of a +fearful sin; and "therefore, because it was the preparation," the time +for preparing for the coming Sabbath, "that the bodies should not +remain upon the cross on the sabbath day (for that sabbath day was an +high day)" the Jews "besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, +and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake +the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. +But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was dead already, they +brake not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his +side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water": this water, proved +that the heart had been actually pierced, so that none could doubt +that Jesus was really and truly dead. It was very necessary that the +fact of His death should be clearly established, so that men might +afterwards have no doubt as to His "Resurrection from the dead." +Amongst those who saw the water and blood flowing from the wound made +by the spear, was the beloved disciple, St. John; for in his Gospel, +he tells us, "And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: +and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe." In this +treatment of the body of Jesus by the Roman soldiers, two prophecies +concerning our Saviour, the true Paschal Lamb, were fulfilled. "For +these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone +of him shall not be broken," and "They shall look on him whom they +pierced." + +"And after this, when the evening was come, because it was the +preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, there came a rich +man of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews: named Joseph, an honourable +counsellor," who "had not consented to the counsel and deed of them" +in putting Jesus to death. "He was a good man, and a just: who also +himself waited for the kingdom of God: being a disciple of Jesus, but +secretly, for fear of the Jews." Anxious to save the sacred body of +Him in Whom he believed, from further injury or insult, this man +"came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus: +and besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus." + +Arimathæa, supposed to be the same as Rama, where Samuel dwelt in the +time of Saul, lay to the N.W. of Jerusalem, on the way to Joppa. +Joseph, as a man of wealth and influence, must have been known to the +Roman governor, who would be willing to oblige him, especially in such +a matter, since he himself was convinced that Jesus was no malefactor. +His only hesitation arose from his doubt as to whether Jesus was at +that time dead; "Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling +unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while +dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, Pilate gave him leave; and +commanded the body to be delivered to Joseph." Joseph having obtained +Pilate's leave to remove the body of Jesus, "bought fine linen" to +wrap it in, according to custom. "He came therefore," and with the +help of others, "took the body of Jesus" down from the cross. + +"And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen +cloth: there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by +night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred +pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen +clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury." This +was all that the time allowed to be done then, in the way of +embalming. + +"Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in +the garden a new sepulchre, and Joseph laid the body in his own new +tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock, wherein was man never yet +laid." It was a custom in those days, for the rich, with whom Christ +was to be in his death (as Isaiah had said), to form their tombs, by +having a sort of small room cut out of the solid rock; leaving a +narrow door, which was the only possible way by which any one could go +in or out. This door or entrance was always closed by a large stone. +Within the room or cave, was a sepulchre or sepulchres, in which the +body was laid. In such a sepulchre "they laid Jesus therefore, because +of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand: and +the sabbath drew on." And they rolled a great stone to the door "of +the sepulchre, and departed." + + + + +Chapter XLIV.--JESUS RISES FROM THE SEPULCHRE. + + +"And Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Joses, and the women also +which came with him from Galilee, followed after" Joseph and +Nicodemus, "and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid." And +they returned and prepared spices and ointments, in order that the +process of embalming, hastily begun by Joseph and Nicodemus, might be +properly finished after the Sabbath should be past. Having made their +preparations, they "rested the sabbath day, according to the +commandment." + +By comparing the accounts of all that happened after Jesus was laid in +the tomb, we find that though the greater number of the women went +away, as has been said, two of them remained watching the spot which +now contained the body of Him whom they so loved and reverenced: for +we read, "And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (the mother +of James and Joses) sitting over against the sepulchre." There they +stayed, probably till the Sabbath had begun, when, of course, it was +too late for them to prepare their share of spices, without breaking +the fourth commandment. + +"Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation" (this +seems to mean in the beginning of the Sabbath, soon after 6 o'clock on +Friday evening, just after the burial of our Lord), "the Chief +Priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we +remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three +days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made +sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal +him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the +last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye +have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, +and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." + +Thus did the Lord make these Priests and Pharisees bear witness to +Christ's resurrection. It was little likely that the Apostles would +make any attempt to carry off the body, and still less likely that +they could succeed in any such an attempt; but what was now done +rendered it _impossible_; for there was no way of carrying the body +out of the sepulchre but through the door, which was closed by a heavy +stone, and was now watched by a guard of soldiers, who would not allow +any one even to touch the stone, which could not be moved without +making much noise. It was essential that there should never be any +doubt as to the fact of Christ's having risen from the dead, and +therefore His very enemies were made to furnish the strongest proofs +of His resurrection. Thinking they had made the sepulchre sure, they +went away to rest on the Sabbath. But + + Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, + Christ has burst the gates of Hell; + Death in vain forbids His rise, + Christ hath opened Paradise. + +Jesus laid in the grave all through the Sabbath, from 6 o'clock on +Friday evening to 6 o'clock on Saturday evening. The Sabbath was now +past; the first day in the week, called by us Sunday, was begun. "And +when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of +Joses, and Salome," who had not had time to make any preparations +before the Sabbath, set out from their homes to go to the sepulchre; +and they "had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint +him." But while they were on their way, "behold, there was a great +earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came +and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His +countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for +fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." + +The time and circumstances of Jesus's rising from the dead, are veiled +in mystery. He had evidently left the sepulchre before the stone was +rolled away. All that we know is, that Christ rose, and was the "first +fruits of them that slept"; and He rose on the day when the first +fruits of the harvest were presented in thankfulness to the Lord God +Almightly. His resurrection secured ours; and, as a sign that it did +so, "many bodies of the saints which slept arose out of the graves +after his resurrection, and went into the city, and appeared unto +many." The graves were opened when Jesus gave up His life on the +cross: when He arose, the bodies which lay in them arose also, +testifying to His triumph over death and the grave. + +Wonderful indeed were all the events which took place at this time! In +their several accounts of what happened after our Saviour had risen, +some of the Evangelists mention one thing, and some another; but as +clever men, who have considered the subject, show us how all the +events mentioned must have followed one another, we shall keep to +their account. + +We have said that before the earthquake took place, Mary Magdalene and +the other Mary, accompanied by Salome, who had joined them, set out to +go to the sepulchre: knowing that it was closed by a great stone, they +naturally, as they drew near, "at the rising of the sun, said among +themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the +sepulchre?" Of the watch set there, they probably knew nothing. But on +coming close, this difficulty was at an end, "for when they looked, +they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great." Very +probably Mary Magdalene was the first who observed this fact, for St. +John speaks especially of her, and says, "The first day of the week +cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, +and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre." + +Here you must understand, that the Hebrew sepulchres had two +divisions, or chambers. The inner division, or chamber, in which the +body was laid, was separated from the outer division by a door, +closed, as we have heard, by a large stone. The outer chamber, or +porch, had an open door, or entrance. + +As soon as Mary Magdalene and her companions came near, they could +see, through the open entrance of the outer chamber, that the door of +the inner chamber was also open, and that the great stone, which they +had seen placed there after Jesus was laid in the tomb, had been +taken away: but they did not see either the stone itself or the angel +sitting upon it, on the right-hand side of the door; as this could not +be seen without going into the porch, or outer chamber. As soon, then, +as Mary Magdalene saw, through the open entrance of the porch, that +the stone was rolled away from the door of the inner chamber, or +sepulchre, she, concluding that some persons, either friends or +enemies, had opened it, and carried away the body of Jesus, "runneth, +and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, +and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the +sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him." + +After Mary Magdalene had left them, the other Mary and Salome went +into the outer division, and, "entering into the sepulchre" (that is, +into the porch), "they saw a young man sitting on the right side, +clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And the +angel answered, and said unto the women, Fear not ye; be not +affrighted; for I know that ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was +crucified: He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the +place where the Lord lay; behold the place where they laid him." +Having thus assured these women that the Lord was indeed risen from +the dead, the angel bade them make the good tidings known to others, +saying, "But go your way quickly, tell his disciples and Peter that he +is risen from the dead, and that he goeth before you into Galilee: +there shall ye see him, as he said unto you; lo, I have told you. And +they departed quickly from the sepulchre, with fear, and fled; for +they trembled and were amazed: neither said they anything to any man." + +These women were so confused and overpowered with surprise, fear, and +joy, that they scarcely knew what to say or do: so they told no man +what they had seen or heard as they went along, but "with great joy +did run to bring his disciples word" of what the angel had said. + +It must have been a great comfort to Peter to hear that he had been +particularly mentioned by name, as it showed that Jesus had not cast +him off, but still looked upon him as a disciple, notwithstanding his +sin in denying his Lord and Master. + +It seems that when the disciples saw their Lord condemned and +crucified, they must have forgotten all that He had told them as to +His rising again; and, instead of going early to the sepulchre on the +third day, they appear to have remained at home, mourning and +lamenting His death. Now, however, Mary Magdalene's tidings must have +brought their Lord's words to remembrance. "Peter therefore went +forth, and that other disciple (John), and came to the sepulchre. So +they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and +came first to the sepulchre. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw +the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in." The clothes in which the +body had been wrapped were there; but the body itself was gone. No +angel was now to be seen, nor did the disciples know that one had been +seen at all; for Mary Magdalene had left the sepulchre before her two +companions went into the porch of the sepulchre. + +"Then cometh Simon Peter, following John, and went into the sepulchre, +and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about his +head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a +place by itself." This circumstance was very important. If the body of +Jesus had been _stolen away_, either by friends or enemies, they would +have carried it away as it was, and not waited to unwind the linen +clothes, and more especially not to have folded the napkin up and laid +it in a separate place. The astonishment of Peter when he saw the +burial clothes thus lying in order caused John also to go into the +sepulchre: "and he saw and believed." "For as yet they knew not the +Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." + + + + +Chapter XLV.--CHRIST APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE. + + +The Apostles appear to have come to the sepulchre, without any idea +that the Lord had risen from the dead. They had not understood rightly +what the prophets had said of the death and rising again of the +Messiah; nor had the words of the Lord, though He had told them +plainly that He should die and rise again the third day, prepared them +for what had happened. + +When John examined the tomb, he saw that the body of Jesus must, in +some miraculous way, have slipped out of the linen clothes, leaving +them lying in such perfect order: "he saw, and believed" that Jesus +was indeed risen. "For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he +must rise again from the dead." Up to this time they had not rightly +understood this Scripture; and John's faith now rested on what he had +_seen_, not, as it should have done, upon the Word of God. Peter and +John, having satisfied themselves that the body of Jesus was no longer +in the sepulchre, "went away again unto their own home," before Mary +Magdalene, who had followed them, reached the sepulchre for the second +time: she arriving after they had left, would naturally be +disappointed at not hearing their opinion, as to the disappearance of +the body of Jesus. She was grieved that any one should have carried +Him away; and this, added to the recollection of what she had +witnessed in the sufferings and death of Jesus, so disturbed Mary, +that she "stood without at the sepulchre weeping. And as she wept, she +stooped down, and looked into the (inner) sepulchre, and seeth two +angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the +feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say, Woman, why +weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my +Lord, and I know not where they have laid him." So little did Mary +expect the Lord to rise again to life, that even the sight of angels +sitting by His open tomb, did not convince her that the body had not +been removed to another place. She was soon to know the truth; for +"when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus +standing." But it pleased the Lord to appear to her in such a form, +that at first she knew not that it was Jesus. This was the first +appearance of Jesus Christ after His resurrection; for, as St. Mark +tells us, "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, +he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven +devils." "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest +thou? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if +thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I +will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary." This one word, spoken +in the tone she had been accustomed to hear, removed all doubts and +fears: now she sees and knows that it is indeed Jesus restored to +life, who stands by her. We can imagine with what surprise and joy +"she turned herself" quickly towards her Lord, "and saith unto him, +Rabboni; which is to say, Master." From what follows, we may suppose +that in her exceeding gladness, Mary would have laid hold upon the +Lord to detain Him; for "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am +not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto +them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and +your God." + +By these words, He seems to have meant that the time was not quite +come for Him to ascend into heaven; and that Mary need not therefore +hold Him, as if she was afraid of not seeing Him again; but, on the +contrary, that she should at once go and remind His disciples of all +that He had before told them, about His going to His Father, and not +leaving them comfortless; because if He left them, He would send the +Holy Ghost to teach and guide them. The message thus sent by Jesus, +should remind us all, that the Lord God Almighty is indeed our God; a +kind and loving Father to _all_ who believe in His beloved Son, so as +to love and obey Him. + +Mary Magdalene set out immediately to tell "the disciples that she had +seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her." On her +way it seems that she fell in with the other Mary and Salome, who had +fled from the sepulchre at the sight of the angel. The three women now +went on together. "And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, +Jesus met them, saying, All hail." "All hail" signified Welcome; it +was a common mode of expressing pleasure at meeting. Mary and Salome, +who had heard from Mary Magdalene that the Lord was indeed alive +again, were neither astonished nor frightened at His appearance; but, +filled with joy and love, they fell at His feet; "they came and held +him by the feet, and worshipped him." "Then said Jesus unto them, Be +not afraid; go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there +they shall see me." The action of holding His feet, showed fear that +the Lord would at once disappear; but He bids them have no fears, for +that, on the contrary, He would meet His disciples in Galilee. But +before that, He appeared also to His Apostles. + +Whilst the women were on their way to tell the disciples all they had +seen and heard, "behold some of the watch came into the city, and +showed unto the Chief Priests all the things that were done." We have +heard how, when the angel of the Lord descended, those who were +guarding the sepulchre were so terrified, that they "became as dead +men,"--unable to move, or know what to do. When they came to +themselves, they would see that the sepulchre was empty; whilst they +well knew that no human power could have removed the body. They went +therefore, and told those who had set them to watch, how vain all +their precautions had been. The Chief Priests immediately called the +Council together: "and when they were assembled with the elders, and +had taken counsel," or consulted amongst themselves what they had best +do to prevent their countrymen from believing in the resurrection of +Christ, "they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His +disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. So they +took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is +commonly reported among the Jews until this day." + +Great indeed was the wilful unbelief of the Jews, if they could for +one moment believe such an absurd story, as the Priests and elders had +bribed the soldiers to tell. Amongst the Romans, death was the +punishment for any soldier who went to sleep whilst upon guard: yet, +in spite of this, men were required to believe, that sixty soldiers, +and their commander, were all so fast asleep, that the noise which +must have been made by moving the stone, did not even awake one of +them. Besides, if they had all been asleep, how could they have known +that the disciples had been there? + +The Chief Priests and elders knew that this story was false; and we +may be quite sure that Pilate and those in authority did not believe +it, or the soldiers would not have escaped punishment: but the Romans +did not care what the Jews believed on the subject: and the soldiers, +being heathens, and therefore careless about speaking the truth, took +the money offered by the Council, and in return told what they knew to +be a lie. Even up to this day, the Jews, of whom there are many +thousands scattered in different parts of the world, believe the story +invented by the Chief Priests; and instead of acknowledging Jesus as +the Messiah, still look for Christ's coming. It seems to us quite +impossible that any one should disbelieve in Jesus Christ being the +promised Messiah; but unhappily it is so. Let us pray to God that He +will take from the Jews all blindness and hardness of heart, and bring +them into the Christian Church. + +Now let us return in thought to the sepulchre, where, after the +departure of Mary Magdalene, and of the other Mary and Salome, another +party of women arrived. These were the women which came with Him from +Galilee, and who, after seeing where the body of Jesus was laid, went +away immediately to prepare spices and ointments, and then rested on +the sabbath day. "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in +the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which +they had prepared, and certain others," that is, some other women +came, "with them." These women had had a longer way to come than Mary +Magdalene and her companions, and therefore, although they set out as +soon as the Sabbath was past, they did not reach the sepulchre until +some time after them: although it was still early. "And they found the +stone rolled away from the sepulchre." This circumstance would +naturally cause them no surprise, as they would conclude that the +disciples or others had reached the sepulchre before them, and were +already engaged in the work of embalming the body, in which they were +come to assist. + +But their surprise was to come; for "they entered in, and found not +the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass as they were much +perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining +garments: and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the +earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He +is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was +yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the +hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." +The sudden appearance "of two men in shining garments," alarmed the +women; who at once knew them to be angels. Then the angels reproved +these women for the want of faith, which had made them expect to find +amongst the dead, One whom they ought to have known must be alive, if +they had remembered and believed what He Himself had formerly told +them. When the women heard the words of the angels, they remembered +the words of Jesus, "and returned from the sepulchre, and told all +these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest." But the eleven had +already heard these wonderful tidings from Mary Magdalene and Joanna, +and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, +which told these things unto the Apostles, as they mourned and wept +for the death of their Lord. + + + + +Chapter XLVI.--JESUS APPEARS TO THE DISCIPLES. + + +The testimony of so many different witnesses had not yet convinced the +Apostles: when they had heard that "Jesus was alive, and had been seen +of Mary Magdalene, they believed not. And when the other women came +with their testimony," their words seemed to the Apostles as "idle +tales, and they believed them not." + +Still all that they heard was not without some effect; for Peter was +anxious to visit the sepulchre again: "Then arose Peter, and ran unto +the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by +themselves." But he saw nothing more; "and he departed, wondering in +himself at that which was come to pass." We learn from the Scriptures +that Peter was the first of the Apostles who did see the Lord after +His resurrection; but how and when this meeting took place, we are not +told; and it is most likely that it took place now, whilst Peter was +returning from his second visit to the sepulchre, "wondering in +himself at that which was come to pass." What joy it must have been to +Peter, to see that his Lord and Master was indeed alive, and to be +able to receive forgiveness for the sin he had committed, in denying +all knowledge of Him. What passed between our Lord and Peter on this +occasion, is not written down in either of the Gospels; but we may be +sure that Jesus spake kindly and lovingly to Peter. It is no wonder to +find that ever afterwards, Peter devoted himself heartily to the +service of God. After this interview with Peter, Jesus appeared to two +of the disciples, who were not also Apostles: "he appeared in another +form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country." To +Peter, Jesus probably appeared in His own person, so as to be +recognized at once: on the occasion of which we are now to speak, He +concealed Himself under the form of a "stranger." St. Luke tells us, +that two of the disciples went that same day, (the first day of the +week,) to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about +three-score furlongs; that is, about seven miles and a half, for eight +furlongs make a mile. And, very naturally, "they talked together of +all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while +they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went +with them. But their eyes were holden, that they should not know him. +And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that +ye have one with another, and are sad?" Jesus asked not such questions +for His own information, but to enable Him to show the truth to the +disciples, who were surprised that any person, even a stranger, should +be ignorant of the wonderful events which had happened. "And one of +them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a +stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to +pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they +said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet +mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the +Chief Priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, +and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which +should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to-day is the third +day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women of our +company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and +when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also +seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of +them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as +the women had said: but him they saw not." In this account of the +matter, given by these two to a stranger, as they supposed, we see the +state of doubt and perplexity in which all the disciples were: a +little more faith would have set their minds at rest: but it is +evident that though, whilst He lived they had believed Jesus to be the +true Messiah, who should redeem Israel, His death and burial had so +far shaken their belief, that they could not at once feel sure that He +had risen from the dead, though they could not altogether reject that +idea. + +When these two disciples had ended their account, they must have been +somewhat surprised at being reproached for their unwillingness to +believe all that their Prophets had spoken concerning the Messiah; for +Jesus, still in His character of a stranger, "said unto them, O fools, +and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken"! And +then He reminded them, that the Scriptures had expressly said, that +Christ must suffer death on earth, before He could enter into glory in +heaven: saying, "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and +to enter into his glory?" that is, ought not these very things which +trouble you to have happened just as they have done, to fulfil the +Scriptures, and to show that this was indeed the promised Messiah. + +When Jesus had shown the two disciples that want of faith alone caused +their perplexity, He graciously went on, "and beginning at Moses and +all the prophets, he expounded (or explained) unto them in all the +Scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the +village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone +further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is +toward evening, and the day is far spent." No wonder these disciples, +whose faith must have been strengthened by the explanations of their +unknown companion, were unwilling so soon to part with one so learned +in the Scriptures; and, as it was near evening, they urged Him to go +in and abide with them for the night. At their earnest entreaty, "he +went in to tarry with them." Emmaus, where our Lord now was, was a +village about seven or eight miles to the west of Jerusalem; the +dwelling-place, probably, of the two disciples whose guest He was. +"And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread and +blessed it, and brake, and gave to them." Jesus probably did what He +had done at the last Passover Supper, when He appointed Bread and Wine +to be taken and received, in "continual remembrance of the sacrifice +of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive thereby." + +At any rate, by this act, Jesus made Himself known to Cleopas and his +companion: "their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he +vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not +our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and +while he opened to us the Scriptures?" They had felt great interest +in the conversation and teaching of the stranger, and now they seem +to feel that all he had said should have shown them that One Who thus +taught could be no other than the Lord Himself. Their next thought +was to tell these great and glad tidings to the rest of the +disciples; and though it was drawing towards night, and they had +already had a long walk, "they rose up the same hour, and returned to +Jerusalem,"--setting us a good example not to let any personal +inconvenience prevent us from doing anything that we feel it is our +duty to do. When they reached Jerusalem, they "found the eleven +gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is +risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." Peter had by this time +related how the Lord had spoken to him, and his testimony had +convinced his fellow disciples that their Lord had indeed risen from +the dead. Cleopas and his companion now bore witness to the same +fact, and "told what things were done in the way, and how he was +known of them in breaking of bread." But some of the disciples do not +seem to have been convinced even yet, for St. Mark says of these two, +"they went and told it unto the residue, neither believed they them." + +"Then the same day at evening," (nearly 6 o'clock,) still being the +first day of the week, "when the doors were shut where the disciples +were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus: as they thus spake, +Jesus stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto +you." Notwithstanding all that had already past, it seems that the +greater part, at least, of the disciples could not believe that this +was really and truly the Lord, in the same body as He had borne before +His death: "they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they +had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why +do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it +is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and +bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them +his hands and his feet, and his side. Then were the disciples glad +when they saw the Lord." + +Doubts, however, still lingered in the minds of some, and these our +Lord graciously condescended to remove; for "while they yet believed +not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? +And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and an honeycomb. And he +took it, and did eat before them. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace +be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you. And when +he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye +the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto +them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained." + +"Remit" here means _forgive_; sins remitted are sins forgiven. To +"retain" means just the contrary--not forgiven sins; "retained" means +sins that are not forgiven, of which the guilt still rests upon those +who have committed them. Jesus did not, of course, mean that His +Apostles, or any human being, had power to forgive or remit the +smallest sin committed against God; none can forgive sin, but God +only. But our Lord meant, that when, by the teaching of the Apostles, +poor sinners should be brought to believe the Gospel and repent, they, +the Apostles, might safely declare unto them the blessed truth, that +their sins are forgiven, and done away with, for the sake of all that +Jesus Christ has done for us. + +But in the same way, the Apostles must warn all who will not believe +and repent, that their sins cannot be forgiven; but that their guilt +remains, and must hereafter meet with due punishment. + + + + +Chapter XLVII.--UNBELIEF OF THOMAS. + + +"But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when +Jesus came." As soon as they met again, "the other disciples therefore +said unto him, We have seen the Lord." Thomas, however, was so +convinced that it was impossible for Jesus to appear again in His own +body, that he declared that he would not believe, unless he actually +_saw_ that it was the very same body which had been crucified: +therefore, "he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the +print of the nails, and put my finger into the print," or hole made by +"the nails, and thrust my hand into" the wound made by the spear in +"his side, I will not believe." + +This want of faith was wrong: Thomas knew that the other Apostles +would not say anything that they did not believe to be true; and it +was impossible that all the ten, should have merely _fancied_ that +they had seen and talked with their beloved Lord and Master. + +Thomas was now left for one whole week in his unbelief; and a good +many of the disciples, who had not themselves seen Jesus, took his +view of the matter: though the ten Apostles, and a great number of the +disciples, were convinced that Christ was indeed risen. + +"And after eight days again," that is, on the first day of the next +week, "the disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came +Jesus, the doors being shut," so that He could not possibly have come +into the room that way, "and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be +unto you." + +The disciples were probably at supper, for St. Mark says, "he appeared +unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their +unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which +had seen him after he was risen." To "upbraid" means to reproach: all +had deserved reproach for their slowness and unwillingness to believe +the testimony of others, but to Thomas such upbraiding was principally +addressed: but whilst he reproved, Jesus also showed mercy: for "then +saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands: and +reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not +faithless, but believing." Thomas had now received the proofs which he +had demanded; he saw and was convinced that Jesus had indeed, +according to the Scriptures, risen in his own human body from the +grave. "And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. +Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast +believed: blessed are they, that have not seen, and yet have +believed." These are comfortable words for all Christians who believe +without seeing: and we may indeed thank God for the unwillingness of +this Apostle to believe, as it afforded a still further testimony to +the reality of the Resurrection. + +It seems that the next appearance of Jesus Christ was to a large +number of His disciples at once. We read, "Then the eleven disciples +went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed +them." Here many other disciples must have joined them; for another +part of Scripture tells us, that "he was seen of above five hundred +brethren at once." "And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but +some doubted." It appears probable that at first, Jesus showed Himself +at a great distance, so that some could still hardly believe that He +was the Lord. "But Jesus came and spake unto them." We may imagine how +all doubts were removed at once, and with what joyful gladness the +disciples acknowledged Him now, as the long-expected Messiah. "After +these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea +of Tiberias." It seems that the Apostles had so little idea of the +nature of the work they were from henceforth to do, that they had +returned to their usual occupation of fishermen. "There were together +Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in +Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. +Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We +also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship +immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning +was now come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not +that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any +meat?" meaning, have ye now taken any fish. To this question, put, as +they supposed, by a man, the disciples "answered him, No. And he said +unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall +find." It seems probable that the disciples now began to have some +suspicions as to the true nature of Him, who gave them this direction, +since no mere man could have foretold the result of their casting the +net in one particular spot. "They cast, therefore, and now they were +not able to draw it, for the multitude of fishes." This completely +convinced the disciples; "therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved, +saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now, when Simon Peter heard that it +was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) +and did cast himself into the sea," eager to swim quickly to the land +on which his beloved Master stood. The word "naked," in this place, +only means that Peter had not his outer garments on--only the inner +one he wore whilst fishing; and this he girt on, bound close round +him, that it might be no hindrance whilst he swam. "And the other +disciples came in a little ship (or boat), for they were not far from +land, but as it were two hundred cubits (about 120 yards), dragging +the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw +a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith +unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter +went up (to help), and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an +hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was +not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine." The word +here translated _dine_, means rather breakfast, the first meal of the +day, for it was now early morning. + +"And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that +it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, +and fish likewise." + +St. John, in his account of this meeting of Jesus and His disciples at +the sea of Tiberias, says, "This is now the third time that Jesus +showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the +dead." It is the third appearance mentioned by St. John; and it was +the third time that Jesus had appeared to the Apostles, when all or +most of them were together; and this is probably what St. John meant. +The first of these appearances, was to the ten on the day of His +Resurrection, when Thomas was not with them; the second took place on +the first day of the next week, when all the eleven were assembled; +and the third, was the one of which we have just been speaking at the +sea of Tiberias. Of Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene and the other +women, to Peter alone, to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, +and to "above five hundred brethren at once," John makes no mention. +St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Corinthians, speaking of the appearing +of Jesus after the Resurrection, says, "He was seen of Cephas, then of +the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at +once: after that, he was seen of James, then of all the Apostles." Now +none of the Gospels gives an account of any special appearance to +James: we may therefore conclude that we are not told of every +appearance vouchsafed to His disciples, during the time that Jesus +remained on earth after His Resurrection; though enough are related, +to prove the reality of that blessed fact. + +We may remark, that "Cephas" is a Greek word, meaning the same as +Peter, that is, a rock, or stone; and that as St. Paul was writing to +the inhabitants of a city of Greece, he called Simon Peter by his +Greek name: by "the twelve," the body of the Apostles is meant, though +at that time there were, in fact, only eleven of them. + +When the Apostles had eaten their meal of fish and bread, to which +they had been invited by the Lord, a remarkable conversation took +place. We read, "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, +Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?"--that is, dost +thou love me more than these other of my disciples love me? You will +remember how before the Crucifixion, Peter, in his self-confidence, +declared, that though all the other disciples should forsake Jesus, he +never would, but would die for Him if necessary: but his grievous fall +had shown him his own weakness; and now, so far from boasting of his +greater love, he humbly replied, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love +thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs." By lambs and sheep, our +Saviour meant all his people, young and old: all, who should believe +in Him, and so belong to His Church, or flock, as it is often called. + +This mode of speaking of the people of God, as of a Flock, consisting +of sheep and lambs, is very common throughout the Scripture. David +pleading for his people, who were suffering from pestilence in +consequence of his sin in numbering them, says, "But these sheep, what +have they done?" The same idea is often repeated in the Psalms, and in +the Prophets; and in our Liturgy, or Church Service, we confess that +we "have erred and strayed like lost sheep." + +Peter would well understand this figurative manner of speaking. The +question was repeated: "Jesus saith to him again the second time, +Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; +thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He +saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? +Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou +me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest +that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." Three times +had Peter denied his Lord; three times now had he been asked, Lovest +thou me? Well might he be grieved at the remembrance of that sin, +which could have cast a doubt upon the love he bore his divine Master: +deeply did he feel the rebuke which he had deserved. Humbly, without +making any professions, did he appeal to Him, who knows all hearts, to +judge whether he loved Him. Peter's love for Jesus was both strong and +sincere, and his whole future life bore witness to its strength and +sincerity, until he did indeed lay down his life for his Master's +sake. Let us take Peter for our example, and try, by every action of +our lives, to show that we do love and wish to please our God and +Saviour. + +After this Jesus said to Peter, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When +thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou +wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy +hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou +wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should +glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow +me." About thirty years after this time, in the reign of the Emperor +Nero, Peter was crucified at Rome by the heathens, because he tried to +make them Christians; he stretched out his arms on the cross, and +another bound him and carried him to execution. Faithfully did Peter +obey his Master's command, "Follow me"; for he went about teaching +after His example, until He died by the same death. But in his death, +Peter gave a further proof of humility; for considering himself +unworthy even to die in the same way as Jesus had done, he begged to +be crucified with his head downwards; and this request was granted. +Death for the sake of our religion is called martyrdom, and those who +so suffer, are martyrs. + + + + +Chapter XLVIII.--JESUS TAKEN INTO HEAVEN. + + +We are not told that Peter made any remark upon what Jesus told him, +"signifying by what death he should glorify God:" we only read, "Then +Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved, following; +which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he +that betrayeth thee?" This you will remember was John, one of the sons +of Zebedee; the same John who alone gives us any account of what +passed on this occasion. "Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and +what shall this man do?" Jesus, instead of satisfying Peter's +curiosity, gave him an answer, which should teach us all, that we must +not seek curiously to know things hidden from us; and that the great +point is, for every man to follow Christ by faith and practice, and +not to concern himself too much about others; any further than by +setting a good example, and using what influence he may have over +others, for a good purpose. + +In answer to Peter's question, "Jesus saith unto him, If I will that +he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. Then went +this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not +die," but should _tarry_, or remain alive upon earth, until the +Saviour should come again to judge the world. There was no ground for +the disciples to form such a mistaken notion; for as St. John truly +says, "yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, if I will +that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" + +Jesus then appeared again to His Apostles at Jerusalem, and gave them +His last directions as to their conduct, when He should have left them +to return to His Father in heaven. "Being assembled together with +them, (he) commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, +but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard +of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized +with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence." In these words, Jesus +reminded the disciples of His frequent promises to send upon them the +Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to be their guide; and He bade them wait +in Jerusalem, until this promise should be fulfilled. "And he said +unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet +with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in +the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning +me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the +Scriptures," and see how exactly His death and resurrection had +accomplished everything prophesied of the Messiah. "And (he) said unto +them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to +rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of +sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at +Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send +the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of +Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." + +Such were our Lord's last directions to the Apostles whom He was about +to leave; and either immediately after this conversation, or a few +days later, "he led them out as far as to Bethany," where He purposed +to take His final leave of them on earth. The Bethany here meant, was +not the actual village of that name, which was about two miles from +Jerusalem, but a part of Mount Olivet, or the Mount of Olives, nearer +to the city. The Mount Olivet began about 5 furlongs (little more than +half a mile) from Jerusalem: the first tract or part of the Mount was +called Bethphage, and in this tract was the village bearing that name: +another portion of the Mount went by the name of Bethany, and in that +tract was the village of Bethany. Jesus led his Apostles to the spot +where the tract of Bethany joined that of Bethphage. "When they +therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt +thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" + +The Apostles had not yet a clear idea of the spiritual nature of +Christ's kingdom, nor of the time which was to elapse, before it +should be established upon earth; and they seem even to have thought +that now, when by His rising from the dead He had proved Himself to be +the Messiah, the King of the Jews, He would at once restore them to +their former state of prosperity, and make Judæa again an independent +kingdom. Jesus reproved them for asking such a question, and "said +unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which +the Father hath put in his own hand." There are, indeed, many things +said of future blessings in store for the Children of Israel; but +_how_ or _when_ God will give them, is one of the secret things, which +are at present hidden from us. After reproving His disciples for undue +curiosity as to future events, Jesus calls their attention back to +matters more nearly concerning themselves; namely, to the work which +they were now to do, in bearing witness of all that He had done, and +in teaching men everywhere the blessed truths of the Gospel; and for +this important and arduous task, Jesus again promises them that divine +help, without which man can do nothing good. Therefore, he said unto +them, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come +upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in +all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." + +"And he said unto them, All power is given unto me in heaven and in +earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the +name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching +them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. Go ye into +all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that +believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not +shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my +name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; +they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it +shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall +recover. And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the +world." + +By being baptized, those who heard the Gospel preached, showed their +faith in Christ, and their determination to follow His precepts and +commands: and by Baptism, God gave them grace and strength to do so. +By Baptism, we are now received into Christ's Church--we become +Christians. In the time of the Apostles, of course, the grown-up +people were baptized: when they had heard the Gospel preached, and +believed that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, they +would repent of all their sins, and try to serve and obey Him; and +then they would be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, +and of the Holy Ghost; to show that they _did_ mean to dedicate, or +give themselves up, to the service of God: and He, in return, would +pour out upon them His Holy Spirit, to enable them to do so. + +But God, who is a merciful Father, does not require His creatures to +wait for the blessings of Baptism, until they are old enough to +understand and value them; and therefore amongst Christian nations, +Infants are baptized long before they can either believe or repent, +and so they become the children of God--lambs of His flock; and +receive His blessing before they have sense to know anything about it. +When they are old enough, they must learn to know what great blessings +were given to them by Baptism, and what solemn promises were made for +them--promises which they are bound to keep, if they would partake of +the benefits, and live with Jesus hereafter in heaven. In our own +strength, no one can keep these promises entirely; but we must +continually _strive hard_ to do so, and above all pray without +ceasing, that we may be strengthened to do it. + +After Jesus had given His Apostles commands to preach the Gospel to +every creature, and to baptize all who were willing, He told them, as +we have read, that they should have power to work miracles, in order +to prove to all men that they really were the chosen messengers of +God, giving His messages to His people: for if they were able to cast +devils out of the bodies of men, to heal the sick, to speak languages +which they had never learned, and to take up venomous serpents, or +drink poison without suffering any harm, it would be quite plain that +God was with them; since only by His special grace could a man do any +of these things. + +"And when he had spoken these things, he lifted up his hands, and +blessed them. And it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted +from them, and a cloud received him out of their sight, and (he was) +carried up into heaven." "So then, after the Lord had spoken unto +them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of +God." + +"And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold +two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of +Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is +taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have +seen him go into heaven." + +From the question asked by these angels, it would seem that even now +the Apostles could hardly believe that their beloved Lord was gone +from their sight for ever, upon the earth. They are therefore +reminded, that their "gazing up" is useless; but that a day shall come +when He shall return to earth: but then it will be as a judge, to pass +sentence of happiness or misery upon every living creature. We know +not how soon that awful day may come; let us therefore watch and pray, +that we may find mercy before our judge--the Saviour of all who so +believe in Him, as to love Him and keep His commandments. + +The words of the angels recalled the disciples' minds to earth, and to +the work which their Master had left them to do. "And they worshipped +him, and returned to Jerusalem, from the mount called Olivet, with +great joy. And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing +God." + +"And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with +them, and confirming the word with signs following." Not immediately, +however; but in these words St. Mark, as it were, sums up the future +history of the Apostles; stating how they at once set to work to +fulfil the commandments given to them by Jesus Christ. + +Here, then, the History of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ must end; +and we cannot do better than close it with the words of St. John +himself, speaking of our Lord's miracles: "And many other signs truly +did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in +this book: but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is +the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life +through his name." + +St. John ends his account of His Master's life and death with the +following words: "This is the disciple which testifieth of these +things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is +true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, +if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world +itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." + + + + +PART II. + + + + +Chapter I.--THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. + + +After the Four Gospels, there is in the New Testament a book called +"The Acts of the Apostles," which gives us an account of the principal +acts, or doings, of some of the Apostles, after the Lord was taken +from them. This Book of Acts was written by St. Luke, who also wrote +one of the Four Gospels; and it is the only Scriptural account we have +of what the Apostles said and did, though we gather a few more +particulars from the Epistles, or letters written by the Apostles +themselves, to the brethren in different places. + +The Book of Acts furnishes us with much that has been said of the +Ascension, or "_going up into heaven_," of Jesus Christ. We have +already heard that the Apostles returned to Jerusalem with "joy," +which might seem strange when one they so dearly loved had just been +taken from them. But they had indeed cause for joy: they had seen +their Lord suffer and die, to purchase pardon for sinners; they had +seen Him come to life again, thus showing that He had indeed made a +sufficient atonement for all: and now they had beheld Him received up +into heaven, proving that, for His sake, all His true disciples might +follow Him: "where I am, there shall ye be also." Great therefore was +their joy, and they showed it in the most fitting manner, by being +"continually in the temple, praising and blessing God." + +The first thing we have an account of after their return from Mount +Olivet to Jerusalem is, that, "when they were come in, they went up +into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and +Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew (called also Nathanael), and +Matthew, James the son of Alphæus (known to us as the Less), and Simon +Zelotes, and Judas (or Jude) the brother of James." The word "Zelotes" +means full of zeal, or eagerness; and this Simon was probably so +called, because he was eager in doing the work of God. St. Matthew +speaks of him as "Simon the Canaanite"; and it is supposed that he +was a native of the city of Cana, in Galilee. Here we find the eleven +Apostles all together: and they "continued with one accord in prayer +and supplication, with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, +and with his brethren": waiting for the promised outpouring of the +Holy Spirit. + +During this time, Peter proposed, that from amongst the disciples who +had accompanied them all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out +among them, they should choose one to take the place of Judas +Iscariot, and be with them a witness of the Resurrection of Christ; +thus making the number of the Apostles twelve, as it had been at +first, by the Lord's appointment. Peter's suggestion was at once +followed. "And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was +surnamed Justus, and Matthias," both of whom appeared to be in every +way fit for the office they were to fill; and then, not trusting in +their own judgment, "they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest +the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, +that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which +Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And +they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was +numbered with the eleven apostles." + +The mode of deciding doubtful matters by lot had been appointed by the +Law of Moses; and was, at the time we are speaking of, a solemn way of +seeking the Will of God, who directed the lot as He saw fit. + +Matthias, now chosen to be an Apostle, was probably one of the +seventy, whom our Lord during His life sent out by twos to teach the +people, and work miracles, in order to prepare the way for Him. It is +believed that Matthias first went about teaching in Judæa, and that he +afterwards travelled eastward, where he met with cruel treatment from +the barbarous nations of Asia. With great labour and suffering, he did +convert many of the heathens to Christianity; but at last he was put +to death for the sake of Jesus. But these things did not, of course, +happen until many years after Matthias was chosen to fill up the +number of the Apostles. + +Jesus had remained on earth for forty days from the day of His +resurrection; and during that time He showed himself at different +times to His disciples. The day on which He rose from the grave we +call "Easter Day," from an old word, meaning "to rise." The Apostles +kept a feast every year afterwards on that day, in memory of this +glorious event; and our Church teaches us also to observe Easter as a +season of especial joy. + +In consequence of Christ having risen on the First Day of the week, +the disciples, and all Christians since their time, have observed that +day as a day of holy rest, and called it the Lord's Day: this is +Sunday, which amongst us is dedicated to the special service of God, +instead of the Seventh Day, or Jews' Sabbath, our Saturday. + +Forty days after Easter Day, Jesus went up, or "ascended," into +heaven; and our Church keeps that day holy, and calls it "The +Ascension Day," because "ascension" means going up. + +For ten days after the Ascension, the disciples, who had seen their +Lord ascend, remained quietly at Jerusalem, praising God for all that +had been done, and praying continually both in private and in public. +Another great feast of the Jews was now drawing near: this feast is +spoken of under different names in the Old Testament, and we must now +say something about it. + +In the Law of Moses, the Jews were, as has already been said, +commanded to offer up a sheaf of corn on the day after the Sabbath +which followed the Feast of the Passover; that is, on the first day of +the week, after the Passover week. This sheaf was offered up as a +thank-offering at the beginning of harvest, for they began to cut the +barley (the first corn crop) immediately after the Passover. + +Seven weeks after this beginning of harvest, the Jews were to keep one +of the three great feasts, ordained by the Mosaical, or Levitical Law. +This great feast was called "The Feast of Weeks," because it was +observed seven weeks after that of the Passover: seven weeks were +called "a week of weeks," because seven days make a week, and there +were seven times seven days in the Feast of Weeks. It was also called +"The Day of First Fruits," because it was then the time to begin to +gather in the other crops and productions of the ground; and in +thankfulness for all these fruits of the earth, a new meat offering +was offered unto the Lord. + +The Jewish Rabbis also called this great feast, "The Day of the Giving +of the Law," because the Law was given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, +fifty days after the Children of Israel ate the first Passover in +Egypt; and this feast, as we have said, was kept on the fiftieth day +after the Feast of the Passover. In the New Testament this feast day +is called "The Day of Pentecost": because in Greek, "Pentecost" means +fiftieth, and as we have said, the Jews were to number fifty days from +the morrow after the Passover Sabbath, and then to keep this great +feast. + +As Jesus rose on the morrow after the Passover Sabbath, our Easter Day +(or Easter Sunday), the fiftieth day, would again be on the first day +of the week, Sunday with us: seven weeks or fifty days from the +blessed day on which our Lord rose from the grave, and ten days after +His Ascension. + +This Day of Pentecost, distinguished already as a day of rejoicing and +thanksgiving for many blessings, temporal and spiritual, and called +"The Feast of Weeks," "of First Fruits," and of "The Giving of the +Law," was now chosen by God as the day on which the promised gift of +the Holy Spirit was to be poured out upon the Apostles, to their great +spiritual benefit, as well as to that of all who were to look to their +teaching, for the knowledge of what Jesus Christ has done for sinners. + +We read in the Book of Acts, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully +come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there +came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled +all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them +cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." Fire +was looked upon by the Jews as a sign of the presence of God. And +those upon whom these tongues of fire descended, were at once "filled +with the Holy Ghost": a visible and miraculous sign immediately +followed, for they "began to speak with other tongues," that is, in +strange and foreign languages, which they had never learnt, "as the +Spirit gave them utterance." + +Thus were accomplished the promises of Jesus, to send the Comforter +upon His Apostles, and that they should be baptized with the Holy +Ghost. + +The power of speaking strange languages was a most valuable gift, +enabling the Apostles to obey the command "to teach all nations," +which they could not have done had they not been able to make +themselves understood by all men. + +One miracle had, as a punishment, confounded the language of men, so +that they ceased to have intercourse with each other: now another +miracle mercifully removed this barrier, so that all nations might +hear from the Apostles the glad tidings of salvation--the Gospel of +our Lord Jesus Christ. + +At the time when the Holy Ghost descended so miraculously upon the +Apostles, "there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of +every nation under heaven." By "devout men," is meant worshippers of +the one true God: these were mostly Jews, either from having been born +so, or from having turned from idolatry to follow the religion of the +Jews. These Jews were scattered over the face of the world; and +wherever they went, they endeavoured to make proselytes: the Feast of +the Passover would naturally bring numbers of them to Jerusalem, to +add to those who dwelt in the city. "Now when this," that had happened +to the Apostles, "was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and +were confounded (or astonished beyond measure), because that every man +heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed, and +marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which +speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein +we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, (or Persians), and +the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, +and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya +about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and +Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of +God." + +Most of the countries here mentioned are parts of what we call Asia: +but in the New Testament, when Asia is spoken of, it seems to mean +only the parts about Lydia; that part of Asia, in short, known to us +as Asia Minor, which borders on the Archipelago, or Ægean Sea. Libya, +as well as Egypt, was a part of Africa. One of the kings of Egypt, +Ptolemy Lagus, the father of that Ptolemy who employed seventy-two +learned men to translate the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, did place a +good many captive Jews in Cyrene, and other parts of Libya. The +descendants of these people, and the proselytes they had made, were +amongst the number of Jews gathered together to the city of Jerusalem +at this time. + + + + +Chapter II.--THE LAME MAN HEALED BY PETER AND JOHN. + + +When the multitude of Jews from all parts of the earth, heard twelve +poor ignorant men of Galilee, able to speak easily in many different +languages, which they had most probably never even heard spoken +before, "they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to +another, What meaneth this?" The great truths of the Gospel thus +proclaimed, must indeed have startled them, for they could not but +perceive that God was with these men in a very remarkable manner. Some +of them, unwilling to believe the words spoken by the Apostles, tried +to make out that they had been drinking so much wine, that they did +not know what they were talking about, and ought not, therefore, to be +listened to. "Others mocking said, These men are full of new +wine,"--as if being drunk, could make any man speak a real language, +of which, in his sober moments, he knew nothing. + +It was of the greatest importance that all men should clearly +understand that the Apostles were really and truly the messengers of +God, and that the Holy Spirit had been wonderfully given to them, to +enable them to teach all nations: and therefore, when the accusation +of being drunk was brought against them, they stood up, and Peter, no +longer timid and fearful as to what man might do to him, lifted up his +voice, and spake boldly to the assembled multitude. It is most +probable that all this took place in some part of the temple. + +Peter began by declaring to the people, that he and his fellows were +not drunk, reminding them that it was only the third hour of the day. +The third hour, nine o'clock in the morning with us, was the time +appointed for service in the temple, and the pious and devout Jews did +not eat nor drink _anything_ before they attended it. Then Peter told +his hearers, that what they had now seen, was only the fulfilment of +the prophecies, that the Lord would pour out His Spirit upon all +flesh. Then he went on, and spake to them of many solemn things, and +of the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth; and how David, +whom all the Jews acknowledged to be a prophet, had declared +beforehand those things which had happened unto Jesus. Peter also told +the people, that "this Jesus, being by the right hand of God exalted" +into heaven, "and having received of the Father the promise of the +Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear": and +he ended his discourse with these plain and fearless words, "Therefore +let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that +same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." + +These words seem to have had a great effect on the people, for "when +they heard this, they were pricked in their heart," that is, their +consciences told them that they had greatly sinned in putting Jesus to +death; and now, feeling their need of help and guidance, they "said +unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what +shall we do?" The answer was ready: "Then Peter said unto them, +Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ +for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy +Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children, to all that +are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with +many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves +from this untoward generation,"--that is, separate yourselves from the +unbelieving and sinful multitude, and so save yourselves from the +wrath of God, which will rest upon all impenitent sinners. + +The success of Peter's words, proving the reality of the power given +to them by the Holy Spirit, must have been a great encouragement to +the Apostles to continue their labours, in humble confidence that the +same help would be ever with them. We read, "Then they that gladly +received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added +unto them," to the company of disciples, "about three thousand +souls"--a large number. Nor was it a momentary feeling that actuated +them, for we read, "And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles' +doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers"; +that is, they continued to listen to the blessed truths taught by the +Apostles of the forgiveness of sins for Jesus Christ's sake, partaking +with them of the Lord's Supper in remembrance of His death, and +joining in earnest prayer for grace, to enable them to serve God +acceptably. "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs +were done by the Apostles." Those who saw such miracles performed, +were more and more convinced that the Apostles were the messengers of +God; and they would naturally fear to offend the Almighty God, Whose +power was thus shown, and of Whose goodness the Apostles spake. + +"And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and +sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every +man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the +temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat +with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour +with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as +should be saved." Those who now became Christians, devoted themselves +and all their possessions to the service of God: content with food for +the supply of their daily wants, their whole object was to do the work +of God with "singleness of heart"; that is, with a heart wholly filled +with love towards Him, and to their fellow creatures for His sake,--a +heart whose single purpose it was to do the Will of God. No wonder +that those who acted in such a manner, found favour with all the +people, and that their example was followed, so that many were daily +added to the Church, or body of believers in Jesus Christ. + +We read just now, that those who believed had all things common, and +sold their possessions so as to make one common fund, out of which the +daily wants of each were supplied. Thus those who had goods and riches +gave them up; and those who had none were supplied out of their +abundance. + +This giving up of all private property by the rich, so that the poor +believers might be supported, was necessary at that time: for the +poorer class of people on becoming Christians, would get neither +employment nor help from their Jewish brethren; nor would they receive +any part of those sacrifices offered in the temple, which were devoted +to the relief of the poor. But however desirable this arrangement was +then, it was not _commanded_; it was a sacrifice made willingly by the +rich, for the benefit of the poorer brethren. In these days, to have +everything in common would be impossible; but though we are not called +upon to do this, we _are_ called upon and _commanded_ to help others; +and to deny ourselves, and sacrifice our own wishes, that we may be +able to do good to our fellow creatures; and thus show our love for +Jesus, Who says, "If any man seeth his brother have need and shutteth +up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" And +again, "To do good and to distribute forget not, for with such +sacrifices God is well pleased." Many other passages of Scripture +teach us the same lesson, and it is summed up as it were in the +command, "Do unto all men as ye would they should do unto you." + +The next act we hear of as done by the Apostles is, that "Peter and +John went up together into the temple, at the hour of prayer, being +the ninth hour." There were three fixed times for public prayer in the +temple: the third hour (or 9 o'clock in the morning), when the morning +sacrifices were offered; the sixth hour, that is, 12 o'clock or noon; +and the ninth hour, 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when the evening +sacrifices were offered. The gates of the temple were the favourite +resorts of cripples, who caused themselves to be carried to them, that +they might beg for money from those who were continually passing and +re-passing. Peter and John, going up to prayer in the middle of the +day, saw a poor man who had been lame ever since he was born, and +"whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called +Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple." When +this man begged of the Apostles they said unto him, "Look on us." The +man readily gave heed unto them, and did as they told him, "expecting +to receive something of them"; and so he did, though not of the kind +he expected. "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such +as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise +up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and +immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he, +leaping up, stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, +walking, and leaping, and praising God." When the people saw this man, +whom they had long known as a helpless cripple, "walking, and praising +God," they were naturally full of wonder and amazement. "And as the +lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran +together unto them, in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly +wondering." + +This porch was, you must remember, a sort of colonnade or piazza, +built over the same spot on which that built by Solomon in the first +temple, had stood. When Peter saw such a number of people assembled, +he spake to them, and said, "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? +or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or +holiness we had made this man to walk?" And then he told them, that +this cripple was made whole, because he had faith in Jesus Christ, who +was truly the Son of God the promised Messiah, though they had refused +to believe in Him, and had forced Pilate to crucify Him. But that, +although they had preferred a murderer, and had killed Him Who was the +Prince of Life, God had raised Him from the dead; as all the Apostles +could bear witness, and that in His name and by His power alone, was +this miracle worked. Peter then went on to say, that they did not know +what they were about when they persecuted Jesus even unto death; and +that if now, they would repent, and believe all that the Apostles +could tell them of Jesus Christ, their sins should be "blotted out." +And he reminded them, that Moses, and all the prophets since his time, +had spoken of the coming of Christ; and that to them, as the +descendants of the Children of Israel with whom the first covenant was +made, God had now sent His son Jesus Christ, to bless them, in turning +away every one from his iniquities. Peter and John were not long left +to preach undisturbed to the people: for "as they spake unto the +people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, +came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and +preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid +hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now +eventide." The captain of the temple was one of the Priests, who +directed and looked after all the guards and watches of the Priests +and Levites, who were appointed to keep the temple from being in any +way profaned. Before the death of Jesus, the Scribes and Pharisees +were His chief enemies; but now that His disciples declared and taught +that He had risen from the dead, the Sadducees became the most violent +opposers of the Apostles, who taught the doctrine of the Resurrection. + + + + +Chapter III.--ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA. + + +Although the Priests and the Sadducees did for the time put a stop to +Peter's discourse, they could not undo the effect which it produced; +for we read, "Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and +the number of the men was about five thousand." + +The next day Peter and John were taken before the Sanhedrim, where +Annas, the High Priest, and Caiaphas, with many others, were +assembled. "And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By +what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" Peter, filled with +the Holy Ghost, immediately told the members of the Council, that the +lame man was healed solely and entirely by the name or power of the +very Jesus of Nazareth, Whom they had crucified, Whom God had raised +again from the dead. And further he told them, that Jesus, Whom they +had rejected, was the corner stone as it were, the foundation of +Christ's Church; and that none who would not believe in Him could be +saved; saying also, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for +there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must +be saved." + +The boldness of the Apostles in thus speaking, greatly astonished +their hearers; especially as they "perceived that they were unlearned +and ignorant men." Unlearned and ignorant according to the ideas of +the world, but full of the best knowledge and wisdom; for by the Holy +Spirit, they had been taught those things which make men wise unto +salvation. All the learning in the world, although very useful and +desirable, will be of no value in the day of death; but the wisdom +which is from above, will then prove an inestimable treasure. Many who +are ignorant of everything but what the Bible teaches them, will then +be found more _truly wise_, than those who have spent their lives in +acquiring knowledge, without searching the Scriptures. + +The Priests and elders might well marvel; they knew the Apostles to be +unlearned fishermen, and they despised them as being Galileans; "and +they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And +beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say +nothing against it." They saw that Peter and John were two of those +who had always followed Jesus whilst He was on earth, and now it was +certain that they had worked a great miracle: they could not deny +this, for there, by the side of the two Apostles, stood the very man +whom they had healed: a man well known to all at Jerusalem, as having +never been able to stand upon his feet since he was born. The Priests +and elders could not say the man was _not_ healed; and therefore, as +they were determined _not_ to acknowledge the power of Jesus, they +were in difficulty as to what they could do to the Apostles. "But when +they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred +among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that +indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them, is manifest to all +them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it +spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, +that they speak henceforth to no man in this name." + +It is sad to hear of rulers who were only anxious to prevent the +people from believing in the truth! How truly did they bring upon +themselves the sentence pronounced by our Lord, when he said, "Woe +unto you lawyers, for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye +entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye +hindered." + +Having made up their minds what to do, the members of the Council sent +again for the Apostles: "And they called them, and commanded them not +to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John +answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God +to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but +speak the things which we have seen and heard." The Jews, who +professed to obey the Law given to Moses by God, could not possibly +say that it was right to obey man rather than God; and the sudden and +complete cure of this man, who was above forty years old, had given +such a proof that the Apostles acted under the immediate direction of +the Almighty, that the Priests knew not what to say or do. + +"So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding +nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men +glorified God for that which was done. And being let go, they went to +their own company, and reported all that the Chief Priests and elders +had said unto them." And when they heard that, they lifted up their +voice to God, and praised Him Who had done such great things, and had +accomplished every word that David and the prophets had spoken +concerning the Messiah, the holy child Jesus, against whom "both Herod +and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were +gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel +determined before to be done." + +And then the disciples prayed the Lord to grant them grace to speak +the truth boldly, undismayed by the fear of man; and to continue those +signs and wonders, which proved them to be acting by his special +direction. + +They were comforted and encouraged by an immediate answer to their +prayers: for "when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they +were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, +and they spake the word of God with boldness. And with great power +gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and +great grace was upon them all." They had well and fearlessly used the +grace already given to them, and therefore the Lord increased the +gift, and strengthened them still further for their work. + +"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one +soul": united together in perfect love and harmony; believing the same +truths, and having the same object in all they did; namely, that of +bringing all men to serve and obey the Lord. Even as to worldly +matters, as we have said, the same unity or oneness of feeling +prevailed, "neither said any of them that ought of the things which he +possessed was his own; but they had all things common. Neither was +there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of +lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that +were sold, and laid them down at the Apostles' feet: and distribution +was made unto every man according as he had need." + +At this time the Church of Christ, that is, the company of believers, +was joined by a man who afterwards took a great share in the work of +the Apostles: we read, "And Joses, who by the Apostles was surnamed +Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a +Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and +brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet." This Joses had +either been born in the isle of Cyprus, which lies in the eastern part +of the Mediterranean Sea, or he had lived there so long, that it was +quite like his native country. As a Levite, he could never at any time +have had any inheritance of land in Judæa; but of course a Levite +might _buy_ land in foreign countries, or even in Judæa itself, +particularly now, when the distinction into tribes was almost lost. +Joses had land probably in Cyprus, and being convinced that Jesus was +the Messiah, he determined to join the company of believers, and +devote his future life to the service of God and man, by preaching the +Gospel to others. He therefore gave up all that he possessed, and was +henceforth content to receive merely what was necessary for his food +and raiment, like the poorest disciple. His joining them, was a great +comfort and encouragement to the Apostles in their work, and they +therefore surnamed him Barnabas, which means the Son of Consolation. +By the name of Barnabas, he is always spoken of in Scripture. + +Soon after Barnabas had joined the Apostles, a fearful punishment fell +upon a man named Ananias, and his wife Sapphira, who also sold some +land, and then brought part of the money they had received for it, +pretending that they had brought the whole. When Ananias laid "a +certain part at the Apostles' feet," he _acted_ a lie, though he did +not speak one; and for the lie in his heart, Peter reproved him, +reminding him that he was not obliged to sell his land, and that +after he had sold it, he could have done as he pleased with the money; +but that to pretend he had brought the whole price, when he had only +given a part, was a grievous sin; for, said Peter, "thou hast not lied +unto man, but unto God." Immediately the wrath of God was shown in an +awful manner. "Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and gave up the +ghost: and the young men arose, wound him up" in grave clothes, "and +carried him out, and buried him," "and great fear came upon all them +that heard these things." We must observe also, that Ananias showed a +great want of faith: had he believed that the Apostles were really +filled with the Holy Ghost, he could not have expected to hide the +truth from them: in lying to the Apostles he had lied unto God; but in +fact all lies _are_ a sin against God. + +About three hours after the burial of Ananias, his wife Sapphira, not +knowing as yet what was done, came in. What she said we are not told; +but we read, "And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the +land for so much?" Her answer was a lie, for "she said, Yea, for so +much;" not, however, stating how _much more_ they had received for the +land. "Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed +together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them +which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee +out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the +ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying +her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the +church, and upon as many as heard these things." Well might fear come +upon all who heard of these two, struck dead in their sin! Let us also +fear, lest we likewise fall into the same condemnation; for though +liars may not now be struck dead with the lie on their lips, we know +that the Devil is the father of lies, and that "all liars shall have +their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, prepared +for the Devil and his angels." When we read such awful words, let us +remember that we may be guilty in the sight of God, without telling a +direct falsehood. All deceit and hypocrisy; holding our tongues when +we ought to speak the truth; and telling _part_ of the truth; are as +displeasing in the sight of God as direct lies. We must speak and do +the truth from our hearts; never attempting in any way to deceive +others, or even to allow them to believe what we know is not true. + +The Apostles, in spite of the threats of the Sanhedrim, continued to +preach to the people in Solomon's porch, doing many signs and wonders +among the people, who "magnified," or thought much of them; "and of +the rest durst no man join himself to them." After such a warning as +that given in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, no one who was not +really and truly willing to devote himself entirely to the service of +God, would dare to pretend to do so. + + + + +Chapter IV.--APPOINTMENT OF DEACONS. + + +The Apostles continued to teach the people, "and believers were the +more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch +that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on +beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by +might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the +cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which +were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one." + +The Priests and elders were much displeased at the Apostles having +such influence over the people, who, witnessing the miracles worked by +them in the name of Jesus, naturally believed in them, and in Him +whose servants they were. + +"Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which +is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, and +laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison." +In the morning the High Priest called the Council together, "and sent +to the prison to have them brought" up for trial. But the officers +sent, returned, "saying, The prison truly found we shut with all +safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors; but when we +had opened, we found no man within." And so indeed it was; for after +the Apostles were shut up in prison, "the angel of the Lord by night +opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand +and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And +when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the +morning, and taught." Thus, whilst the keepers did not even know that +their prisoners were gone, they were fearlessly preaching the Gospel +in the temple, in obedience to the Lord's command. + +When the members of the Council heard that the Apostles were no longer +in the prison, they could not help feeling that a miracle had been +worked for their deliverance; and they dreaded the consequence of this +fresh proof that the Lord was with them. Greatly perplexed, the High +Priest, and the captain of the temple, and the Chief Priests, debated +amongst themselves, and "doubted of them whereunto this would grow." +Whilst the Priests and elders were thus considering the matter, "came +one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are +standing in the temple, and teaching the people." + +This proof of the determination of the Apostles to obey God rather +than man, without fear of the consequences, must have added to the +perplexity of the Council, and increased their difficulty as to how +they should deal with these men, whom the people loved, and were ready +to defend against all who should attempt to hurt them. Wishing again +to speak to the Apostles, they gave orders accordingly. "Then went the +captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they +feared the people, lest they should have been stoned." Nor was there +any occasion to use violence, for the Apostles had no idea of +resisting: they were ready to bear witness to the Lord Jesus before +the Council, as well as in every other place. "And when they had +brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest +asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you, that ye should +not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with +your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us,"--that +is, to make the people treat them as if they were guilty of murder, +for having put Jesus to death. Peter and the other Apostles repeated +their declaration, that they must obey God rather than men; and then +they plainly told the Priests and elders that they had indeed killed +Jesus Christ, the Messiah; and that the God of Israel had raised Him +from the dead, to be the Saviour of all who would believe and repent: +and they further said, that God had appointed them to bear witness of +all things which Jesus had said and done; and that the Holy Ghost, by +whose help they worked miracles, was also a witness to the truth of +all that they taught to the people. "When they heard that, they were +cut to the heart"; but it was not a right sort of grief; for, instead +of believing the Apostles' words, and so turning to the Lord, they +"took counsel to slay them," that they might no longer preach the +Gospel of Jesus Christ. + +One of the members of the Sanhedrim was a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a +very learned man, much looked up to by all the Jews for his great +wisdom. This man stood up, and having commanded the Apostles to be +taken away for a short time, he spake to the other members of the +Council, "and said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to +yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men." Then he +reminded them, that on two former occasions, when false teachers had +for a time led many of the people even to rebel against their rulers, +it had ended in the false teachers being slain, and their followers +dispersed, so that no evil consequences had arisen. He therefore +advised that the Apostles should be left alone; "for," said he, "if +this counsel or this work be of men" (an invention of men only), "it +will come to nought: but if it be God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest +haply ye be found even to fight against God." Gamaliel evidently began +to think that what the Apostles said might be true, and that +therefore, in persecuting them, the Jews might be fighting against +God. To fight against God is to resist His will, to try to prevent +what He wills from being done. This is folly as well as sin; for the +Will of God must be done, and we "cannot overthrow it." Let us try to +bring our Wills into subjection and agreement with the Will of God: +where His Will contradicts our hopes and wishes, let us yield at once, +and pray that we may at all times be able to say from our hearts, +"Father, not my Will, but Thine be done." Those who through life +resist, and fight against the Will of God, will be forced at last to +submit to it, to their eternal misery. + +The other members of the Council agreed to follow the advice of +Gamaliel; but they did not do so without making another attempt to +frighten the Apostles from continuing their work. "And when they had +called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should +not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go." These commands had, +of course, no more effect upon the Apostles than the former threats. +"And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that +they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." They felt it +an honour to suffer for the sake of Him, Who had suffered so much for +them, and were only strengthened in their determination to show their +love, by faithfully doing the work which their beloved Master had +given them to do. "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they +ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." + +We have seen that the Believers, or Disciples, forming the Church of +Christ, had at this time all things in common; and, as their numbers +increased, it became impossible for the Apostles to divide the money +to every person according to their need, without neglecting the more +important work of preaching the Gospel to every creature. They had not +time to do both things properly. We read: "And in those days, when the +number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the +Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in +the daily ministration." We must remember that "Grecians" were not the +inhabitants of Greece, as the word might seem to signify. The Hebrews +here spoken of were of course Jews, natives of Judæa, now become +believers in Christ, or Christians. But, as has been already said, +there were Jews established in all lands, who had been born, and +always lived, there. Numbers of these had also become Christians, and +had now joined the Apostles' company at Jerusalem. These persons were +called "Grecians," "Hellenists," or "Hellenistic Jews," because in the +countries to which they belonged the Grecian language was spoken. +These "Grecians," living amongst foreigners, had lost all knowledge of +the Hebrew language, in which the Old Testament was originally +written; so that they made use of the Greek translation of the +Scriptures. _Hebrews_, then, were Jews of Judæa, who had become +Christians; _Grecians_ were Jews born in foreign lands, who had become +Christians. The natives of Greece were called Greeks. + +It seems that the Grecians thought their poor were not so well +attended to as those of the Hebrews, and so they were dissatisfied, +and a murmuring arose. The Apostles considered amongst themselves how +to remedy this matter; then, calling the multitude of the disciples +together, they explained that it was not reasonable to expect them to +leave their special work of teaching, to attend to worldly matters; +and they said, "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men +of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may +appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to +prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the +whole multitude." Such a wise and sensible arrangement could not fail +to meet with approval; and it was immediately put in execution. Of +the seven men thus chosen (called by us Deacons), there are only two, +of whose particular acts we read in Scripture. These are, a man named +Philip, and Stephen, of whom it is especially said, that he was "a man +full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." These men, chosen from amongst +themselves by the "multitude of disciples," were then "set before the +Apostles," who approved of the choice; "and when they had prayed" for +a blessing upon the step now taken, "they laid their hands on them," +thus consecrating, or solemnly appointing, the Deacons to their work, +and passing on to them by this significant action some of their own +power and authority; for, although these seven men were to take care +of the poor, and see that the common funds were properly distributed, +they were also to help in preaching, and even to baptize those whom +they should convert. + +The _word_ "deacon" is not in the Book of Acts; but in the Epistles, +Deacons are spoken of as persons appointed to help the Apostles, and +serve under them. In the Church now, when a young man is first +admitted to be what is called a clergyman, he is said to be a deacon: +afterwards he becomes a priest; but every man must be a deacon +_before_ he can be a priest. The new arrangement now made as to +deacons, appears to have answered well, for we read that "the word of +God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem +greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the +faith,"--that is, they came to believe the things spoken by the +Apostles, and to acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah; and then they +were obedient, and _did_ those things which the Gospel required. + +Faith must always produce obedience. If it does not, it is not true +faith, acceptable to God; nor will it avail us anything. Let us ever +remember, that faith is a root from which must spring all manner of +good works, the fruits of faith. If it does not produce these fruits, +it is of no more value than the root of an apple-tree, when the tree +bears no apples. + + + + +Chapter V.--THE FIRST MARTYR, STEPHEN. + + +"And Stephen," (the Deacon,) "full of faith and power, did great +wonders and miracles among the people." His success among the people +stirred up enemies against him. + +Every considerable synagogue among the Jews, had an academy or school +belonging to it, where young persons were instructed by the Rabbis: +and it would seem that Stephen visited different synagogues, and tried +to convince the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. "Then there arose +certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the +Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians (Jews from parts of +Africa), and of them of Cilicia and of (other parts of) Asia, +disputing with Stephen," and trying to contradict him; but as Stephen +spake as the Holy Spirit guided him, "they were not able to resist the +wisdom and the spirit by which he spake." When these Rabbis found that +they could bring no proofs against the truth of what Stephen taught, +"they suborned (or bribed) men, which said, We have heard him speak +blasphemous words against Moses, and against God"--an accusation as +false as the similar one brought against our blessed Lord Himself. By +this false charge, the people and the elders and the scribes were +stirred up against Stephen, and they "came upon him, and caught him, +and brought him to the council." Stephen now stood before the +Sanhedrim, and the Rabbis "set up false witnesses, which said, This +man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, +and the law: for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth +shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses +delivered us." Stephen had, no doubt, taught that the ceremonial part +of the law, given to keep the people in mind of the promised Messiah, +need no longer be observed, since the Messiah _had_ come in the person +of Jesus of Nazareth. Probably, too, he had warned the Jews, that the +temple, and even Jerusalem itself, would shortly be destroyed, because +the inhabitants refused to acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah. We +have seen before, how easy it is to give to true and good words a +false and bad meaning, if people are wickedly bent upon doing so. The +Lord God Almighty now seems to have given a remarkable sign, that this +man now accused of blasphemy, a sin directly against God Himself, +was, on the contrary, one of His favoured servants, and under His +peculiar care and protection: for we read that, "all that sat in the +council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the +face of an angel." To compare in this way the face of a man to that of +an angel, was a Jewish way of saying, that there was something more +than commonly pleasing and majestic in the countenance of such a man; +and most likely the Lord now gave to Stephen's face, some particularly +bright and holy look, so as to fill all who beheld it with surprise. +The false witnesses, having made their accusation, "Then said the high +priest, Are these things so?" Instead of answering as to the +accusations of blasphemy, Stephen endeavoured to show his hearers how +mistaken they were in their ideas of the Messiah; and how differently +they would act, if they would consider all that had been told to +Abraham and the rest of their forefathers, by God Himself. To this +end, Stephen reminded them of how God had called Abraham out of his +own land to be the father of the Children of Israel, giving him many +precious promises, and establishing with him and his seed the Covenant +of Circumcision in token of their being His peculiar people. Then +Stephen spake of Isaac and of Jacob, and of the twelve patriarchs; and +of how Joseph had been sold into Egypt, and was in time followed by +his Father and Brothers and their descendants; who remained in Egypt +four hundred years, according to what the Lord had told Abraham. Then +Stephen spake of the cruel treatment endured by the Children of +Israel; and how, in His own appointed time, God had wonderfully +preserved the infant Moses to be the deliverer of His chosen people. +He reminded them of the unwillingness of the Hebrews to listen to +Moses, although appointed by God for this very purpose; and then he +said, "This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and +a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the +hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. He brought them +out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, +and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years." + +All these things were well known to the Jews, who held Moses in great +reverence: and Stephen now reminds them, that it was this very Moses +himself who prophesied concerning the expected Messiah, "A prophet +shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto +me; him shall ye hear." Then proceeding with his history, Stephen +shortly noticed the giving of the Law; the idolatry and other sins of +the Children of Israel, which caused them to wander for forty years in +the wilderness, and caused the Almighty even then to warn them of a +future punishment for forsaking Him, "I will carry you away beyond +Babylon." Stephen then spake of "the tabernacle of witness," set up in +the wilderness by the command of God, as a sign or token of the +Covenant made between Him and His people. This tabernacle, he reminded +them, had been brought by their fathers under the leading of Joshua, +(for the word Jesus here used means Joshua,) into that land which had +hitherto been "the possession of the Gentiles"; and that, about four +hundred years after, David, "who found favour before God," "desired to +find," or build, a more suitable tabernacle for the God of Jacob. "But +Solomon built Him an house." + +Having thus mentioned the temple, Stephen took occasion to remind +them, that though it had pleased the Lord to manifest His glory in the +temple, and promise in a certain way to be present there, yet "the +Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the +prophet (Isaiah), Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what +house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my +rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?" Stephen spake with +proper respect of the temple, whilst he tried to show the Jews that +they now thought too _much_ of the temple, which was only a building +set up in honour of the Lord God Almighty; and too _little_ of Him, in +Whose honour and for Whose worship it had been set up. + +It seems probable that when Stephen spake of the temple, the Council +interrupted him, and showed their determination not to listen to his +teaching: for he now changed his tone entirely, and severely +reproached them, saying, "Ye stiffnecked (or obstinate) and +uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: +as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your +fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of +the coming of the Just One (the Messiah); of whom ye have been now the +betrayers and murderers." Stephen also charged them with not having +kept the Law which was given to them by God Himself, through the +disposition or ministry of angels; in that they had not received +Jesus, Who was the _object_ of that law. This plain speaking made the +members of the Council, and all who were present, quite furious +against Stephen. "When they heard these things, they were cut to the +heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth." Their rage had no +effect on Stephen: supported by the Holy Spirit, by whose inspiration +he had spoken, he had no fear of death: all his hope and trust were in +heaven. Stephen was destined to be the first martyr; and now to +strengthen his faith, and the faith of those who were still to remain +and do their work on earth, it pleased the Lord to show to Stephen a +glorious vision, as a proof that their crucified Master was really, as +He had said, at the right hand of God in Heaven; and that having done +everything exactly as He had predicted, He would most assuredly also +fulfil the gracious promise, to "be with them alway even unto the +end." Stephen, as we read, "being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up +stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing +on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, +and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." These words, so +full of comfort and encouragement to his fellow labourers, raised the +fury of the unbelieving Jews to the highest pitch: "Then they cried +out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears," that they might hear +no more of what they considered blasphemy. Nor was this all; without +waiting for a trial, they at once "ran upon him with one accord, and +cast him out of the city, and stoned him." "And they stoned Stephen, +calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he +kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to +their charge." Like his blessed Master, he prayed for them that did +the wrong--setting us an example that we should forgive injuries, and +pray for them which despitefully use us and persecute us. When Stephen +"had said this, he fell asleep." The death of a faithful follower of +Christ is but a sleep, from which he will awaken in the presence of +the Lord. Thus died the first martyr; "and devout men," that is, true +believers, "carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation +over him"; as well they might, when they thought of their own loss. + +In reading this history, let us remember that this same Jesus, Whom +Stephen saw at the right hand of God, still liveth there, to make +intercession for us. + +When Stephen was stoned, "the witnesses laid down their clothes at a +young man's feet, whose name was Saul." + +Those persons, upon whose witness or testimony any man was executed, +were, by the law, required to cast the first stone; thus, as it were, +taking upon themselves the guilt of murder, if they had become +_false_ witness. The witnesses who had accused Stephen of blasphemy, +prepared to do their part by taking off their long upper robes, so as +to have freer use of their arms: the garments thus taken off, were +placed under the charge of some one who had also been active in +getting the victim condemned. + +Saul was a young man, neither poor nor ignorant: he was a Jew, born at +Tarsus, a city in Cilicia; and under the care of Gamaliel, (who had +advised that the Apostles should be let alone,) he had been strictly +brought up as a Pharisee, and was filled with an intense hatred of all +who believed in Jesus. He "was consenting unto the death of Stephen," +anxious for it. Nor was he satisfied with one victim: for he took an +active part in "the great persecution of the church," which arose in +Jerusalem at this time. The violent behaviour of the Jews, scattered +abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, "all the disciples +except the Apostles." How it happened, that the Apostles were allowed +to remain in peace at Jerusalem, we do not know; but it was needful +that they should for the present remain there, to direct and govern +the affairs of the Church, and bring more believers into it; and +therefore the Lord protected them in Jerusalem, that the Gospel might +first be fully preached to the Jews, as had been appointed. + +Mean time, by driving so many disciples out of Jerusalem, the Jewish +rulers did the very thing they wished to prevent: for wherever these +disciples went, they did not cease to speak of the Messiah; thus +spreading the knowledge of the Gospel over the country, and bringing +many believers into the Church. + +Saul mean time was active against the truth: hunting out believers in +their own houses, that they might be punished: "he made havoc of the +church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed +them to prison." + + + + +Chapter VI.--CONVERSION OF SAUL. + + +The deacon Philip, having left Jerusalem in consequence of the +persecution after the martyrdom of Stephen, "went down to the city of +Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord +gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the +miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, +came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with +palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in +that city." + +There was, however, in Samaria at that time, a man named Simon Magus, +who pretended himself to be the expected Messiah. The Scripture says +of him, that he used sorcery and bewitched the people. We know that +before the coming of the Lord Jesus, evil spirits had a power which He +took from them, of getting possession of the bodies of men: and as has +been said before, it seems that bad men had sometimes dealings with +evil spirits, by whose help they did things which otherwise they could +not have done. But any one who did seek to have dealings with evil +spirits, was guilty of a very great sin: such unlawful deeds were +strictly forbidden by the Law; those who were guilty of them, were +called magicians, sorcerers, wizards, witches, &c., and were, by the +command of God, to be put to death. Simon had for some time deceived +the people of Samaria by his arts; but when Philip preached to them of +Jesus Christ and His kingdom, they believed his words, and "were +baptized, both men and women." Simon himself also believed that Jesus +of Nazareth was the true Messiah, and he likewise was baptized in the +Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, though he was still +far from understanding the true nature of the religion taught by +Philip. "When he was baptized, he continued with Philip," and +"wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." The +account of all that had been done by Philip at Samaria, soon reached +Jerusalem; and the Apostles sent Peter and John to finish the work so +well begun, for although Philip had taught and baptized the people, he +had no power like the Apostles, to bestow the gift of the Holy Spirit. + +When Peter and John were come down, they prayed for the converts "that +they might receive the Holy Ghost: (for as yet he was fallen upon none +of them; only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then +laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." + +Simon now showed how little he understood of the things of God; for +when he "saw that through laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy +Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this +power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." + +Peter reproved Simon very severely for having thought it possible +that the gifts of God could be bought with money; and told him, that +although he had received the outward form of Baptism, it was quite +plain that he was no true believer in Jesus Christ, but was still in +bondage to Satan. He then called upon him to repent truly of all his +wickedness, and especially of the fearful sin of which he was now +guilty, and pray to God, Who could alone forgive the thought of his +heart. + +Peter's words alarmed Simon, who now besought Peter's help, "and said, +Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have +spoken come upon me." + +When Peter and John had testified to the truth of all that Philip had +taught, they returned to Jerusalem; and as they went, they "preached +the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans." + +After these things had passed, Philip was directed by God to go into a +desert part of Judæa, lying between Joppa and Gaza, to meet an officer +belonging to Candace, the queen of a country called Ethiopia. This +man, who held the important office of treasurer, had become a Jew, and +was a sincere worshipper of God as far as his knowledge went. He had +taken a long journey in order to worship God in the temple, after the +manner of the Jews: and now returning homewards, he was sitting in his +chariot studying the Scriptures. "Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go +near, and join thyself to this chariot." Philip obeyed, and heard him +read that part of the prophecy of Isaiah which saith, "He was led as a +sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so +opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken +away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from +the earth." Philip asked him, "Understandest thou what thou readest? +And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?" + +Being earnest in his desire to learn, this officer was rejoiced to +meet with some one who seemed likely to give him the guidance he +needed; and so "he desired," or entreated "Philip, that he would come +up and sit with him" in his chariot, and explain the passage of +Scripture which he had just read. + +"And the eunuch (or officer) answered Philip, and said, I pray thee of +whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself or of some other man? Then +Philip," guided by the Holy Spirit, "opened his mouth, and began at +the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus": showing him that +these words were spoken of the promised Messiah; and that Jesus of +Nazareth, whom the Jews had so lately crucified, was indeed the +Messiah spoken of by the Prophets: and he doubtless spake of Baptism, +in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as +the appointed means of admission into the Church of Christ: for "as +they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch +said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And +Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And +he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." +This was enough. "And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and +they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he +baptized him." Philip had now done the work which he had been sent to +do. "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the +Lord caught away Philip," who was thus conveyed in some miraculous way +to a place called Azotus, "so that the eunuch saw him no more: and he +went on his way rejoicing," that he had been instructed in the Gospel, +and admitted into the Church of Christ by Baptism. This Ethiopian +officer was a true convert, and no doubt his future life proved him to +be so. + +Philip mean time found himself in a miraculous manner at Azotus, and +from thence journeyed northward, and "preached in all the cities, till +he came to Cæsarea," where his home was. + +The next event recorded in the Book of Acts, is the wonderful +conversion of Saul, who was suddenly, by the mercy of the Lord, +changed from being an enemy to all the followers of Jesus, into a true +believer, and an active and zealous preacher of the truth as it is in +Jesus. + +We have already heard of Saul as a persecutor, making havoc of the +Church at Jerusalem, after the death of Stephen. We now learn from the +Book of Acts, that, "breathing out threatenings and slaughter against +the disciples of the Lord," he "went unto the High Priest, and desired +of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues," giving him authority +"that if he found any of this way," any believers in Jesus, "whether +they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." The +High Priest was no doubt too glad to give this power to one who would +execute it zealously; and Saul set out on his journey, which turned +out very differently from what he expected and intended. + +For when "he came near Damascus, suddenly there shined round about him +a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice +saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Saul's answer +to this question, shows that he was even now convinced that the voice +was none other than the voice of God; for he said, "Who art thou, +Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest: it is hard +for thee to kick against the pricks." This seems to have been a Jewish +expression, meaning that it was useless for any persons to resist an +authority and power, which they could have no hope of overcoming, for +that they would only hurt and injure themselves; just as any person +kicking against thorns, would tear and injure himself, instead of +harming the thorns. Saul's heart was indeed touched and changed by the +Holy Spirit, and willing to obey the commands of Him whose followers +he had so cruelly persecuted; "he trembling and astonished said, Lord, +what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and +go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." "And +Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no +man": the excessive brightness of the vision he had seen, had deprived +him of his sight, and he arose from the earth blind and helpless. "And +the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, +but seeing no man." They had heard and seen something of what Saul had +done; enough to make them unable to speak from astonishment and awe: +they had heard a voice, but did not understand the words spoken, and +seeing no man, they were perplexed as to whence the voice came. Now, +however, seeing their master was blind, "they led him by the hand, and +brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and +neither did eat nor drink." We can well imagine how Saul passed these +three days in meditation and earnest prayer to the Lord, who had so +mercifully called him to be a true believer. His continued blindness +did not shake his faith, or lessen his love; on the contrary, they +increased more and more; and soon he had his reward, for the Lord +showed him in a vision that his sight should be restored to him. There +was residing in Damascus at this time a certain disciple, one of the +believers in Jesus, "named Ananias: and to him said the Lord in a +vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord,"--which meant, +Here I am, ready to obey Thee, and do whatever Thou shalt bid me do. +"And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the street which is +called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called +Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a +man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he +might receive his sight." This direction rather startled Ananias, who +well knew Saul of Tarsus to be the bitter enemy of Jesus Christ, and +of all who believed in Him: therefore, "Ananias answered, Lord, I have +heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at +Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the Chief Priests to bind +all that call upon thy name." But the Lord forbade Ananias to make any +further objections, since it was his duty simply to believe and obey; +and He said unto him, "Go thy way," do as I command thee. At the same +time, the Lord in His mercy encouraged Ananias, by making known His +purpose concerning Saul; saying, "for he is a chosen vessel unto me +(that is, a messenger), to bear my name," or to bear witness of the +things belonging unto God, "before the Gentiles, and kings, and the +Children of Israel: for I will shew him how great things he must +suffer for my name's sake." + +Ananias hesitated no longer, but went to the house pointed out to him, +"and putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, receive thy sight: +and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized." After +this, Saul at once joined the Church, or company of believers at +Damascus, and "straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that +he is the Son of God." All that heard him preach were greatly amazed, +knowing with what a very different purpose Saul had come to Damascus. +From other parts of Scripture we learn, that Saul did not at this time +stay long in Damascus, but went away into Arabia, where he stayed +quietly for three years; no doubt studying the Scriptures, and +preparing for the great work he was to do amongst the Gentiles. After +that, he returned to Damascus, about Anno Domini 38; that is, +thirty-eight years from the year in which Jesus Christ was born. + + + + +Chapter VII.--SAUL JOINS THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM. + + +Syria, of which Damascus was the capital, had become a Roman province +about sixty-three years before the birth of Christ. Whilst Saul was in +Arabia, Aretas, the king of that country, went into the land of Judæa, +to fight against Herod Antipas, who had married the daughter of +Aretas, and then treated her very ill. Herod was defeated in a +battle, and then he applied for help to the Emperor Tiberius, as +supreme ruler of Judæa. Tiberius commanded his general Vitellius to +chastise Aretas for his attack upon Herod, and bring him to Rome, +alive or dead. Whilst Vitellius was at Jerusalem preparing to execute +this order, Tiberius died; and Vitellius marched his army into winter +quarters. Aretas took advantage of this, and attacked the city of +Damascus, which he took, and kept possession of for some time. Saul, +as has been said, returned to Damascus whilst Aretas still held +possession of it. By his preaching, he confounded the Jews which were +at Damascus; for strengthened more and more by the Holy Spirit, he +spake of Jesus of Nazareth, "proving that this is very Christ." Not +knowing how to answer him, and fearing the effect of such preaching, +the Jews, after many days were fulfilled, "took counsel to kill him." +From another part of Scripture we learn, that the governor set over +the city of Damascus by Aretas, took part with the Jews, and caused +the gates to be watched night and day, to kill Saul, should he attempt +to leave the city, before the Jews had accomplished their purpose. But +all these plots were, by the mercy of God, made known in some way to +Saul. The disciples of course knew that the Lord could work a miracle, +to save one who was chosen to be a preacher of the Gospel; but they +also knew that it is the duty of man in all cases, to take proper +means for his own safety: and trusting that the Lord would bless their +efforts, "they took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a +basket." Saul being thus outside the walls, without passing through +the gates, journeyed on to Jerusalem. + +At that time, people living in one city, knew very little of what was +going on in others at a distance; and the war between Herod and +Aretas, would naturally have cut off even the usual communication +between Jerusalem and Damascus. If the Chief Priests and other members +of the Sanhedrim, had heard any rumour of Saul's wonderful conversion, +they would of course try to keep such a matter secret. These things +account for the fact, that the Apostles in Jerusalem had never heard +of the change that had taken place in Saul, whom they remembered as +consenting to the death of Stephen, and then going to Damascus to +persecute the believers. Three years had now passed since that time, +and the Apostles probably thought that during that period, Saul had +been actively employed in trying to prevent the spreading of the +Gospel. + +"And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed (or attempted) to +join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and +believed not that he was a disciple." Barnabas, however, in some way +had become acquainted with the circumstances concerning Saul: he +therefore "took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and declared +unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken +to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of +Jesus." This was sufficient; on the testimony of Barnabas, the +Apostles gladly received Saul as a fellow labourer, and from that time +"he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake +boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus," especially endeavouring to +convince the Grecians, or foreign Jews. But instead of listening to +Saul, "they went about to slay him"; which, when the "brethren knew, +they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus," his +native place in Cilicia. The removal of Saul at this time, seems to +have had a good effect; for we read, "then had the churches rest +throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and +walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, +were multiplied." + +Leaving the history of Saul for awhile, the Book of Acts gives us some +account of Peter's labours: he went from place to place, spreading the +knowledge of the Gospel everywhere. At Lydda, a very large village not +far from Joppa, "he found a certain man named Æneas, which had kept +his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto +him, Æneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. +And he arose immediately," the palsy leaving him and his strength +returning, as Peter spake these words. + +The news of what had happened at Lydda soon reached Joppa; and the +disciples who dwelt there, sent unto Peter, desiring that he would not +delay to come to them. The cause of their sending for the Apostle, was +the death of a certain disciple, a woman "named Tabitha, which by +interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and +almsdeeds which she did": her kindness and charity had made her to be +loved by all, and her death therefore caused great grief to those who +had benefited by her kindness. Peter obeyed the summons of the +messengers; he "arose and went with them. When he was come" to Joppa, +"they brought him into the upper chamber," where they had laid the +body: "and all the widows stood by, weeping, and shewing the coats +and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them." But Peter +put them all out of the chamber, and then "kneeled down, and prayed." +After this, turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise. And she +opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her +his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and +widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa; +and many believed in the Lord," in Whose name, and by Whose power, +Peter had worked this great miracle. + +It has been said of this Tabitha, that "by interpretation her name was +Dorcas." This good woman was a _Grecian_, or foreign Jewess, and as +such, her name was Tabitha, which means an "antelope"--a very graceful +animal of the deer kind, having very beautiful eyes. It was a common +practice amongst the Arabs, and other nations of Asia, to give to +female children the names of such animals as were particularly +admired. The Jews, instead of calling Tabitha by what was _to them a +foreign_ name, called her Dorcas; because that word, in their +language, meant antelope. Therefore, Dorcas was the Jewish +interpretation of Tabitha. + +Peter did not leave Joppa again immediately after the restoration of +Dorcas; on the contrary, "he tarried many days in Joppa, with one +Simon a tanner." + +The Gospel had by this time been preached freely to the Jews in +Jerusalem, and throughout Judæa, Samaria, and Galilee; and the time +was now come for it to be preached to the Gentiles also. Peter was +accordingly chosen by God to begin this work, about A.D. 40. We are +told, "There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a +centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one +that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the +people, and prayed to God alway." The Italian band, was a company of a +thousand Roman soldiers, acting probably as a guard to the Roman +governor of Judæa, whose usual residence was at Cæsarea, a city of +great importance. + +Cornelius was one of the centurions, or captains, of the Italian band: +he was a Gentile, who had already given up idolatry, and become a +sincere worshipper of the God of Israel: but as he had not observed +all the forms and ceremonies required by the Law, the Jews did not +look upon him as one of themselves. Such persons were called +"Proselytes of the Gate"; and although they were allowed to dwell +among the Jews, they were looked upon as unclean. + +Cornelius had brought all his household to worship the One True God: +he was constant in prayer; and he showed his love for God, by charity +to man for His sake. + +Such a devout man was well pleasing to the Lord, Who now called him to +a "knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus." Cornelius being engaged +in prayer about the ninth hour of the day, one of the times especially +appointed for prayer in the temple, saw in a vision an angel of God, +who told him that by his prayers and his alms (signs of faith and +obedience), he had found favour with God. The angel then bade him send +to Joppa for Simon Peter, saying also, "he shall tell thee what thou +oughtest to do." We may be sure that Cornelius received this divine +message with joy and thankfulness, and he immediately sent "two of his +household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him +continually"--men upon whom he could thoroughly depend, to Joppa, to +fetch Peter. On the morrow, as these messengers drew near to Joppa, +the Lord, by means of a vision, prepared Peter to receive them. About +the sixth hour Peter went up upon the house-top to pray, where he +would be quiet and undisturbed. "And he became very hungry, and would +have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance," or kind +of fainting fit. In this state he had a vision; and "saw heaven +opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a +great sheet, knit (or fastened together) at the four corners, and let +down to the earth." In this vessel, which is compared to a large +sheet, were "all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild +beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air"--many of these +creatures being unclean, according to the Jewish Law. "And there came +a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. But Peter said, Not so, +Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. And +the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath +cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the +vessel was received up again into heaven." Although Peter was a true +follower of Jesus Christ, he had not yet got over his Jewish +prejudices; but like the rest of his countrymen, looked upon the +Gentiles as unclean, and thought that it was as great a sin for a Jew +to keep company with a Gentile, as it would be for him to eat any of +the unclean animals, which the Lord forbade him to touch. The vision +now sent to Peter, plainly showed him that Jesus did not wish his +followers to observe any longer the ceremonial Law; and above all, +that in preaching the Gospel, no distinction was to be made between +Jew and Gentile. No man was to be looked upon as unclean, since it was +the Will of God that _all_ should come to the knowledge of the truth, +and be joined together in one body, the Church. + +This vision greatly astonished Peter, and perplexed him: but while he +"doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean," +the whole matter was made plain to him. By this time "the men which +were sent from Cornelius" had reached Joppa, and having made inquiry +for the house of Simon the tanner, they now "stood before the gate, +and called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were +lodged there:" and "while Peter thought on the vision," trying to +discover what it might mean, "the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three +men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down," to hear wherefore +they are come, and "go with them," as they will ask thee, "doubting +nothing"--having no doubts or fears upon the subject, but feeling sure +that you are doing right by going with them,--"for I have sent them." + + + + +Chapter VIII.--PETER AND CORNELIUS. + + +Having received the direct commands of God by the Holy Spirit, "Peter" +at once "went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; +and said, Behold, I am he whom you seek; what is the cause wherefore +ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and +one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the +Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his +house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged +them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain +brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered +into Cæsarea." Cornelius, knowing at about what time his messengers +might be expected back, had called his friends together to receive +Peter, whom he was anxiously expecting to come with his servants. "And +Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and +near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell +down at his feet, and worshipped him." Thus did the centurion show his +joy and gratitude after the manner of the Gentiles, who often did pay +to their fellow creatures that degree of reverence and worship due to +God alone; and Cornelius, looking upon Peter as the especial servant +of God sent to him by the interposition of an angel, might naturally +on his appearance fall into this error. Peter, however, at once +checked such an expression of the centurion's feeling; teaching him, +that the worship due to God must never be given to any man under any +circumstances; so, when Cornelius fell at his feet, "Peter took him +up, saving, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with +him, he went in, and found many that were come together. And he said +unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is +a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation; but God hath +shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore +came I to you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for." Having +thus given an account of himself, Peter very naturally added, "I ask +therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?" Cornelius at once gave +to Peter an account of the vision that had been vouchsafed to him, and +in consequence of which he had sent for him; and added, "and thou hast +well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present +before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." + +Peter, as a Jew, had been brought up to believe that the favour of God +was confined to the descendants of Abraham; but he now openly +expresses his conviction, that no such line of separation existed, +saying, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: +but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is +accepted with him:" a doctrine very displeasing to the unbelieving +Jews, but most comforting to the Gentiles, who were no longer shut out +from the favour of God, now that all distinction between Jew and +Gentile was done away with by the preaching of the Gospel. Peter then +spake to Cornelius and his friends of Jesus; of His Life, Death, +Resurrection, and of the commandment which He had given to His +Apostles "to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he +which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead;" and +Peter ended his discourse by repeating the great Gospel truth, "that +through faith in Jesus all may receive remission or pardon of their +sins." + +Even while Peter was speaking, the Lord gave a signal proof that there +was indeed, in His sight, no difference between Jew and Gentile, +amongst those who believed the Gospel, and became followers of Jesus; +for "the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word," that is, +the Gospel as now preached by Peter; and the Spirit enabled "them to +speak with tongues," that is, to speak foreign languages, as in the +case of the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost: for this instance of +mercy they did magnify and praise the Lord. + +"And they of the circumcision," the Jews who had become believers, and +had now accompanied Peter from Joppa to Cæsarea, "were astonished, +because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the Holy Ghost," in +this plain and unmistakeable manner. + +"Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not +be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" Peter +justly felt, that these Gentiles, who had so evidently been made +partakers of "the inward and spiritual grace of Baptism," might be +safely allowed to receive "the outward visible sign." "And he +commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed +they him to tarry certain days" at Cæsarea, that he might yet further +instruct them in the doctrines of the Gospel. + +Peter no doubt complied with this request, and we may be sure that he +dwelt on the necessity of holiness in all the followers of Jesus, and +exhorted his hearers to constant and earnest prayer to Him, from Whom +come all good gifts, and without Whose help man can do no good thing. + +"The Apostles and brethren that were in Judæa, heard that the Gentiles +had also received the word of God," without at the same time hearing +under what circumstances Peter had gone amongst them to preach it. + +"And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the +circumcision,"--that is, those Jews who, although they had become +disciples, still thought that the Law of Moses was to be obeyed in all +its ceremonies, and that the Gospel should be preached to Jews +only,--blamed, or "contended with Peter, saying, Thou wentest in to +men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." Peter, instead of being +angry, that he, one of the Apostles appointed by Christ, should be +thus called to account by those whose duty it was to learn of him, +quietly "rehearsed (or repeated) the matter from the beginning, and +expounded it by order unto them," beginning with his own vision at +Joppa, and ending with the baptism of Cornelius and his friends, in +consequence of the pouring out of the Holy Ghost upon them; saying, in +regard to this subject, "Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how +that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be +baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like +gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what +was I, that I could withstand God?" + +"When they heard these things, they held their peace," ceased to blame +Peter, seeing that he had only done as God directed him: and being now +convinced that it was indeed the Will of the Lord that the Gospel +should be preached to all nations, they "glorified God, saying, Then +hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." + +All who believe in Jesus Christ themselves, will always rejoice when +others are brought to do so too: Christians will ever show their love +for Jesus, by doing all in their power to bring others to know and +love Him: and whatever else we may be able to do, let us always +remember to pray for them, and to ask God to let "His knowledge cover +the earth as the waters cover the sea." + +One thing more we should remark, as it teaches us a useful lesson in +our dealings with our fellow creatures; and that is, how often +disputes and quarrels would be avoided, if we followed Peter's +example; and, instead of being angry when we are unjustly blamed, were +to take it patiently, and then quietly explain all the circumstances +which have caused the misunderstanding. But instead of that, amongst +us, whether children or grown-up people, if one makes a false +accusation, or casts undeserved blame upon another, that other too +often feels provoked and angry, and answers sharply; one sharp cross +answer leads to others; and so on, until there is a regular quarrel, +whereby both parties sin against God: and all this might have been +prevented by a few quiet gentle words of explanation. Let us remember, +"that a soft answer turneth away wrath," and that the "beginning of +strife is as when one letteth out water,"--we cannot tell where it +will stop. + +The Lord bids us live peaceably with all men: let us try to do so, +striving never to provoke others, nor to be provoked by them. + +We have seen that, after Stephen's death, most of the disciples left +Jerusalem, and "they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution +that arose about Stephen, travelled as far as the country of +Phenice," or Ph[oe]nicia, to the N.W. of Judæa, and to the isle of +Cyprus, and to the town of Antioch in Syria, which lay about twelve +miles from the sea, having the river Orontes running through it. To +all these distant parts the disciples travelled, "preaching the word +to none but unto the Jews only," who happened to be in those different +places. "And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when +they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians," the Jews born in +foreign lands, preaching the Lord Jesus. The people of Cyprus, and of +Cyrene on the coast of Africa, spake the Greek language; and +therefore, could make themselves understood by the Grecians, who knew +nothing of Hebrew, the language in which the other disciples preached. +"And the hand of the Lord was with" all them that preached; and "a +great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." + +"Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which +was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as +far as Antioch," to ascertain the truth of what the Apostles had +heard, and to confirm the faith of those who had turned to the Lord. +Barnabas was now numbered with the Apostles, and exercised like +authority; "for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of +faith." When he came to Antioch, and had seen how by the grace of God +so many were truly converted, he "exhorted them all, that with purpose +of heart they would cleave unto the Lord": that is, that they would +continue steadfast in the faith, and determine to devote themselves +entirely, body and soul, heart and mind, to the service of the Lord. +The preaching of such a man could not fail to have its effect; for he +was full of the Holy Ghost; and so we read that "much people was added +unto the Lord." + + + + +Chapter IX.--PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON. + + +Barnabas, finding that there was plenty of work to be done at Antioch, +"departed to Tarsus, for to seek Saul," that he might come and help +him. "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it +came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the +church" (that is, joined in the assemblies of the believers), "and +taught much people,"--converting, we may be sure, Gentiles as well as +Jews. Scripture tells us here, "And the disciples were called +Christians first in Antioch." Some people have thought that this name, +in which we glory, was given to the disciples by their enemies, in +scorn of them as followers of Christ; but it is far more likely that +it was given them by Saul and Barnabas, under the direction of the +Holy Spirit. + +Up to this time, the Jewish converts were called amongst themselves +"disciples," "believers," "saints"; and all together, "the Church." +Their enemies called them "Nazarenes," "Galileans," or the "men of +this way." Now that there were so many of them, it was quite necessary +that they should be distinguished by some peculiar name; and what name +could be more appropriate, than one which marked them as the followers +and disciples of Jesus Christ--believers in the Messiah, the Anointed, +through Whom alone they, and all mankind, could receive pardon of +their sins? Let us, whilst we glory in the name of Christians, take +care that we are not so in name _only_. All who are joined to Christ, +or made part of His body the Church, by Baptism, are now called +Christians. The cross is the sign, or symbol, of the Christian faith. +In Baptism, the figure of the cross is made on the forehead of the +person baptized, to signify that he, or she, is now entered as a +faithful soldier and servant of Christ; and that this service is to be +continued as long as life lasts. + +This shows us what each one of us should be,--"a faithful soldier," +fighting against all the enemies of our Lord, which are the Devil and +his evil angels, our own bad passions and desires, and every kind of +sin: and "a faithful servant," studying to know his Master's Will, +that he may do it thoroughly, whatever suffering or trouble it may +bring upon himself. Let us seriously consider whether we are such +Christians, really and truly trying to serve and please God. If we are +_not_, the name of Christian will be of no use to us. Jesus Himself +says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the +kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in +heaven." Let each one of us pray earnestly to God, that for the sake +of His blessed Son, Jesus Christ, He will give us the help of the Holy +Spirit, so that we may become true Christians in the sight of Him, by +Whom all our thoughts, words, and actions are known. + +In order to understand perfectly all that the Bible tells us, it is +necessary to mention a few circumstances connected with the history of +the Jews, which are not written in the Scriptures, but are told us by +a man called Josephus, himself a Jew, who lived at this time, and has +left us an account of all that he saw and heard amongst his +countrymen. We have already heard that Herod the Great, who slew the +infants of Bethlehem, had many descendants, who all bore the same +name, and several of whom are spoken of in Scripture. Some account has +already been given of them. Aristobulus, one of the unfortunate sons +of Herod the Great and Mariamne, left two sons: one named Herod +Agrippa, called also the Elder, to distinguish him from his own son, +named also Herod Agrippa; and another son, also called Herod, who +became King of Chalcis. Herod Agrippa the Elder lived for some years +quietly at Rome, as a private person, and was in favour with Tiberius, +who became Emperor of Rome A.D. 14. But some persons having accused +Herod, whether truly or falsely we cannot say, of wishing for the +Emperor's death, he was put into prison, where he remained until +Tiberius died, about four years after the Crucifixion of Jesus. +Caligula, who became Emperor at the death of Tiberius, A.D. 37, made +Herod Agrippa king over Iturea and some neighbouring parts of the +country. + +Pontius Pilate had ceased before this to be Governor, or Procurator, +of Judæa. A riot, or disturbance, had taken place amongst the people +of Samaria. Pilate put a stop to it; but he afterwards treated the +people with such extreme severity, that the Roman Emperor deprived him +of his government, which he had held for about ten years. Pilate was +banished to Vienne, a place in Gaul (as France was then called), and +there he killed himself. + +About the same time that Pilate was deprived of his office, Herod +Antipas was also deprived of his. Herod Antipas, the second son of +Herod the Great, was the tetrarch, or governor of Galilee, who put +John the Baptist to death, and who, with his men of war, mocked and +ill treated our blessed Lord, Who was sent to him by Pilate. A few +years after the death of Jesus, Herod wished to make himself king of +Judæa; and he was in consequence deprived of his government, and +banished into Spain, also a Roman province, where he died miserably. +So soon did punishment fall upon these two bad men, who had sinned +against the Lord Jesus Christ. + +Caligula, who made Herod Agrippa king over some parts of Syria and +Palestine, was anxious to be looked upon and treated as a god; and of +course his heathen subjects did not much care whether he were so +considered or not. But although the Jews had refused to believe in the +Messiah, they had, ever since the return from the Captivity, a horror +of worshipping anything but the Lord God Almighty, the God of Abraham. +When, therefore, Caligula ordered that a gilt statue of himself, as a +god, should be set up in the temple, all Judæa was filled with horror; +and for several weeks the people ceased from following their usual +occupations, and the country towards Mount Carmel was crowded with +people in mourning. The Roman governor of Syria, charged to set up +this statue, seeing the distress of the people, kindly listened to +their entreaties, that he would wait a little before he executed this +dreadful order. The Jews then applied to Herod Agrippa the Elder, who +happened to be in Rome; and he, with great difficulty, persuaded +Caligula not to insist upon setting up this statue. + +When Claudius became Emperor, A.D. 41, he added the provinces of Judæa +and Samaria to Herod's dominions, so that he governed the whole land +of Palestine, bearing the title of king. + +The trouble that the Jews were in under Caligula, prevented their +thinking so much of persecuting the Christians; and thus the Church of +Christ had a little rest, and went on increasing. But now that Herod +Agrippa had become King of Judæa, it was different; for he, seeing the +number of Christians increasing in a most extraordinary manner, was +fearful that they might rebel, and refuse to obey him as their king: +therefore we read, "Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth +his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the +brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the +Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also." Herod was anxious to +gain favour with his Jewish subjects; and there was no more certain +way of doing so, than by persecuting the Christians. Having therefore +killed one of the sons of Zebedee, he determined to take Peter, who +was one of the chief amongst the Apostles. "Then were the days of +unleavened bread"--that is, the Feast of the Passover was now drawing +near; and the preparation for that Holy Sacrifice had already begun, +by the putting away of leaven out of every Jewish house, according to +the Law of Moses. "And when Herod had apprehended Peter, he put him in +prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep +him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people," with +the intention, no doubt, of slaying him, as he had already slain +James. Four soldiers formed a quaternion; four quaternions therefore +were sixteen men, who were especially appointed to guard Peter. "Peter +therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of +the church unto God for him": and the prayers of the saints were more +effectual than all the precautions taken by Herod. + +It was customary with the Romans to fasten a prisoner to his keeper by +a light chain, which went round the wrist of each; thus rendering it +impossible for the prisoner to move without the knowledge of his +keeper. For greater security, Peter was thus bound to two of the +soldiers. + +During the night before the day on which "Herod would have brought +Peter forth, he was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two +chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, +the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: +and he smote Peter on the side," (to awaken him,) "and raised him up, +saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands," +(without disturbing the keepers). "And the angel said unto him, Gird +thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto +him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me." Peter did as he was +told; but all this time he was not aware that he was really free, but +thought he was merely dreaming: he "wist not that it was true which +was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were +past the first and the second ward," (different parts of the prison, +without being perceived by any of those who kept the doors,) "they +came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to +them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one +street; and forthwith the angel departed from him." His miraculous +work being now accomplished, the angel left Peter to go on his own +way. The departure of his heavenly guide seems to have aroused Peter +to the reality of what had happened; he no longer thought he had seen +a vision. "And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of +a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out +of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of +the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house +of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark." This Mark, whose +name was also John, was the writer of the Gospel bearing his name: +his mother was sister to Barnabas, and her house was no doubt a place, +where the Christian brethren often met for the purpose of prayer; and +now, although it was not yet daylight, "many were gathered together +praying." Probably they had spent the night in prayer for the +deliverance of Peter. "And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a +damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, +she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter +stood before the gate." + +The faith of the brethren was not strong enough to make them at once +believe in such a wonderful answer to their prayers. They knew that +Peter was securely shut up in prison; and so, when Rhoda suddenly +announced that he was standing at the door, they said unto her, "Thou +art mad"; thinking that she did not know what she was saying: and when +she insisted "that it was even so," they could not then believe that +it really was Peter himself, but said, "It is his angel," or spirit. +"But Peter continued knocking"; thus showing that it was no spirit, +but a real living being: "and when they had opened the door, they were +astonished." Peter would not allow them to express their astonishment, +but "beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace," (that is, +making a sign unto them not to speak,) he "declared unto them how the +Lord had brought him out of the prison." When he had finished the +wonderful recital, he said, "Go, shew these things unto James, and to +the brethren." + +Though in many respects all the Apostles were upon an equality, it was +necessary that some one of them should have the particular direction +of the affairs of the Church at Jerusalem; and James seems to have +held this office. The other Apostles therefore gave him an account of +their labours, and of anything remarkable which took place. This +James, called "the Less," to distinguish him from James the son of +Zebedee, is sometimes spoken of as "the Lord's brother," though there +is every reason to believe that he was not his brother, but the nephew +of His mother Mary. In those times, such near kinsmen as first +cousins--that is, the children of brothers and sisters--were often +called brethren. If the mother of Jesus had had any other children, it +would not have been necessary for our Lord to commend her to the care +of His beloved disciple John, whom He bade her to look upon as a son. + +James is always considered as the first Bishop: he was Bishop of the +Church in Jerusalem; and he remained in that city, whilst the other +Apostles travelled from place to place, preaching the Gospel to all +people. Peter was anxious that James, and all the brethren, should +know what had happened to him, that they might bless God for answering +their prayers in such a wonderful manner, and that their faith might +be strengthened, by seeing how able and willing the Lord is to +preserve His servants, and defend them from all enemies, as long as He +has any work for them to do upon earth. + + + + +Chapter X.--SAUL AND BARNABAS CALLED TO PREACH TO THE GENTILES. + + +After giving his message for James, "Peter departed, and went unto +another place," where Herod's officers would be less likely to look +for him, than in a house where the Christians were in the habit of +meeting. + +Nor did Peter remain in Jerusalem, where he would at any moment be +liable to be discovered: what he did is not quite certain, but there +is good reason to believe that he went to Rome, and preached the +Gospel to Jews and Gentiles; so as to found, or begin, the +establishment of a Christian Church in that city. It is also believed +that Mark went with Peter, and that he then wrote his Gospel, for the +use of the Christian converts at Rome. + +When Herod found that Peter had actually escaped out of prison, he +caused all the keepers of the prison to be put to death. + +After this, he "went down from Judæa to Cæsarea, and there abode." + +From other writings we learn, that Herod went to Cæsarea at this time, +for the purpose of celebrating a festival in honour of Claudius Cæsar, +who had become Emperor of Rome a year or two before, in A.D. 41. We +also learn that the people of Tyre and Sidon had in some way or other +offended Herod, who was intending to make war upon them. The idea of +war greatly alarmed the inhabitants of Ph[oe]nicia, because they got +the chief part of their wheat and honey, and other provisions, from +the land of Judæa; and of course if there were a war, such supplies +would be stopped, and a famine would be the consequence. We read in +the Scripture, that "Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and +Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus +the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their +country was nourished by the king's country." Herod, at the request of +Blastus, consented to receive the messengers sent from Tyre and Sidon. +"And upon a set day," a day appointed for the purpose, "Herod, arrayed +in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration" (or long +speech) "unto them." What Herod said, we do not know; but Josephus +tells us that he wore on this occasion a magnificent robe of silver +tissue, and that the sun shining upon it, made it look so dazzlingly +bright and beautiful, that the people cried out, Forgive us for having +only paid honour to you as a mortal king: from this time we shall look +upon you as being far superior to mortals! Instead of reproving them +for thus setting up a mortal man as being equal to God, Herod was +pleased with this speech; but he had soon cause to repent of his pride +and folly: for before he left the theatre, or public building in which +such assemblies took place, he was seized with most dreadful pains in +his stomach, so that in his agony he exclaimed, "I whom ye have called +a god am now going to die a miserable death." The king was then +carried to his palace, where he died after five days of fearful +suffering: a warning to all, who allow others to treat them as if they +were beings superior to their fellow-men. + +None of this is told us in the Bible: all that we read on this subject +in the Book of Acts, is, that Herod "made an oration. And the people +gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And +immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God +the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost." + +Herod died about A.D. 44, lamented by the Jews, whose favour he had +gained by his persecution of the Christians: the Roman soldiers, on +the contrary, rejoiced at his death, and spake against him, which made +the Jews very angry. This bad feeling now raised between the Roman +soldiers and the Jews, was one cause of the troubles and disturbances +which soon followed: for from this time until Jerusalem was destroyed, +twenty-six years later, the land of Judæa never enjoyed any real rest +or quiet. How could the blessing of God, which can alone give peace +and happiness, rest upon a people who had so fearfully sinned against +God, by their rejection of the Messiah, His Son Jesus Christ. + +Herod Agrippa the Elder, of whose death we have just spoken, left +three children: a son, bearing his own name of Herod Agrippa; and two +daughters, Bernice and Drusilla, both mentioned in Scripture. + +Herod Agrippa the Second, or Younger, was only seventeen years old +when his father died; and his dominions were therefore placed under +the care of a Roman governor; but afterwards he was allowed to rule +over a part of them, and to take the title of king: and upon the death +of his uncle, Herod king of Chalcis, the Emperor Claudius allowed this +Herod Agrippa to succeed to his kingdom. Nero, who became Emperor of +Rome, A.D. 54, added to the dominions already possessed by Herod +Agrippa the Second, in the land of Judæa. We shall hear of him again +in the Book of Acts. Both Drusilla and Bernice were bad women: +Drusilla married Azizus, king of the Emesians; but Felix, a Roman, who +afterwards became governor or procurator of Judæa, persuaded her to +leave her husband, and become his wife. Of this Felix we shall hear +more by and by, after he became the governor of Judæa. + +We must now go back to the history of Saul and Barnabas, whom we left +at Antioch preaching the Gospel, and bringing into the Church many +converts, who were then called Christians. + +Whilst Barnabas and Saul were still at Antioch, preaching the Gospel +of Jesus, there "came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there +stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified (or foretold) by (the +direction of) the Spirit that there should be great dearth (or famine) +throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius +Cæsar," who was at that time Emperor of Rome. The word here translated +"world," sometimes means the Roman Empire, and sometimes only the land +of Judæa. In this case, it appears to mean Judæa only; for the dearth +seems to have been confined to that country: and Josephus, speaking of +this dearth in the reign of Claudius, tells us, that large quantities +of corn were sent up to Jerusalem from the neighbouring provinces, +which could not have been the case if the dearth had been felt in them +also. On the announcement of the distress about to come upon their +brethren in Judæa, "the disciples" at Antioch, "every man according to +his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt +in Judæa." By this we learn, that the custom of having all things in +common had not been followed at Antioch. Most probably by this time it +had been given up altogether; for now that the numbers of Christians +had so largely increased on all sides, the plan of having all things +in common would be no longer desirable, or even practicable. Each +Christian of Antioch determined then to give what he could for the +relief of their fellow Christians in Judæa; "which also they did, and +sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul," who +immediately set out from Antioch, to take the money thus collected to +the elders of the Church at Jerusalem. These two Apostles stayed in +Jerusalem for some months; probably about a year. We learn from +another part of the Book of Acts, that during this stay at Jerusalem, +Saul had a very remarkable vision. He was praying in the temple, when +by the power of God he fell into a trance. Whilst he was in this +state, his bodily senses suspended as it were, and his mind more alive +to spiritual things, Jesus Christ appeared to him, and said, "Make +haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not +receive thy testimony concerning me." It surprised Saul to be told +that the Jews of Jerusalem would not believe him: they knew how he had +formerly persecuted the Christians, and therefore his change of +opinions would, he thought, have great weight in convincing them of +the truth of what he now taught them: therefore he answered, and said, +"Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them +that believed in thee: and when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was +shed, I was also standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept +the raiment of them that slew him." + +To man, these things might seem to make Saul the most fit person to +convince his countrymen, but not so with God, Who had chosen Saul +especially to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. In answer to his +pleading, therefore, Jesus now gave this positive command, "Depart: +for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles." This was enough, +and from henceforth Saul became a distinguished preacher to the +Gentiles. "And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they +had fulfilled their ministry," (that is, the work which they came to +do,) "and took with them John, whose surname was Mark," who had before +this accompanied Peter to Rome. + +Barnabas and Saul therefore went back to Antioch, but they did not +long remain there. + +"Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and +teachers," who joined with Barnabas and Saul in preaching the Gospel. +"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, +Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called +them." In what way the Holy Ghost spake, we are not told; but in some +way or other the Lord made known His Will to His faithful servants, +whilst they were engaged in the performance of their religious duties. +The work unto which Barnabas and Saul were now called, was that of +preaching the Gospel, not to Jews only, or even to Proselytes of the +Gate, but also to the idolatrous Gentiles, so as to bring them to +leave their false religion and become Christians. Although the +appointment of Barnabas and Saul to this work was direct from God, yet +outward forms were to be observed in dedicating them to it, and solemn +prayers offered up for their success. In this matter, no doubt the +prophets and teachers acted by the direction of the same Spirit which +had bade them separate, or set apart the two Apostles for this +particular work. "And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their +hands on them, they sent them away." + +Barnabas and Saul now set out on their first journey, about A.D. 45. +"So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia," +a port at the mouth of the river Orontes, a little to the west of +Antioch; "and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at +Salamis," a city in the eastern part of the island, "they preached the +word of God in the synagogues of the Jews"; for though they had a +positive commission to preach to the Gentiles, they were not to +neglect the Jews, but preach the Gospel first to them, if they would +but listen to it. "And they had also John (or Mark) to their +minister,"--to help in their ministry or work. + + + + +Chapter XI.--SAUL'S NAME CHANGED TO PAUL. + + +Having preached the Word at Salamis, Barnabas and Saul, with Mark, +journeyed on, proclaiming their good tidings in every village. "And +when they had gone through the isle," they came unto Paphos, the chief +city, situated on the western coast of Cyprus. Here the "deputy of the +country," that is, the magistrate or governor appointed by the Roman +Emperor, resided: this deputy, whose name was Sergius Paulus, was +himself a Roman and a heathen; but he was "a prudent man," that is, a +man of good sense and understanding; therefore, when he heard of +Barnabas and Saul teaching new and wonderful doctrines, he was +anxious to hear and judge for himself as to their truth: he therefore +"called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God." +But Sergius Paulus had with him, as his friend and adviser, a Jew, +whose name was Bar-jesus: he was also called Elymas, because he was +looked upon as a sorcerer or magician, and the word "Elymas" means +something of that sort. This man, who pretended to be a prophet, and +to have power to work miracles, did not at all wish that Christianity +should spread; and seeing that the Roman governor was inclined to +believe what the Apostles taught, he contradicted them, "withstood +them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith." For this +conduct Saul reproved him severely, pronouncing upon him a heavy +punishment: we read, "Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled +with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, O full of all +subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all +righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the +Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou +shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there +fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to +lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, +believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord." He saw that +the Apostles were far superior to Elymas, who could not save himself; +and he at once believed all that they taught, convinced that God was +indeed with them. + +We have read, "then Saul, who also is called Paul"; and we find that +from this time he is never again spoken of in Scripture by the name of +Saul. As the Bible does not tell us _why_ his name was changed, we +cannot be sure; but there are several reasons which may have caused +the change. First, Sergius Paulus was the first idolatrous Gentile +mentioned as having become a Christian, and it is very probable that +the Apostle had the name of Paul (which is the same as Paulus) given +to him, in remembrance of this act of mercy shown to the Gentiles by +God. Then, again, the Jews, particularly those who like Paul were not +born in the land of Judæa, often had a Roman as well as a Hebrew name +given to them; and they called themselves by either, according to the +custom of the people amongst whom they went. Some persons think that +the Apostle now chose the name of Paul, which means "little" or +"weak," instead of that of Saul, meaning "beloved" or "desirable." +Paul was now humble; he felt that he was weak, and that whatever he +might be able to do, could be done only by the power of the Holy +Ghost, directing and helping him. But whatever the cause may be, it is +certain that from this time he is always called Paul--a name much more +pleasing to the Gentiles, amongst whom he was appointed to teach, than +the Hebrew appellation of Saul. The remaining chapters of the Book of +Acts give us the account of the Five Journeys made by this Apostle, in +order to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles: of the other Apostles we +hear but little. We generally speak of the Apostles and Evangelists as +_St._ Peter, _St._ John, _St._ Paul, _St._ Matthew, _St._ Luke, &c. +"Saint" means good and holy; and we may well call the Apostles so, to +distinguish them from other men; for they were holy men, inspired and +guided in a peculiar way by the Holy Ghost, and we should, therefore, +speak of them and think of them with reverence; remembering, that by +their preaching and writings, we, and all mankind, have learnt the +blessed tidings of salvation through Jesus Christ. St. Paul was now on +his first journey, in company with St. Barnabas; and St. Mark was with +them. From Paphos they sailed to Perga, in Pamphylia, a country in the +southern part of Asia Minor. The Scripture tells us that here John, or +St. Mark as we call him, "departing from them, returned to Jerusalem." +Why he did this, we are not told; but from what we read in other parts +of Scripture, we are sure that he did wrong. He was a young man, and +probably he was discouraged by the idea of all the difficulties and +hardships which the Apostles must meet with. After the departure of +St. Mark, St. Paul and St. Barnabas travelled northward into the +province of Pisidia, where there was also a town called Antioch, +built, like Antioch in Syria, by Seleucus Nicanor, who was king of +Syria after the death of Alexander the Great. Seleucus gave the name +of Antioch to these cities, in memory of his father Antiochus. When +the Apostles came to Antioch in Pisidia, they "went into the synagogue +on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and +of the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, +Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the +people, say on." We have already learnt that the Jews were required to +set up a synagogue, in any place where ten men could meet for public +worship; and that every synagogue had its rulers: men respectable both +from age and character, who directed the services, and had some +authority over other members of the congregation. On the Sabbath +morning, two lessons were appointed to be read: one out of the Law, or +Books of Moses; the other from the writings of the Prophets: on +week-day mornings, the Law only was read. After these Lessons had been +read, it was customary for some Teacher or Rabbi to preach or speak to +the people: and if any strange teacher or learned man happened to be +present, he was often called upon by the rulers of the synagogue, to +perform this part of the service. Even if the rulers of the synagogue +at Antioch in Pisidia, knew nothing before this of the Apostles, they +would see at once that they were Rabbis or Teachers, because they "sat +down," which was customary for all belonging to this class: probably, +too, they sat down in the seats expressly set apart for the Doctors +and Teachers. + +Being invited by the rulers of the synagogue to "say on," if they had +"any word of exhortation for the people," the Apostles gladly seized +the opportunity of speaking to them of Jesus, and exhorting them to +believe in Him. "Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand," to +draw the attention of the congregation, "said, Men of Israel, and ye +that fear God, give audience," that is, listen to my words. By the +"men of Israel," St. Paul meant Jews born of Jewish parents, the real +descendants of Abraham: by "ye that fear God," he meant proselytes +from the Gentiles who had adopted the Jewish religion, though they +were not Jews by birth. Both equally needed to be taught the Gospel, +and St. Paul, calling upon both to listen, spake of the bringing of +the Children of Israel out of Egypt; of the mercy of God shown to them +in their wanderings, in spite of all their sins; and of their final +settlement in the land of Canaan. He then mentioned their government +by Judges, until, at the wish of the people, God gave them a king in +the person of Saul, who was succeeded by David, a man favoured by the +Lord. St. Paul then went on to explain that God had, according to His +promise, raised up from David's seed or descendants, a Saviour in the +Lord Jesus Christ, to whom John the Baptist had borne testimony; but +that the Jews and their rulers had put Him to death: thus fulfilling +the prophecies, though, if they had attended to their meaning, they +would have understood that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah. St. +Paul then proceeded to show that God had fulfilled all His promises, +as written in the Psalms or elsewhere, by raising Jesus from the dead; +adding, "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that +through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by +him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye +could not be justified by the law of Moses." None could be justified, +or accounted righteous by the law, because none could keep all its +commandments and ordinances; but those who believed in Jesus as their +Saviour, would for His sake, be _looked_ upon as righteous. Having +thus preached to the congregation the great Gospel truth of remission +of sins, St. Paul warned his hearers not to disregard his words, lest +the sentence pronounced by one of their prophets, "Behold, ye +despisers, and wonder, and perish," should fall upon them. + +The words of St. Paul made an impression upon some part of his +hearers; for when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the +Gentiles, that is, the Jewish proselytes from the Gentiles, besought +that these words might be preached to them again. Many of the Jews and +religious proselytes also followed Paul and Barnabas, when the +congregation was broken up, and were persuaded by the Apostles to hold +fast the blessed truths, which by the grace of God they had learnt. + +The fame of St. Paul's preaching, mean time, spread rapidly, "And the +next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word +of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with +envy," fearing lest the Gospel, which they rejected, should be +believed by others; and therefore they "spake against those things +which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming." Then Paul +and Barnabas plainly told these Jews, that they had begun by preaching +the word of God to them, because such was the Will of God; but, as +they wilfully refused the salvation thus offered to them, they should +now, in obedience to the same God, turn to the Gentiles, and bring the +heathens into the Church of Christ, Who was to "be for salvation unto +the ends of the earth." The Gentiles, the idolatrous Gentiles, who now +for the first time forsook their idols, as well as those who had +already turned from idolatry to worship the God of the Jews, were very +glad when they heard this, "and glorified the word of the Lord"; and +many of them believed. This made the Jews very angry, and they +"stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the +city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled +them out of their coasts." The devout and honourable women were female +proselytes of rank, who had great influence over the lower classes in +the city. By their false accusations, the unbelieving Jews managed to +stir up the higher class of citizens and the rulers of the city, to +persecute the Apostles and drive them out of their country. "But they +shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium," +a town to the S.E. of Antioch, in the province of Lycaonia. We must +remember, that when Jesus first gave commandment to His Apostles to go +and preach to the Jews, He told them that when they left any house or +city, where the people refused to hear them, they were to shake off +the dust of their feet, to show that they would have nothing more to +do with them: just as the Jews, who looked upon the dust of heathen +lands to be polluted, shook it off their garments, to signify that +they had nothing to do with such idolaters. But the disciples, who +were left at Antioch, "were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost." +They rejoiced in the knowledge of those blessed truths which they had +learnt from the Apostles; and the Holy Ghost was abundantly shed upon +the members of the infant Church at Antioch, encouraging and assisting +them to increase in faith and righteousness of life. + + + + +Chapter XII.--ST. PAUL'S FIRST APOSTOLIC JOURNEY. + + +"And it came to pass in Iconium, that Paul and Barnabas went both +together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great +multitude of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the +unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil +affected against the brethren." Still the Apostles abode there for a +long time, speaking boldly; the Lord bearing testimony to the truth of +what they taught, by the miracles He enabled them to work. + +"But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the +Jews, and part with the Apostles." The result was, that the Apostles +were in danger of being stoned, by the joint attack of the heathens, +and the Jews and their rulers. But being aware of their danger, "they +fled unto Lystra," a town to the S.E. of Iconium, "and there they +preached the Gospel." + +At Lystra there was a certain man who had been lame from his birth, +and had never walked, being "impotent in his feet." "The same heard +Paul speak," and believed. Paul, "perceiving that he had faith to be +healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet." The +people, seeing such a wonderful cure effected at the bidding of the +Apostle, immediately thought that he and Barnabas were two of their +imaginary gods; and cried out, "The gods are come down to us in the +likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter," who was their +chief god; "and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker." +Mercurius, or as we call him Mercury, was the god of eloquence; +supposed to enable people to speak well: he was considered to be a +constant attendant upon Jupiter. "Then the priest of Jupiter, brought +oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with +the people," to the gods whom they supposed had honoured them with a +visit. Oxen and bulls were sacrificed to Jupiter; garlands of flowers +were placed on their heads, and the priests also wore garlands. Every +heathen city was placed under the protection of some particular deity, +called its tutelary god; whose temple or statue was set up before the +city gate. The tutelary god of Lystra was Jupiter, the statue of +"which was before the city." + +The Apostles were dreadfully distressed at the idea of such things +being done in their honour; and "they rent their clothes, and ran in +among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these +things? We also are men of like passions with you"; and then they went +on to tell them, that they were come on purpose to teach all people to +give up worshipping idols and believing in vain gods, and to turn +instead to the One only God, who made all things, and caused the +fruits of the earth to grow for the food of man; and Who, though in +times past he had suffered all nations to walk in their own ways, had +now sent His messengers, the Apostles, to teach men better things. + +With difficulty the Apostles prevented the people from doing sacrifice +unto them. + +These people, who had been ready to worship the Apostles as gods, were +soon led into a contrary extreme: for certain Jews came from Antioch +and Iconium, who probably told the people of Lystra, that Paul and +Barnabas were only magicians and sorcerers; and that though they had +by their wicked arts healed one cripple, they were just as likely to +do harm to their fellow creatures as good. These men, "persuaded the +people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing +he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he +rose up, and came into the city." The Lord had work for him to do, and +now restored him to life. What had now happened, was a warning to Paul +to remain no longer at Lystra; "and the next day he departed with +Barnabas to Derbe," another city of Lycaonia, not far from Lystra. +"And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught +many," they, trusting in the protection of God, went again to Lystra, +and to Iconium, and Antioch, to strengthen the faith of those whom +they had already converted to Christianity; "confirming the souls of +the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith"; and +showing them that those who would enter into the kingdom of heaven, +must expect many troubles upon earth. The Apostles then appointed +elders to look after and direct the affairs of every Church, or body +of Christians in those towns, and with prayer and fasting, they +commended them to the protection and blessing of "the Lord, on whom +they believed." + +St. Paul and his company then journeyed through Pisidia and Pamphylia: +"and when they had preached the word in Perga," the chief city in +Pamphylia, "they went down into Attalia," a sea-port to the S. W. of +Perga, "and thence sailed to Antioch," in Syria. This ended St. Paul's +first Apostolic Journey, which had occupied rather more than one year. +At Antioch they had been appointed to their work; and the protection +and grace of God had been prayed for to enable them to perform it. +They had now accomplished their work, and therefore they "gathered the +church together," and told all that they had done, or rather "all that +God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto +the Gentiles"--that is, how, by their preaching, God had given to the +idolatrous Gentiles an opportunity of becoming true believers, and +members of the Church,--an opportunity of which great numbers had +gladly taken advantage. + +No doubt all the believers in Antioch rejoiced greatly when they heard +of the success which had attended the Apostles' preaching; for all who +know and love God themselves, are anxious that others should do so +also. + +St. Paul and St. Barnabas abode for some time with the disciples at +Antioch: probably for about two years. Towards the end of this period, +the Christians at Antioch were disturbed by the mistaken teaching of +certain men who came down from Judæa. These men, who were Jews, had +belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, and though now converted to be +Christians, they could not yet believe that all the ceremonial part of +the Law of Moses was to be entirely done away with: therefore, when +they were come to Antioch, they "taught the brethren, and said, Except +ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." + +Such teaching, so very different from that of the Apostles, caused +great distress in Antioch, where most of the believers had either been +proselytes of the gate, only worshipping the Lord God of Israel, but +not observing any of the ceremonies commanded by the Law of Moses; or +else idolaters, until they became Christians. All these converts had +been truly taught by St. Paul and St. Barnabas, that if they believed +in Jesus so as to obey His word, that was quite sufficient; and that +they would be as acceptable in the sight of God, as if they had been +Jews from their birth, keeping the whole Law perfectly. The Christians +of Antioch therefore might well be frightened and distressed, at being +now told that they could not obtain the salvation promised by the +Gospel, unless they kept all the ordinances of the Mosaic Law: in +short, that if they wished to be saved, they must be Jews as well as +Christians. The Apostles of course opposed these Jewish teachers, and +tried to convince them that the Gospel was all-sufficient; and that +Christ's disciples had but to follow their Master's teaching. They do +not seem, however, to have succeeded, and the perplexity of the +Christians continued. "When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small +dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and +Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto +the Apostles and elders about this question"--that is, to ask James +and the elders of their Church, to decide, whether the Jewish teachers +or the Apostles were to be believed. + +Just before this time, we learn from other histories, that there had +been great troubles amongst the Jews in Judæa. A famine had afflicted +the country,--probably that which Agabus had foretold. This had been +followed by riots. In the year 48 (A.D.), a Roman soldier, who cared +nothing for the religion of the Jews, and did not look upon the temple +as a holy place, profaned it in some way, and thus made the Jews very +angry. A great tumult was immediately raised, and several thousand +Jews were crushed or trampled to death, in the narrow ways leading to +the temple; and other disturbances followed. + +These things are not mentioned in the Bible, but it is well to note +them, as they show us how the punishment of the Jews as a nation, was +continually felt, from the time when they filled up the measure of +their guilt, by crucifying their Messiah. + +It was in the year 49 (A.D.), that St. Paul and St. Barnabas left +Antioch for Jerusalem, in order to consult the Church there, as to the +necessity of keeping the Law of Moses. + +We read in the Book of Acts, that "being brought on their way by the +church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the +conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the +brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of +the church, and of the Apostles and elders, and they declared all +things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the +sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to +circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." This +last passage is not very clearly put: the last verse is what the +Apostles _said_ as to the reason of their coming to Jerusalem. + +The meaning of the whole passage is, that St. Paul and St. Barnabas +explained to the Church all that it had pleased God to do by means of +their preaching, and how great numbers of the Gentiles had become +Christians, and were serving God faithfully: but that certain of the +sect of the Pharisees which believed, had disturbed them by saying, +that it was needful that they should be circumcised like the Jews, and +keep all the ceremonies and ordinances commanded by the Law of Moses. + +James and the other elders of the Church, having heard all that St. +Paul and St. Barnabas had to say, saw that it was very necessary to +settle a question, which was of the greatest importance to the +converts from the Gentiles. And they "came together for to consider of +this matter," and decide upon what message should be sent back to +Antioch. + +When the Apostles and elders of the Church began to talk over the +matter, there was much difference of opinion amongst the brethren: +some being inclined to agree with the Pharisees, that the Law of Moses +ought to be observed; others thinking that the Gospel was to be +_instead_ of the Law, and not added to it. + +This gave rise to a great deal of discussion and argument; each side +advancing their own opinions, and trying to persuade the other party +to agree with them. This went on for some time, till at last, St. +Peter, who was present, stood up, and gave his opinion upon the +matter. + + + + +Chapter XIII.--DECISION OF THE CHURCH AS TO OBSERVING THE MOSAICAL +LAW. + + +"And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and," alluding +to the affair of Cornelius, "said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know +how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles +by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe." He then +reminded them, that the Holy Ghost had been visibly poured out upon +those Gentile converts, showing that in the eyes of Him Who seeth the +heart, they were as acceptable as the Jewish converts; and that +therefore it could not be necessary for them to observe the ceremonial +part of the Law, which Jesus came to do away with. The Jews themselves +had never kept the Law so perfectly as to deserve the favour of God; +and now that Jesus had delivered them from the observance of that Law, +why should the Gentiles be required to observe it. "Now therefore," +Peter asks, "why tempt ye God," why provoke ye Him to anger in +opposing His Will, "to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, +which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe +that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, +even as they." + +Such words from St. Peter, who was well known to have been formerly of +a different opinion, could not fail to produce an effect upon his +hearers, who now listened quietly and patiently to what was told them +by St. Paul and St. Barnabas. "Then all the multitude kept silence, +and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and +wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them." + +When these two Apostles had ended their history, and "held their +peace," James, the ruler and director of the Church, declared it to be +his opinion, that it was most certainly the Will of God, that the +Gentiles should be received into the Christian Church _without_ being +required to keep the Law, as the Jewish teachers had insisted; and +that this had been the intention of the Lord from the beginning, and +had been accordingly foretold by the prophets. "Wherefore," said he, +"my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the +Gentiles are turned to God: but that we write unto them, that they +abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from +things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every +city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath +day." + +This speech of St. James requires a little explanation. The Law of +Moses required that animals used for food should be killed in a +particular way; and a Jew was to be considered as unclean, if he ate +any meat not prepared in this manner. Much of the meat eaten by the +Gentiles, was the flesh of animals offered in sacrifice to their false +gods, or idols: to eat of such food polluted a Jew,--that is, made him +unclean. Now, an idol was in reality nothing, nor did it signify how +food was prepared, if it was eaten with thankfulness. But at that time +there were very many Jewish converts who had long kept the Law of +Moses, and held that to eat of meat offered to idols, or of the flesh +of animals "strangled," instead of being killed as the Law required, +did pollute a man, and render him unclean. St. James therefore +considered, that for the present, it would be better for the Gentile +converts to abstain from animal food, prepared in a different way from +what the Jews thought lawful, that they might not offend them; and +that they might, moreover, show that they had given up offering any +sacrifices to idols. St. James therefore thought it well, in excusing +them from most of the observances of the Law, to caution the Gentile +converts not only to keep themselves free from all manner of sin, but +also to avoid every appearance of idolatry. The reason which St. James +gives for this decision is, that as the Law of Moses was read every +Sabbath day, and reverenced by all the Jewish converts, it was better +not to disregard such ordinances, though in themselves they were +matters of indifference. What St. James said was approved of by the +other members of the Church. + +"Then pleased it the Apostles and elders, with the whole church, to +send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and +Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among +the brethren: and they wrote letters by them," bidding the Gentile +converts at Antioch not to be troubled by the teaching of the Jewish +teachers, saying, "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to +lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye +abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things +strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye +shall do well. Fare ye well." + +In this letter, St. Paul and St. Barnabas are spoken of as "beloved," +"men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus +Christ": and the Christians of Antioch are told, that Judas and Silas +have been sent, in order that they might explain more fully what had +been written on the subject, about which St. James and the Church at +Jerusalem had been consulted. Sending these two brethren was a very +wise measure. Had St. Paul and St. Barnabas returned alone, the Jewish +teachers might have raised a question, as to how far they, being +interested in the matter, could be trusted to deliver any messages +correctly; but Judas and Silas, having nothing to do with the affair, +must be regarded as unprejudiced witnesses as to what they had heard +in Jerusalem. + +Judas and Silas are both called Prophets. "The Prophets" appear to +have been a class of teachers who were inspired to foretell future +events, as well as to preach the Gospel; but they had not so much +power and authority as the Apostles. Then, again, there were other +teachers, who were not Prophets. God gave different gifts and powers +to different men, according to the work He appointed for them to do. +It is the same now: we have not all the same power, but each one of us +should try to do _all_ we _can_ to serve God, and do good to our +fellow creatures. + +The letters being written, and delivered to Judas and Silas, the +Apostles were dismissed, and "came to Antioch: and when they had +gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: which +when" the Christian brethren "had read, they rejoiced for the +consolation" it had given them, in the assurance that they were by no +means called upon to keep the whole Law of Moses. + +Judas and Silas made themselves very useful at Antioch; for they +"exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them" in the +faith. "And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in +peace from the brethren unto the Apostles" in Jerusalem. But one only +availed himself of this permission: for "it pleased Silas to abide +there still," and therefore he remained in Antioch with St. Paul and +St. Barnabas, "teaching and preaching the word of the Lord." Many +other teachers also helped them; and thus another year passed away. + +We next read that, "some days after, Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us +go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached +the word of the Lord, and see how they do." This was a very good +thought: another visit from the Apostles would be a great comfort to +the Christians of Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and other places; and +especially to the elders of those Churches, who would be glad to have +their advice on many subjects. St. Barnabas was very willing to go; +but now a dispute arose, which caused the separation of these two +Apostles; for "Barnabas determined to take with them Mark," his +nephew; "but Paul thought not good to take with them" one who had left +them on their first journey as soon as they landed in Pamphylia; "and +went not with them to the work," of preaching to the Gentiles in Asia +Minor. + +Differences of opinion will arise amongst the best of men, and so far +there was nothing wrong in the conduct of the Apostles: but, alas! +instead of seeking counsel from God, and settling the matter +peaceably, Scripture tells us that "the contention was so sharp +between them, that they departed asunder one from the other." It is +sad to hear of these two holy men parting from each other in anger; +but it is a warning to us to keep a strict watch over all _our_ words, +that we may not fall into that strife, which is so displeasing in the +eyes of God. Let us always remember that no dispute or quarrel, can be +carried on unless both parties give way to sinful feelings. +Differences must arise; and even if we feel it our duty not to give up +our own design, we can, by gentleness, forbearance, and self-denial, +prevent any "sharp contention," even though we may thus be obliged to +offend our adversary. Where no principle of right is concerned, we +should give up our own wishes for the sake of "living peaceably with +all men," as the Gospel enjoins us to do. + +St. Paul was afraid to trust St. Mark: he had failed once; and perhaps +the Apostle was too stern in his condemnation of his fault, and too +unwilling to believe in his repentance. St. Barnabas, on the other +hand, from his nearer connexion with St. Mark, felt that he might now +be trusted; and he was probably angry with St. Paul for not also +believing this. A little calm and quiet talk might perhaps have +settled the matter; or, at any rate, might have led to an amicable +separation, instead of "a sharp contention," which parted them +asunder. + +However it was, this unhappy dispute was overruled for the good of the +Church; because by going separately, these two zealous Apostles could +visit many more places than they could have done, had they continued +to journey together. We must remember also, that though these Apostles +were for the moment angry with each other, these feelings did not +last; and, some years afterwards, we find St. Mark the companion of +St. Paul. + +At the time of which we are now speaking, however, "Barnabas took +Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus." How long he stayed there, or where he +went afterwards, we are not told; but we may be sure that, wherever he +went, his words strengthened the faith of believers, whilst he +laboured to bring fresh converts into the Church. + +"And Paul chose Silas" to accompany him on his Second Apostolic +Journey, "and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the +grace of God. And he went through Syria and" the neighbouring province +of "Cilicia, confirming the churches." He then went northward into +Lycaonia; and at either Derbe or Lystra he found a young man, called +Timotheus, or Timothy, one of the believers, who was well spoken of by +other Christians in those parts, because they saw that in all things +he tried to obey Jesus, and follow His example. The mother of Timothy +was called Eunice, and his grandmother Lois. Both these women were +Jewesses, but had become Christians many years before. Eunice then +married the father of Timothy, by birth a Greek, but then a proselyte +of the gate, worshipping the God of Israel, but not observing the Law +of Moses. As soon as the little Timothy was old enough to learn, his +mother Eunice had carefully taught him the things of God, and +instructed him in the faith of Jesus Christ: so that now, by the +blessing of God, he was a true Christian. + +Many children are taught nothing while they are young, and know no +more of God and Jesus Christ than if they were heathens. We must pity +and pray for them; and children who have the blessing of being early +taught these things, should show their thankfulness, by trying to +_learn_ and _do_ all that the Gospel teaches. No teaching can _make_ a +child _love_ and _serve_ God; but no one can love or serve Him unless +they learn how to do so. Therefore children should pay the greatest +attention to all that is taught from the Bible and Prayer Book, +praying to God that the Holy Spirit may help them to do whatever they +see to be right. + + + + +Chapter XIV.--PAUL AND SILAS AT PHILIPPI. + + +Timothy had paid attention to the teaching of his mother, praying for +grace to perceive and know what things he ought to do; and striving +earnestly to fulfil the same: and now, St. Paul, seeing that such a +young man would be most useful in preaching both to Jews and Gentiles, +"would have him to go forth with him" on his journey: and he "took and +circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for +they knew all that his father was a Greek." + +As the son of a Jewess, Timothy would be supposed to have been +circumcised; and the Jews, finding that this was not the case, and +knowing that his father had been a heathen, would probably have been +unwilling to listen to him; and thus his usefulness would have been +sadly interfered with. Circumcision, in Timothy's case, was +_unnecessary_, but there was nothing _wrong_ in it; and therefore, to +avoid giving offence to the Jews, St. Paul acted as we have heard. +Taking Timothy with him, St. Paul now continued his journey. "And as +they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to +keep, that were ordained of the Apostles and elders which were at +Jerusalem," that is, the decrees concerning the observance of the Law +of Moses by the Gentiles. And so were the Churches established in the +faith, and increased in number daily. + +After preaching the Gospel in Phrygia and Galatia, St. Paul and his +companions would have gone into other parts of Asia Minor, but the +Spirit of God made it known to them, that they were not to do so: they +went therefore to Troas, a sea-port quite in the northern part of the +Archipelago. Here St. Paul's little band of followers was increased, +for St. Luke joined them; and from this time, in relating what +happened, St. Luke writes "we" and "us," showing that he was one of +those concerned in the events he describes. Besides writing the Book +of Acts, St. Luke wrote the Gospel which bears his name. We know +nothing of St. Luke, except that he was a Jew and a physician: he was +probably a native of Antioch, in Syria. St. Luke tells us that, at +Troas, St. Paul saw in a vision a man of Macedonia, who stood and +prayed him, saying, "Come over into Macedonia, and help us." St. Paul, +rightly looking upon this as a call from God, immediately embarked on +board a ship, and sailing by the island of Samothracia, landed at +Neapolis, a sea-port of Thracia. Macedonia had once been a separate +kingdom, but the Romans, who had in the Apostles' time got possession +of all that country called Greece, had divided the whole into two +great parts: one of these contained Macedonia, Thessaly, and Epirus, +but went by the name of Macedonia: the other division, called Achaia, +contained the rest of Greece, including the Peloponnesus. + +From Neapolis St. Paul proceeded to Philippi, which was "the chief +city of that part of Macedonia," and a Roman colony: that is, it was +peopled or inhabited by the descendants of Romans, who had been placed +there by Julius Cæesar and by the Emperor Augustus. The place had got +the name of Philippi long before, from Philip then king of Macedonia, +who repaired the buildings of the city, and added many handsome new +ones. Philip was the father of Alexander the Great, a famous king, of +whom we read much in ancient history. Both Philip and Alexander lived +and died more than 300 years before Jesus Christ was born. + +St. Paul and his companions remained some time at Philippi; and St. +Luke says, "on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, +where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the +women which resorted thither." + +Besides the synagogues, or buildings for public worship, the Jews had +also, in every place where they took up their residence, smaller +buildings or oratories, to which people might constantly resort for +the purposes of prayer. These oratories were generally built in the +fields, or by the side of a stream. To one of these oratories, close +to the city of Philippi, St. Paul and his companions went, that they +might speak of the Lord Jesus Christ, to those who went there to +worship the Lord God of Israel. Amongst their first converts was "a +certain woman named Lydia," a native of the city of Thyatira, in Asia +Minor, but resident in Philippi for the purposes of trade. Scripture +says, she was a "seller of purple": what this may mean, we do not +exactly know; but it probably means, that she sold some fine materials +for female dress. At any rate, she had become a "proselyte of the +gate," and worshipped God: and the Lord "opened her heart," so "that +she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul," with a +sincere desire to learn; and in consequence became a real convert to +Christianity, inducing all the members of her family to follow her +example. "And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought +us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into +my house, and abide there." Eager to show her sincerity by _doing_ +something for the service of God, she now anxiously sought to be of +use to the messengers of Jesus for their Lord's sake; and entreated +them to take up their abode in her house. + +St. Luke adds, "And she constrained us"--that is, so urged and +entreated, as to force them to do as she wished. We now read, "And it +came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a +spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by +soothsaying." + +This damsel seems to have been a slave, who, being possessed by an +evil spirit, spake in a mysterious way, foretelling future events: and +as the heathens were great believers in such things, many of them +consulted this unfortunate girl, and gave her money for exercising her +powers. This money went to her masters, to whom she thus brought much +gain. The Lord now chose this damsel, to give a proof that He can +constrain even evil spirits to bear testimony to the truth of Christ's +religion; for St. Luke says, "The same followed Paul and us, and +cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which +shew unto us the way of salvation." + +The damsel at Philippi, though under the influence of the evil spirit, +was constrained by a higher power to bear evidence to the truth of +doctrines, calculated to overthrow the empire of Satan. "And this did +she many days. But Paul, being grieved" to see her under the dominion +of an evil spirit, "turned, and said to the spirit, I command thee in +the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same +hour": thus putting an end to all future soothsaying. "And when her +masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone," they were greatly +enraged, and "caught Paul and Silas and drew them into the +market-place unto the rulers, and brought them to the magistrates, +saying, 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." Such an accusation was sure to gain immediate +attention from the magistrates, or governors of the city, as the +Roman Emperors were very severe in any cases of rebellion or +opposition, in their distant provinces: and though there was at that +time no express law against Christianity, there was a law requiring +all persons to worship the gods of the country; and Christianity was, +of course, opposed to all idolatrous practices. Covetousness, or a +sinful love of money, is, we are told, the root of much evil: the +masters of the damsel cared not how much St. Paul preached the Gospel, +as long as it did not interfere with their gains; but as soon as it +did, they raised an outcry against the Apostles. Now let us remember +that covetousness, or an eager desire for our own gain, whether of +riches, honours, or pleasures, is just as great a sin now, as it was +when the Scriptures were first written; and let us try never to let +any thoughts of our own advantage or gain, lead us to _do_ or _allow_ +what we know to be wrong; or _prevent_ our doing what we feel is +right. These men succeeded in their persecution of Paul and Silas, for +"the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates," +without further consideration, "rent off their clothes," preparatory +to their being scourged, "and commanded to beat them. And when they +had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging +the jailor to keep them safely." The jailor, having received so +special a charge, determined to keep it: and therefore "thrust them +into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks"--a +machine fixed to the floor, having round holes just to go round the +ancles, so that when it was shut upon them, it was quite impossible +for the poor prisoners to move. Now imagine the sufferings of St. Paul +and his companion: bleeding and smarting from the severe wounds made +by the scourge, and their feet so confined, that they could get no +ease by any change of posture! We might expect to find them lamenting +over their terrible sufferings, or, at least, praying to God to +deliver them. But the Scripture tells us, "And at midnight Paul and +Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God": their faith was great; they +rejoiced to suffer for the sake of Jesus, and they praised God for all +His wondrous works: they sang from their hearts with loud voice, and +the other "prisoners heard them." No doubt such joyful songs, from the +lips of those whom they knew to be in pain, surprised their fellow +prisoners, who had soon a greater cause for astonishment. The prayers +and praises of Paul and Silas went up to God: "And suddenly there was +a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were +shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's +bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his +sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and +would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been +fled." The jailor knew full well, that if the prisoners under his +charge had escaped from prison, he would surely be put to death by the +Roman magistrates; and, to avoid the disgrace of such a death, he was +about to kill himself. Being a heathen, he did not know, as Christians +do, that it is a fearful sin to put an end to our own lives: and +therefore, rather than be punished for a fault of which he was not +guilty, he prepared to kill himself. "But Paul," knowing his +intention, "cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for +we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came +trembling." Having thus convinced himself that his prisoners were +indeed still in the prison, the jailor felt at once that the Apostles +were certainly holy men, the messengers of God. No doubt he knew that +for preaching the Gospel they had been cast into prison, and the +wonderful things which he had now seen, convinced him that all they +had said was true: therefore he "fell down" on his knees "before Paul +and Silas, and brought them out" of prison, "and said, Sirs, what must +I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and +thou shalt be saved, and thy house." What blessed words! and then they +doubtless explained to him that the faith here spoken of, meant such a +belief in Jesus, as would lead to repentance for all sin so +displeasing to Him, and make men strive to do all in their power to +please Him: for to believe the Gospel, means to do all that the Gospel +teaches. Such, no doubt, was the Apostles' teaching, as "they spake +unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." The +jailor showed his gratitude to the Apostles by doing all he could for +their relief and comfort: for "he took them the same hour of the +night, and washed their stripes." "And when he had brought them into +his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God +with all his house." Convinced and truly converted from the errors of +idolatry to a belief of the truth as it is in Jesus, the jailor of +Philippi with his family were at once admitted as members of the +Christian Church; he "was baptized, he and all his, straightway." + + + + +Chapter XV.--ST. PAUL LEAVES PHILIPPI. + + +It would seem that the magistrates of Philippi, upon thinking calmly +over the matter, felt that they had acted hastily and unjustly, in +commanding two men to be scourged and put into prison, without a +trial; for we read, "And when it was day, the magistrates sent the +serjeants," officers under their command, to the jailor, "saying, Let +those men go." The keeper of the prison, well pleased to receive such +an order, told this to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let +you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. But Paul said unto" the +serjeants who stood by, "They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being +Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out +privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out." + +Now in order to understand all this, we must remember that the Romans, +who thought themselves greatly superior to any other people in the +world, were very jealous of their power and privileges as citizens of +Rome. Thus, if a Roman citizen was ill treated, the Roman Government +would severely punish any one who had dared to ill treat him. All +persons whose parents were natives and citizens of Rome, were looked +upon as _free-born_ citizens; and enjoyed from their birth, all the +rights and privileges given by the Roman Government to her subjects. + +Persons not born of Roman citizens, if they had done good service, +either by fighting for Rome, or in any other way, were often rewarded +by receiving the _Freedom of the City_; that is, by being looked upon +and treated as Roman citizens, and having an equal share in all the +privileges and benefits, granted to such Romans as _were_ free-born. + +St. Paul was not a native of Rome, nor were his parents; for they were +Jews, settled at Tarsus, in Cilicia: probably some of his ancestors, +his grandfather or great-grandfather, had served in the Roman armies, +and been rewarded for some great service, by receiving the freedom of +the city: after which, all his descendants would be looked upon as +free-born citizens of Rome. + +The Roman Emperors sometimes allowed strangers to _buy_ the +privileges: the Emperor Claudius did so: and for a large sum of money +allowed people to have _for themselves_ the privileges of a Roman +citizen--a great advantage in those days, as the rulers of every +Roman province were bound to protect every Roman citizen in it, and +not suffer any one to be ill treated. To scourge and imprison a Roman +citizen, without having first _proved_ him to have been guilty of some +great crime, was an offence which the Roman Government punished most +severely; and therefore, we find that when the serjeants went back, +and "told these words unto the magistrates, they feared, when they +heard that they were Romans. And they came and besought them" not to +report the treatment they had received, "and brought them out" of +prison, "and desired (or entreated) them to depart out of the city." + +We may be quite sure that St. Paul neither valued nor used the +privileges of a Roman, further than they could serve to the glory of +God. In this case, many of the people who had seen him and Silas +beaten and cast into prison, would naturally think that they must have +done something wrong: this would prevent the people from listening to +what they taught. It was necessary, therefore, that St. Paul should +show clearly that he had _not_ deserved any punishment; and that the +magistrates themselves acknowledged, that they had sinned in treating +him in such a manner. St. Paul, by his conduct, plainly proved his +innocence of all offence. "And they went out of the prison, and +entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, +they comforted them, and departed." + +Of course the brethren were very sorry to lose St. Paul; but now that +he had established a Church at Philippi, they could go on without him, +whilst his teaching was much wanted in other places: and consequently, +he and Silas journeyed on to the south-west. "Now when they had passed +through Amphipolis and Apollonia," preaching the Gospel no doubt, +though we hear nothing as to their success, they went to Thessalonica, +an important city of Macedonia, and one in which many Jews resided; +for there was a synagogue there. "And Paul, as his manner was, went in +unto them" in their synagogue, "and three sabbath days reasoned with +them out of the Scriptures": showing that those holy writings, +prophesied both the sufferings and the rising again of Christ the +Messiah; and then plainly telling them, "this Jesus, whom I preach +unto you, is Christ," the promised Messiah, of whom your Scriptures +speak. + +"And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of +the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a +few." As usual, the Jews were more bitter against the Gospel than the +Gentiles; and we read that "the Jews which believed not, moved with +envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort,"--men of +no principle, ready at any time to do any mischief which came in their +way: by the help of these men, the Jews "gathered a company, and set +all the city on an uproar, and assaulted (or attacked) the house of +Jason," where they supposed the Apostles to be, "and sought to bring +them out to the people," who, in their excited state, would probably +have put them to death without further inquiry. + +Jason was one of those who had become a Christian, and he appears to +have shown hospitality to the Apostles, and lodged them in his house; +though the mob did not find them there, when they assaulted the house. +"And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren +unto the rulers of the city, crying, These (men) that have turned the +world upside down are come hither also; whom Jason hath received: and +these all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is +another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers +of the city, when they heard these things." But the rulers could find +no cause to punish Jason or the other brethren that were dragged with +him before the judgment seat, so "they let them go," "when they had +taken security of them." What this "security" was, we do not know; +probably some promise not to entertain the Apostles, nor to rebel +against the Roman Emperor. + +By "turning the world upside down," the accusers of Jason meant, that +what the Apostles taught was so different to anything ever heard of +before, that it would quite alter everything, and make the world no +longer like the same place. This, let us remember, is exactly what the +Gospel was meant to do. + +It was not considered advisable for the Apostles to remain longer at +Thessalonica, where the people were too much enraged to listen to +them; and therefore, "the brethren immediately sent away Paul and +Silas by night unto Berea." + +There was a synagogue of the Jews also at Berea, whither, when it was +neither useful nor safe for them to remain at Thessalonica, Paul and +Silas were sent; "who coming thither went into the synagogue of the +Jews. These were more noble (more liberal-minded and unprejudiced) +than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all +readiness of mind, (listened willingly to the teaching of the +Apostles,) and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things +were so": they compared the teaching of St. Paul with the written +word of the Old Testament, in order to see whether they were justified +in believing all he taught them. The consequence of this was, that +many of the Jews believed; "also of honourable women which were +Greeks, and of men, not a few." But when the unbelieving Jews of +Thessalonica, heard that the people of Berea were listening to St. +Paul and becoming Christians, some of them came down on purpose to try +and put an end to his preaching. They easily found plenty of +unbelieving Jews and Gentiles ready for mischief, and stirred them up +to make a riot: the brethren now acted as those at Thessalonica had +done, and fearing for the Apostle's safety, immediately "sent away +Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode," +still in Berea. + +Two or three of the brethren went with St. Paul to guard him from +danger. We read, "And they that conducted Paul brought him unto +Athens," either by sea or by land; "and receiving a commandment," that +is, a message, from him "unto Silas and Timotheus," bidding them "for +to come to him with all speed, they departed" to return unto Berea; +leaving St. Paul alone at Athens. + +Athens was the chief city of Achaia, the other province which, with +Macedonia, formed what the Romans then called "Greece." Athens long +before this had been a powerful and famous city: it was founded, or +begun to be built, by a king called Cecrops, who came over from Asia +during the time that the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, before +Moses was born. In the course of time Athens became, as we have said, +a great and powerful city; full of beautiful temples and other +buildings: some of these are even standing now; and a great many ruins +are to be seen, all showing how magnificent the city must once have +been. + +In St. Paul's time, Athens, like most other cities and countries in +the known world, was under the dominion of the Romans; and the +Athenians, or inhabitants of the city, were quite devoted to the +worship of false gods: we are told that there were more idols to be +seen at Athens, than could be found in any other place. + +Now while St. Paul waited at Athens, for Silas and Timotheus to join +him, "his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given +to idolatry." Grieved at the state of the Athenians, the Apostle felt +eager to try and teach them better things: "his spirit was stirred in +him; therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with +the devout persons," proselytes of the gate, "and in the market daily +with them that met with him"; who must have been for the most part +Gentiles, or heathen idolaters. The market, as has been explained, was +a public place, where people met for business of all kinds; and to +talk to each other upon any subjects of importance. + +There were at this time in Athens, a great many wise and clever men, +fond of learning: such men were called "Philosophers." These +philosophers held different opinions; some believing one thing, some +another; and as they each wished to bring people over to join them, +they constantly spake in the market-place, explaining their doctrines, +and persuading men to believe in them. + +Two chief sects (or parties) of these philosophers, were the +Epicureans and the Stoics. The Epicureans thought that the gods were +only so in name, and that there was no Divine Power whatever to rule +over the world; therefore they held, that the wisest thing was, for +every man to do exactly what he liked best, and only to think of his +own pleasure, as long as he lived. + +The Stoics believed, that there were gods who ruled all things in the +world so completely, that man became a mere machine, not answerable +for his own conduct; so that he could never be said to do right or +wrong: thus they taught, that the only real wisdom was to learn to +bear with _indifference_ whatever the gods caused to happen to them, +whether it was what men call good or evil, happiness or misery. + +Both these "systems of philosophy" (or sets of opinions), were equally +contrary to all that St. Paul was appointed to teach. We read, "Then +certain of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him." But +when they had heard, his teaching, "some said, What will this babbler +say?"-mocking the Apostle as if he had been talking nonsense, without +any meaning, just from a love of "babbling," or talking foolishly. +Others said, "He seemeth to be a setter-forth of strange gods: because +he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection." So little did all +their wisdom help them to understand spiritual things, that they +fancied the resurrection of which St. Paul spake, was some _female +deity_ called by that name, instead of understanding it to be an +action done by Jesus, whom St. Paul preached. The God of whom St. Paul +spake, was indeed a strange God unto the Athenian philosophers! but +instead of ill using the preacher, they, like sensible men, determined +to hear more on the subject. + + + + +Chapter XVI.--ST. PAUL BEFORE THE AREOPAGUS. + + +We have said that the Philosophers of Athens were desirous to hear +more of St. Paul's doctrines. "And they took him, and brought him unto +Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou +speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we +would know therefore what these things mean." + +The Areopagus was a Court of Justice, the chief court in Athens; and +one of its duties was, to pay particular attention to all matters +relating to religion, or the worship of the gods. The members of this +Court met in a building erected upon a certain hill dedicated to Mars, +the God of War; and thence called Mars' Hill. St. Paul was now brought +before this Court, that he might give an account of the new doctrines +which he had begun to teach in Athens. The Athenians were so fond of +learning, that whenever they heard anything which they did not +understand, they were anxious to inquire into it, and see what it did +mean. To a certain degree this was right, for we should all try to get +as much knowledge as we can, as to good and useful things. But the +Athenians were too curious; for St. Luke tells us, that "all the +Athenians and strangers which were" in the city, "spent their time in +nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing": and from +other writers we learn, that the Athenians went from place to place in +order to meet others, and hear if there was anything new. + +Now this love of change and novelty, or "new things," is a great +fault, and one which often leads us into sin. + +If we are always wishing for some _new_ occupation or business, we +shall never do anything well: if we are longing and seeking for _new_ +amusements, we shall not enjoy what we have: if children are always +wishing for _new_ toys, they will cease to care about the old ones. +Therefore all this desire for novelty and change will lead to +indolence, discontent, covetousness, and many other evil passions. Let +us remember that people who cultivate a contented spirit, are always +happy with whatever they have: discontented people are never happy; +whatever they have, they will still be wishing for something else: for +it is quite impossible for anybody to have everything he wishes for. + +But we must go back to St. Paul, standing before the Court of +Areopagus, and desired there to give an account of his doctrines. The +Apostle, glad to have such an opportunity of preaching the Gospel +before the chief men in Athens, now stood up, and spake gently and +kindly. He began by telling them, that as he had gone about their city +looking at the different images to which they bowed down, and at the +different altars set up for the worship of those whom they called +gods, he had found one, bearing an inscription "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." +This showed that they were "too superstitious," for to worship a God +of whom they knew nothing, was superstition rather than religion. This +ignorance, therefore, St. Paul now proposed to remove, so that the +Unknown God might no longer be so to them: "Whom therefore ye +ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." + +Before we proceed with what St. Paul said to the Athenians on this +subject, we will see how they came to dedicate an altar to "the +Unknown God." + +Some time before this, there had been a plague or pestilence in +Athens; that is, a bad illness, which spread from one person to +another, until thousands of people died of it. In vain did the +Athenians pray to all their false gods to stop it: such prayers of +course _could_ have no effect, and the pestilence went on killing the +people. At last a number of sheep were taken to Mars' Hill, and there +set at liberty, to go wherever they pleased, followed by men, +appointed to watch them. Whenever one of these sheep laid down, it was +immediately sacrificed to "the propitious god." "Propitious" means +favourable, kind, willing to grant a request, or supply a want. The +sheep were thus sacrificed to that one amongst the gods, who would be +kind enough to put an end to the pestilence. Soon afterwards it did +please the Almighty to remove this terrible plague: the Athenians of +course attributed their deliverance to one of their gods; but as they +could not tell which one of them had been "the propitious god," they +set up this altar to "the Unknown God," who had come to their help in +the time of trouble. + +We know very well that the Lord God Almighty can alone take away +disease and sickness, or any other trouble; and therefore, though the +Athenians did not mean it so, they had really dedicated this altar to +the One True God, of Whom St. Paul spake. Well therefore did St. Paul, +when speaking to them of the Unknown God, say, "Whom therefore ye +ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." + +St. Paul then told the Athenians, that He whom they worshipped as the +Unknown God, was the Lord Who had made the world and all things in it: +that He gave life and breath and all things to His creatures, and did +not require to be worshipped with sacrifices and gifts, as though He +needed anything at the hands of man. St. Paul said, also, that God had +made men, in order that they might love and serve Him as their Father: +and he reminded them, that one of their own poets had said, "For we +are also his offspring." The poet here meant, was one called Aratus: +he was born in Cilicia, but had probably lived and studied in Athens, +so that the Athenians considered him as one of their own poets, and +were well acquainted with his poem 'On the Heavenly Bodies'; from +which St. Paul quoted a line. + +St. Paul proceeded to explain, that the Lord God Almighty, their +"Unknown God," was a very different Being to idols of gold, or silver, +or stone, made or "graven by art and man's device." And he told the +Athenians, that although the Lord God had hitherto forborne to punish +those, who in ignorance worshipped idols, that time was now past; for +now, said the Apostle, He "commandeth all men everywhere to repent: +because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world +in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained"; meaning the Lord +Jesus Christ, who shall come to judge the quick and dead: and as a +proof that God would do this, St. Paul mentioned that Jesus Christ +Himself had already risen from the grave, saying, "whereof he hath +given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the +dead." + +When the Athenians heard St. Paul speaking "of the resurrection of the +dead," it seemed to them so impossible that a dead man should ever +come back to life, that they quite laughed at his words: "some mocked; +and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul +departed from among them"; apparently without having made any +impression upon his hearers: but it was not so, for in spite of the +unbelief and ridicule of many, we read, "Howbeit certain men clave +unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite," +that is, a member of the court of Areopagus, "and a woman named +Damaris, and others with them." "After these things, Paul departed +from Athens, and came to Corinth"; another city of Achaia, in that +part of Greece which used to be called the Peloponnesus, or rather on +the isthmus which joined the Peloponnesus to the rest of Greece, and +took its name from this town. The situation of Corinth, with sea on +both sides, made it an important place for trade; because ships could +easily come there from different countries, to sell the merchandise +they brought with them, and buy such things as they wanted to take +home. By means of their trade, the inhabitants of Corinth had become +very rich; their city was flourishing; and many learned men resided in +it, when St. Paul now came there about A.D. 51. A little before this +time, the Roman Emperor Claudius, had for some reason or other, +banished the Jews from Rome. We do not know the reason, but it seems +likely that it was because there had been a famine in Rome, which the +people foolishly thought was the fault of the Jews, whom they hated; +and so to satisfy the people, and prevent any disturbance, Claudius +commanded all Jews to leave the city. + +Among the Jews thus obliged to leave Rome, was a man named Aquila, +born in Pontus, a country to the N.E. of Galatia, on the Black Sea: he +was therefore one of the Jews called "Grecians," because, though his +parents were Jews, he was not born in the land of Judæa. When he was +obliged to leave Rome, Aquila and his wife Priscilla settled in +Corinth, where they greatly helped St. Paul. Whether they had become +believers before they left Rome or afterwards, we do not know; but +they were Christians when St. Paul came to Corinth, and were probably +known in some way to the Apostle, for he "came unto them. And because +he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by +their occupation they were tent-makers." + +The Jews had a saying, that "Every man who does not teach his son some +trade, teaches him to be a thief"--in which there is a great deal of +truth; for if a man has learnt no trade by which he can support +himself honestly, there is great danger of his being tempted to obtain +a living by dishonest means. It was therefore the custom amongst the +Jews, even of the higher classes, who like St. Paul had been well +educated as to letters, to teach their sons some "craft" or +occupation, whereby they could, if ever it became necessary, earn +money to provide themselves with food and clothes, and such things as +are needful. + +St. Paul had learnt the trade of tent-making; and he now abode with +Aquila and Priscilla, working with them for his daily bread, whilst +every sabbath he "reasoned in the synagogue, and persuaded the Jews +and the Greeks": trying, that is, to bring them to believe in Jesus +Christ. + +At Corinth, St. Paul was joined by Silas and Timotheus, who had +remained at Berea when he was so suddenly sent to Athens: they had +afterwards returned to Thessalonica, from whence they now came to +Corinth, and gave St. Paul an account of what they had been doing +since he left them. In consequence of what he now heard from Silas and +Timotheus, St. Paul wrote an Epistle or letter to the Thessalonians, +who had become Christians. + +In this letter, St. Paul tells the Thessalonians, how thankful he is +to hear that those who had become Christians, were trying to do all +that the Gospel taught them they ought to do: and then he assures +them, that he prays to God to give them more and more faith, and to +make them love Jesus better and better. Then the Apostle warned them +not to listen to any teachers, who might try to teach them anything +different to what he, and Silas, and Timothy, had already taught them. +St. Paul also told the Thessalonian Christians, that they must +endeavour to be good and holy; and he gave them many particular +directions for their conduct, one of which is, "Pray without ceasing." +The Apostle ends his letter with a prayer, that God will keep them +free from all sin both in body and soul. This letter of St. Paul's is +to be found in the Bible, where it is called, "The First Epistle of +Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians." + + + + +Chapter XVII.--ST. PAUL FINISHES HIS SECOND APOSTOLIC JOURNEY. + + +After Timothy and Silas had joined St. Paul, he spake still more +plainly and decidedly to the Jews at Corinth, wishing to make them +follow the example of their brethren at Thessalonica: but when he +tried to convince them that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, they would +not listen to him, but "opposed themselves, and blasphemed." Then "he +shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own +heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." St. +Paul meant by this, that if by their own obstinacy they _would_ +provoke the Lord to punish them, he was not to blame, for he had tried +to teach them what was right: and that from henceforth he would +preach only to the Gentiles in Corinth, and have nothing more to say +to the Jews; and he shook his raiment, as a sign that he would have +nothing more to do with them. When St. Paul had thus spoken to the +Jews in their synagogue, "he departed thence," ceasing to preach in +the synagogue, "and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, +one that worshipped God" as a proselyte of the gate, "whose house +joined hard to the synagogue." Most probably he had in his house some +large room, in which it was convenient for St. Paul to preach: and +here he converted many. "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the +synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the +Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized." + +St. Paul was at this time greatly encouraged by a vision. We read, +"Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, +but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man +shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this +city,"--many, that is, who, from hearing St. Paul, would become true +Christians. Thus encouraged, he continued in Corinth "a year and six +months, teaching the word of God among them." + +During the eighteen months which St. Paul spent in Corinth, he appears +to have written "The Epistle to the Galatians," which was probably +written before that to the Thessalonians. St. Paul had, as we have +heard, preached in Galatia before he went into Macedonia. It seems, +however, that the Galatians had not continued steadfast in the faith; +and the Apostle now writes kindly, to express his surprise at their +having fallen away from the Gospel they had once received; warning +them seriously not to believe any doctrines contrary to those which he +had taught them: for that he had been chosen by the Lord in a +miraculous manner to be an Apostle, and the doctrines which he taught +to others he had received from God Himself. He also reminds the +Galatians, that no man could obtain salvation by the works of the Law, +since none could do them perfectly, and that it is through faith in +Jesus only, that all men, whether Jews or Gentiles, can be saved. +Before closing his Epistle, St. Paul gives a list of the works of the +flesh, or sinful nature of man, and of the works of the Spirit. This +list we shall do well to study, and also to take as addressed to +ourselves the Apostle's exhortation, "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall +not fulfil the lust of the flesh": remembering always, that "they +that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and +lusts." + +From Corinth, at this time, St. Paul also wrote his Second Epistle to +the Thessalonians; expressing his thankfulness that in the midst of +persecutions they were increasing in faith; and he encourages them to +persevere, by reminding them of that day when Christ shall come to +judge the world, and reward the faithful with everlasting life. He +then begged those to whom he wrote, to pray that the Gospel preached +by him might be received by others as it had been by them; and he +prays for them, that the Lord will "direct their hearts into the love +of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." + +St. Paul was not allowed to rest undisturbed at Corinth, for when +Gallio was deputy-governor, or pro-consul, of Achaia, "the Jews made +insurrection with one accord against Paul; and brought him to the +judgment seat, saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God +contrary to the law,"--meaning their own law, the Law of Moses. St. +Paul was going to speak in answer to this charge, but Gallio +interrupted him, and told the Jews that if they had any wickedness, or +crime, to accuse St. Paul of, he must of course listen to the charge; +and adding, "but if it be a question of words and names, and of your +law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters." Gallio, a +heathen, despised both Jews and Christians, and cared nothing about +the Law of Moses, whether it were observed or not; therefore he would +not listen to the Jews: "and he drave them from the judgment seat." + +"Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, +and beat him before the judgment seat." Why the Greeks beat this Jew, +we are not told. Some think that Sosthenes was favourable to St. Paul, +and that on this account the Jews stirred up the heathens to treat him +in this way. But it seems more likely that Sosthenes was one of the +most bitter enemies of the Apostle, and had been particularly anxious +to get him punished; and that the Greeks thought that beating him +severely, would be the most likely way of putting a stop to any future +disturbance from the Jews. + +However that might be, "Gallio cared for none of those things": +though, as governor and judge of a province, he was neglecting his +duty by allowing _any_ man to be treated in such a way. Soon after +this, St. Paul left Corinth for a time. + +When St. Paul left Corinth, soon after the affair with Gallio, it +would seem that he went to the island of Crete, or Candia, and there +left one of his companions, called Titus, to direct the affairs of the +Christian Church in that country. We know nothing of Titus, except +that his parents were Gentiles, and that he was converted to +Christianity by St. Paul, who would not allow him to be circumcised, +lest it should be thought a proof of the _necessity_ of circumcision, +which the Church had declared to be _unnecessary_ for those heathens +who embraced the Gospel. Titus was highly esteemed by St. Paul, who +speaks of him as his "partner" and "fellow helper"; showing that he +greatly helped him in his work. + +We do not exactly know where St. Paul went to from Crete: there is +reason to believe that in trying to return to Corinth he encountered a +storm, and was driven by the wind to the western coast of Greece, and +there shipwrecked, and forced to take refuge in the city of Nicopolis. +Here the Apostle determined to spend the winter, that he might preach +the Gospel to the inhabitants of Illyricum--a country to the north, +forming the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. From Nicopolis he +appears to have written the Epistle to Titus, giving him directions as +to his own conduct, and telling him what sort of men he must choose to +help him in teaching the people of Crete. St. Paul also told Titus to +be very careful to teach all who became Christians, that they must try +to be good, and lead holy lives, following in all things the example +of the Lord Jesus Christ. + +From Nicopolis, in due time, St. Paul went back to Corinth. In the +Book of Acts we read nothing of this little journey of St. Paul's. St. +Luke does not of course tell us everything that the Apostle did, and +he speaks as if he had remained at Corinth all the time. Speaking of +St. Paul's final departure from Corinth, St. Luke says, "And Paul +after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of +the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and +Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow." This vow +must either have been a vow of Nazaritism, already mentioned (vol. ii. +p. 108), which St. Paul had on some occasion taken in order to please +the Jews; or some other vow, which he had made in acknowledgment of +the goodness and mercy of God. Cenchrea was a small sea-port, not far +from Corinth; and from thence St. Paul and his company, with Aquila +and Priscilla, sailed to Syria; and then proceeded to Ephesus, a +large town in Lydia. Ephesus was particularly celebrated for its +beautiful and magnificent temple, erected in honour of the heathen +goddess Diana, and set apart for her worship. This Diana, one of the +pretended deities of the heathen, was supposed to rule all things +belonging to the chase--to be the goddess of hunting. The moon was +looked upon as a sign, or symbol, of Diana; and under this form she +was also worshipped. + +St. Paul, as usual, preached in the synagogue at Ephesus, and +"reasoned with the Jews," who seem to have listened willingly, and +even wished him to stay on. But "when they desired him to tarry longer +time with them, he consented not; but bade them farewell, saying, I +must by all means keep this feast" (of the Passover) "that cometh, in +Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he +sailed from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up, +and saluted the church" at Jerusalem, and kept the Passover, "he went +down to Antioch," A.D. 54; thus ending his Second Apostolic Journey, +which had occupied about four years. + +St. Luke has mentioned the places at which St. Paul made any long stay +during this time; but as we have already seen, he does not notice all +his short visits to other places. In the same way, St. Luke tells us +all the most remarkable events that took place during these four +years; but of course he cannot tell us _everything_ that the Apostle +did or said: just as the Gospels, though they tell us all things +needful for us to know, do not relate every word that Jesus said, or +every miracle that He worked; because, as St. John remarks, "if they +should be written every one of them, the world itself could not +contain the books that should be written." + +After St. Paul had spent some time at Antioch, he began his Third +Apostolic Journey: "he departed, and went over all the country of +Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples,"--that +is, he went again to all those places where he had before established +Churches, or companies of believers, to see how they were going on, +and to encourage them to persevere in their endeavours to serve the +Lord faithfully. But in the mean time the Church at Ephesus was not +left without a teacher; for Aquila and Priscilla remained there, and +were no doubt of great use in reminding others of all that St. Paul +had taught them: and of one good work done by them St. Luke gives us +an account; for we read, "And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at +Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to +Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being +fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of +the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John." + +Alexandria was a famous city, built by Alexander the Great, in the +north of Egypt, and celebrated for the many learned men who lived in +it. Apollos had there studied the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and +being "eloquent," able to speak well, he taught them diligently in +Ephesus. But he seems to have heard only of the Baptism of John, and +to have known only that men were to receive the baptism of repentance, +of which John spake, to prepare them for believing in the Messiah, of +Whom John was the messenger, or forerunner. But Apollos does not seem +to have understood that the Messiah had come, or to have known of His +promise, to give the Holy Spirit to those who would believe in Him and +be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy +Ghost. Apollos was fervent in spirit, full of zeal; and so, as far as +he knew, he taught diligently. "And he began to speak boldly in the +synagogue." When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, "they took him unto +them," probably to reside in their house, "and expounded unto him the +way of God more perfectly,"--that is, they explained all that he was +ignorant of; they spake to him of Jesus and of His Baptism, and showed +him that the sins of all who believed, and were baptized, would be +forgiven. Apollos listened gladly to the words of Aquila and +Priscilla, and then wished to go into Greece, to teach others the +things he had learnt. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, +the members of the Church at Ephesus wrote to those of Corinth, to +receive him into their company. + +At Corinth, Apollos, by his earnestness and faith, "helped them much +which had believed through grace": nor was this all, "for he mightily +convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that +Jesus was Christ." + + + + +Chapter XVIII.--ST. PAUL AND THE SONS OF SCEVA. + + +We have said that St. Paul began his Third Apostolic Journey by going +again through Galatia and Phrygia: then, having passed through the +"upper coasts" of Asia Minor, he came again to Ephesus, after Apollos +had gone to Corinth. At Ephesus St. Paul now found certain disciples, +about twelve men, who had been taught by Apollos, before Aquila and +Priscilla had expounded to him the way of God more perfectly: to these +men St. Paul said, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? +And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be +any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye +baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism." Then St. Paul explained +to them that John the Baptist came to call all men to repentance, and +that his baptism was only meant to prepare the way for that of Jesus, +and to lead all men to believe in Him, and be baptized in the way +which He should appoint. "When they heard this, they were baptized in +the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon +them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and +prophesied." St. Paul, anxious to convert the Jews, spake boldly in +the synagogue for three months, "disputing and persuading the things +concerning the kingdom of God." But, as usual, many of the Jews were +determined not to believe; and not only rejected the truth themselves, +but spake evil of it, and abused it to the multitude, so as to try and +prevent their believing it either. St. Paul, seeing this, would teach +no longer in the synagogue; and "departed from them, and separated the +disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus"; that is, he +assembled all who were willing to listen to him, in a large room or +"school"--a name given to those buildings or rooms used for +instruction in any kind of knowledge. In the school of Tyrannus, who +was a teacher of some science, and probably a convert, St. Paul now +preached to all who would come and listen. "And this continued by the +space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the +word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special +miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto +the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from +them, and the evil spirits went out of them." They were healed by +merely touching those articles which the Apostle had touched. Such a +wonderful exercise of miraculous power must have drawn many to listen +to the teaching of one, who did such things; and no doubt many, who so +listened, became true Christians. + +We must now say something of the unhappy state of the province of +Judæa at this time, of which the Bible gives no account. A Roman named +Felix had been made governor of Judæa A.D. 51, whilst St. Paul was at +Corinth: Felix treated the Jews cruelly, and ill-used them to such a +degree, as to drive them into open rebellion; and this, of course, led +to severe punishments and fresh cruelties. The whole country was in a +sadly disturbed state: robbers infested every part of it; men came +forward pretending to be the Messiah, for the Jews, who disbelieved in +Jesus Christ, still expected the coming of the promised Messiah; +murders and executions took place constantly: the High Priest was +murdered at the very altar, and many persons were killed in the +temple. In short, as Josephus writes, "God seemed to have abandoned +Jerusalem as a detested city, and to have sent the Romans, to punish +the Jews for their sin in rejecting and crucifying the Lord Jesus +Christ." + +During this dreadful time of trouble, a Jew from Egypt came to +Jerusalem, and having persuaded many of the unhappy inhabitants of +Judæa to believe the lies he told them, he led an immense number of +them to the top of the Mount of Olives, promising that the Lord would +there work a great miracle, and deliver them and their country from +the hands of the Romans. Of course nothing of the kind took place. +Many of these wretched dupes were slain by the Roman soldiers, and the +rest fled away, in order to save their lives. + +The land of Judæa was indeed in a sad state; the sufferings of the +Jews were terrible; but they had deserved them. Often and often had +they been entreated to repent and believe in Jesus, but they would +not; and now the mercy of God was forced to give place to His just +anger. + +Let this be a warning to us Christians, never to force the Lord to +take away His mercy from us. If, by our obstinate impenitence and +continuance in sin, we force Him to punish us _as we deserve_, we must +perish miserably for ever. But God sees our hearts, and if we are +really sorry for our sins, and are earnestly trying to conquer +ourselves and resist our evil passions and desires, He will have mercy +upon us, and not be extreme to mark what is done amiss. + +We have seen that St. Paul remained for two years in Ephesus, +converting many by his preaching and his miracles. His success as +usual raised the envy and anger of the unbelieving Jews, who were +anxious to draw the people away from the Apostle, by making them +believe that they could work miracles as well as St. Paul. The means +they took we shall shortly hear. + +The Gentile inhabitants of Ephesus were much given to the study of all +the arts of magic, and were considered to be very clever in the +practice of them. We have already spoken of sorcery, witchcraft, and +magic: how far the professors of them were allowed to appear to do +wonderful things by these means, we do not know; but we do know, that +any attempt to have such communications with evil spirits was sinful +in the sight of God, and that the Jews were especially forbidden to +practice any such arts, or to hold communication with those who did +so. In spite of this, many of the Jews did follow these sinful +studies. + +St. Luke says, "Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took +upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the +Lord Jesus," using that Sacred Name as they would have used any of +their magical spells or words. "Vagabond" means wandering; and we +generally use the word to describe idle, worthless people, who go +about begging or stealing, instead of working honestly to gain their +own living. "Exorcists" was only a name given to those who professed +to cast out evil spirits by the arts of sorcery. + +"And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the +priests, which did so." The spiritual state of the Jews must indeed +have been sad, when the sons of a priest could be found thus wilfully +practising arts, upon which the sentence of death was pronounced by +the Law! These men, seeing that when St. Paul spake to the evil +spirits in the name of Jesus, they immediately left the bodies of +those whom they had possessed, wickedly determined to use that Holy +Name, in order to heal a man in whom was an evil spirit. And they +said, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth" to come out of this +man. "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I +know; but who are ye?" The devils were forced to acknowledge the power +of Jesus, and that for His sake they must obey His servant Paul; but +they plainly told these Jews that they were in no way subject to them: +and they gave a strong proof of this, for "the man in whom the evil +spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against +them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." Such an +event as this showed clearly that all power belonged to God alone, and +that all magical arts were useless, as well as sinful. "And this was +known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear +fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified,"--more +thought of, and treated with greater respect. + +And many that believed, who had, before they became Christians, +practised magical arts, now convinced of their extreme sinfulness and +folly, "came and confessed, and shewed their deeds,"--expressing their +repentance for these former sins. + +Nor was this all: "many of them also which (still) used curious arts" +saw the wickedness of such practices; and warned by what had happened, +showed their repentance by their acts; for they "brought their books +together, and burned them before all men." This was a great proof of +their earnestness to put an end to the use of magical arts in others, +as well as in themselves; for they did not attempt to sell these books +to others, but destroyed them. The books were very valuable, for "they +counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of +silver"--all this money these men were willing to sacrifice, in order +to please God. This is a _warning_ as well as an example to us, who +are too often unwilling to deny ourselves in anything, or make the +least sacrifice in order to please or obey our Lord. + +"So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed,"--that is, the +blessed truths of the Gospel spread on every side, so that the numbers +of Christians increased daily. + +St. Paul, who had now been nearly three years in Ephesus, began to +think of continuing his journey; and "purposed in the spirit, when he +had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, +After I have been there, I must also see Rome." Just at this time, St. +Paul heard an unsatisfactory account of what was going on at Corinth. +We have seen that the Apostle had passed eighteen months in Corinth, +forming a Church there; and that Apollos had afterwards preached the +Gospel in that city with great success: but very soon afterwards, +false teachers rose up--that is, persons, who were not sufficiently +instructed themselves, fancied that they were able to teach others. +But, as they did not themselves understand the whole truth, they could +not teach it to others; and therefore their imperfect teaching created +great confusion, and unsettled the minds of many believers. Some of +these "false teachers" were converts from the Gentiles, who, having +been converted by Apollos, now called themselves his disciples; though +they mixed up with the truths he had taught them, many of the +doctrines and opinions of their philosophers. Some of these teachers +on the other hand, were converts from amongst the Jews, who would not +give up the idea that it was necessary to keep the whole Law of Moses, +observing all the forms and ceremonies ordained by it. These Jewish +Christians called themselves followers of Cephas, the Greek word for +Peter. These two sets of teachers, both teaching doctrines contrary to +the truths of the Gospel as delivered to the Corinthians by St. Paul, +made two parties in the Church, so that there were constant disputes +and great confusion. Mean time also, many of the native Corinthians, +who had joined the Church, began to return to the sinful ways and +practices they had followed when they were heathens. + +This was the account that now reached St. Paul at Ephesus; and greatly +did it grieve him. + +So he at once sent into Macedonia two of his company, Timotheus and +Erastus, that they might pass on to Corinth, and try to put an end to +all these evil doings: he himself remained at Ephesus a little longer. + + + + +Chapter XIX.--ST. PAUL AT EPHESUS. + + +We have said that St. Paul sent Timotheus and Erastus to Corinth: +Timotheus, or Timothy, has already been spoken of: of Erastus we know +nothing, but his name is mentioned in two of St. Paul's Epistles. + +After Timothy and Erastus had left Ephesus, St. Paul received a +letter, written by those members of the Christian Church who had kept +steadily in the right way, and not been led astray by either of the +false teachers. This letter told St. Paul how much the Church was +disturbed by their mistaken teachers, and begged for his advice and +direction. In answer to this letter, St. Paul wrote a long one, called +"The First Epistle to the Corinthians." In this letter, St. Paul +blames the Corinthians for their disputes and differences of opinion; +reminding them that he, the Apostle and messenger of the Lord, had +taught them what was right; and that therefore they should have kept +fast to what they had learnt from him. He tells them, that as they +have all believed in one Lord Jesus Christ, they should live together +in peace, believing and doing the same things. Then addressing the +teachers who had done the mischief, St. Paul warns them, that if they +wilfully continue to teach false doctrines, God will certainly punish +them: and he exhorts all the members of the Corinthian Church to +listen to Timothy, whom he had sent on purpose that he might show them +the whole truth. The Apostle then gives the Corinthian brethren many +directions as to their personal conduct, in order that they might lead +holy lives on earth, such as would be pleasing to God, and tend also +to their own happiness. + +In the Twelfth Chapter of this Epistle, St. Paul gives a beautiful +description of charity, that is, of love to God, and of love to man +for His sake: and he shows that those whose hearts are really full of +this charity, or love, will be gentle and humble, not thinking much of +themselves, or of their own comfort or pleasure; but being ready to +give up to others, striving to be kind to all, even to those who are +unkind to them. In another part of this Epistle, St. Paul speaks of +the resurrection of Jesus, and of the consequent certainty that all +men shall in like manner rise from the dead, though now they may not +understand how such a thing can be: and he therefore entreats the +Corinthian brethren, to keep steadily in the faith taught by the +Gospel, doing the work of the Lord always; remembering, that those who +do serve Him here in faith and love, will live with Him for ever +hereafter. + +St. Paul ends his letter, by saying that he shall not come to Corinth +at present; but that he hopes to pass the winter with them. + +It was spring when St. Paul wrote this letter, for he tells the +Corinthians, "I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost": and the Feast +of Pentecost took place about the month of May; so that there were now +a good many months before winter, when St. Paul hoped, with the +permission of the Lord, to tarry awhile at Corinth. + +Before St. Paul left Ephesus, a great tumult took place in that city; +for, as St. Luke says, "there arose no small stir about that +way,"--that is, the people were stirred up against the doctrines of +Christianity, so as to make a tumult in the city. "For a certain man +named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, +brought no small gain unto the craftsmen." + +We have said, that the temple of Diana, at Ephesus, was a most +beautiful and magnificent building, and people came from all parts to +see this wonderful temple, and to worship before an image of Diana, +which was supposed by all the heathens to have been sent down direct +from heaven. Those who came from far distant places to worship in this +famous temple, were glad to carry away some remembrance of the +goddess; and strangers who only came out of curiosity, also bought the +"shrines," or little models of the temple, which the silversmiths at +Ephesus made: these "shrines" had a small image of Diana within them. +By these means, the craftsmen, or workers in silver, gained a great +deal of money; and the more they sold, the better it was for them. + +St. Paul had of course taught all who listened to him, that Diana was +no goddess, only an imaginary being, and that it was very sinful to +worship or honour her in any way: those who believed him therefore, +would not buy these silver shrines, and consequently the silversmiths +found their trade very much fallen off. This great loss of money, +caused Demetrius, one of the chief silversmiths, to call together all +the craftsmen and workmen of the like occupation. When they were +assembled, he said to them, "Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have +our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but +almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away +much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: +so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but +also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, +and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world +worshippeth." This speech was well calculated to stir up the bad +passions of all who heard it; the craftsmen would be angry at the idea +of losing their wealth, whilst all the Gentiles at Ephesus, would be +indignant that their favourite goddess and her splendid temple should +be less thought of, and thus bring fewer people to Ephesus, to admire +and worship. This decrease in the number of strangers attracted to +Ephesus, would of course cause less money to be spent in the city, +which would be a great loss to the inhabitants generally. When, +therefore, those to whom Demetrius spake, "heard these sayings, they +were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the +Ephesians." + +What Demetrius had said to the craftsmen whom he had called together, +spread quickly throughout the city: "and the whole city was filled +with confusion"--the people were now ready for any mischief; and +meeting with two of St. Paul's companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, they +caught them, and "rushed with one accord into the theatre"--a large +building, in which public shows and games took place, and which was +also used for assemblies of the people, when any important occasion +brought them together. When St. Paul understood what had happened, he +would have gone also into the theatre to speak to the people; but the +disciples, fearing that they might do the Apostle some mischief, +suffered him not to go in. "And certain of the chief of Asia, which +were his friends," knowing that in the present excited state of the +people, St. Paul's life would be in danger amongst them, "sent unto +him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the +theatre." + +The persons here spoken of as chiefs of Asia, were the rulers of the +provinces into which Asia Minor was divided: they were called +"Asiarchs," and were chosen from amongst the men of wealth and rank in +the different provinces. Their office was to direct all religious +ceremonies and solemnities; and to celebrate at their own expense, +public games in the theatre, in honour of the heathen gods. It seems +probable that at this very time, public shows and games were going on +in the city of Ephesus; and that some of the Asiarchs who were his +friends, feared that if St. Paul now went into the theatre, the people +might lay hold of him, and throw him to the wild beasts, whose fights +with one another were generally a part of all the public games. In +after times, very many Christians were cruelly given to be killed by +wild beasts, because they would not give up their religion, and bow +down to the false gods of the heathen. The tumult and disturbance in +the theatre at Ephesus became worse and worse. St. Luke tells us, +"Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly +was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come +together." + +The greater number of those who were now assembled, and were loudest +in their cries against St. Paul, did not even know what had caused +this tumultuous meeting. They copied the example of others, without +attempting to find out whether they were right or wrong. This is too +often the case amongst ourselves; but we should be careful not to join +in blaming any person, merely because others do so, without taking +the trouble to find out whether they deserve blame or not. The Jews, +seeing the rage of the people in the theatre, did their best to turn +it all upon the Christians, and to show that they had taken no part in +teaching men to despise the goddess Diana: and they now put forward a +Jew named Alexander, that he might explain this to the assembly. "And +they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him +forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his +defence unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew," and +therefore no worshipper of Diana, they refused to hear him, "and all +with one voice (for) about the space of two hours cried out," over and +over again, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." + +The town-clerk, or principal magistrate of the city, succeeded at last +in stopping this senseless outcry and tumult; and so far appeased the +people, as to get them to listen to him. They were perhaps the more +inclined to do this, as they must have been tired of repeating this +cry for two hours, without knowing why. + +As soon as the town-clerk was allowed to speak, he reminded the +people, that as it was well known to all men, that the Ephesians were +worshippers of the great goddess Diana, they need not be troubled by +anything St. Paul said; more especially as the image of Diana had come +down from heaven, and could not therefore be one of those idols, made +by the hands of men, against which the Apostle had spoken. Then he +went on to show them, that they had done wrong in seizing Gaius and +Aristarchus, whom they could not accuse of any crime whatever: they +were neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of the goddess, +and could not justly be taken before the magistrates; but if Demetrius +and his fellow workmen had injury to complain of, there were proper +courts of law, where such complaints would be heard and judged. But he +also told them, that if they wished to inquire into the doctrines +taught by St. Paul and his companions, it must be done in a very +different manner: a proper assembly must be called, of people who had +authority to judge of such questions; and then the matter must be +brought before them: and he ended by telling them, that they were in +danger of being punished for the uproar and confusion they had made, +for there was no cause for it, and therefore they would not be able to +give a satisfactory answer to the Roman governor, if he should call +them to account for what had happened. + +When the town-clerk had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. "And +after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples," to +take leave of them, "and embraced them, and departed for to go into +Macedonia." + +From another part of the Bible, we learn that Timothy was now left at +Ephesus, to direct the affairs of the Church in that city. We are not +told what places St. Paul now visited in Macedonia, but no doubt he +went wherever he had been before, as well as to other places. From one +of these places in Macedonia, St. Paul wrote the First Epistle to +Timothy; directing him how to answer the Jewish teachers, who tried to +bring false doctrines into the Church at Ephesus. After giving Timothy +much advice as to what he was to teach to others, St. Paul ends his +letter by begging him to keep steadfast in the faith of the Gospel; to +avoid and flee from all sins; and to follow after righteousness, +godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, that so he might, for +Jesus Christ's sake, receive eternal life. + + + + +Chapter XX.--ST. PAUL'S JOURNEY TO MILETUS. + + +During the time that St. Paul was journeying about in Macedonia, he +suffered much both from the unbelieving Jews and the infidels; for he +says himself, in one of his Epistles (2 Cor. vii.), "when we were come +into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every +side; without were fightings, within were fears." But in the midst of +his troubles, the Apostle had one great comfort, for Titus came to him +from Corinth, and brought him a very satisfactory account of the state +of the Church in that city. + +A short time afterwards, he sent Titus back to Corinth, and by him he +sent his "Second Epistle to the Corinthians." Some of the teachers, +who had been reproved for disturbing the faith of the believers by +their mistaken teaching, had, in their anger at the reproof, spoken +ill of St. Paul himself. In this letter, therefore, St. Paul shows the +Corinthians that all he has done or said has been according to the +Will of God, and that therefore they may safely believe him rather +than any teachers, whose doctrines do not agree with what he had +taught them. Many other things he wrote; above all, entreating the +members of the Corinthian Church to keep steadily in the Faith of the +Lord Jesus Christ, and to strive to please God in all things, by +living in peace and holiness. + +This Epistle St. Paul sent to Corinth by Titus, remaining himself a +little longer in Macedonia. "And when he had gone over those parts, +and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, and there +abode three months." We are told nothing of what St Paul did during +these three months, but no doubt he visited Corinth amongst other +places; and we are quite sure that wherever he went he was doing the +work of the Lord. It seems that St Paul proposed to go by sea from +Achaia to Syria; but the Jews, who were as usual greatly vexed at the +success of his preaching, laid some plot to take or kill him, at the +port from which he must sail. Hearing in some way of this plot, St. +Paul "purposed," or determined, to return through Macedonia, and so +disappoint the malice of his enemies. Accordingly he went into +Macedonia, where he was joined by several of the brethren from +different cities in that province. And they "accompanied him into +Asia," together with some others who had come with him from that +country. + +St. Paul appears to have merely passed through Macedonia at this time, +sending most of his company on before, for St. Luke says of them, +"These going before tarried for us at Troas,"--that is, they crossed +over into Asia, and waited at Troas until the Apostle should join them +there. + +St. Luke and one or two others stayed with St. Paul, and we read, "And +we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and +came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days." +Whilst St. Paul was on his way through Macedonia at this time, he +wrote a long letter, called "The Epistle to the Romans," about the +year 58 (A.D.). In our Bibles, this Epistle stands first of all; but +the Epistles are not _chronologically_ arranged; that is, they are not +arranged according to the order in which they were written. If they +had been chronologically arranged, "The Epistle to the Galatians," +written A.D. 51, would have stood first; then "The First Epistle to +the Thessalonians," also written A.D. 51; and next, "The Second +Epistle to the Thessalonians," A.D. 52; and that to "Titus," A.D. 53. +After these, the next in order would have been, "The First Epistle to +the Corinthians," A.D. 57, and "The First Epistle to Timothy," in the +same year; and "The Second Epistle to the Corinthians," A.D. 58, just +before St. Paul wrote that of which we are speaking, to "The Romans." + +In this letter, St. Paul speaks both to the Jews and Gentiles; trying +to persuade both, that the only possible way of salvation for all +mankind was through Faith in Jesus Christ. He tells the Gentiles that +their learning and wisdom will not save them; and that even all their +moral virtues, such as truth, honesty, charity, and such like, will be +of no use without Faith: they must first believe in Jesus Christ, and +then do all these things, _because_ they are pleasing to Him. To the +Jews, the Apostle writes, that all their obedience to the Law of Moses +cannot save them, or give them eternal life; that the Law was only +given to prepare the way for Christ, Who had now made known that the +only way of salvation was through Faith in Him, and consequent +obedience to His holy Word. St. Paul also explained clearly, that +Adam's sin had made all men sinners; and that therefore all men +deserved the wrath of God; but that Christ, by His sufferings and +death, had undone the evil brought upon all mankind by Adam, and +purchased for them forgiveness and justification. Much more St. Paul +taught in this Epistle, and we have it to teach us now. The Epistles +are of the greatest use to us, for they explain and teach much, that +is not even mentioned in the Gospels. + +From Troas, St. Paul determined to go on foot to Assos, another +sea-port town a little to the south; but at the same time he purposed +to send most, if not all, his companions to that place by sea. During +the seven days spent by St. Paul at Troas, he of course preached the +Gospel diligently; and, on the last occasion of his speaking to the +people, a very remarkable event took place, of which we must now read +the account given us by St. Luke in the Book of Acts. + +"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together +to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the +morrow." + +The "breaking of bread" here spoken of, was the partaking of the Bread +and Wine which, on the night before His death, our blessed Lord +commanded to be received constantly by all His faithful followers, in +remembrance of His Body given, and His Blood shed, for our redemption. +This receiving of Bread and Wine we call "The Sacrament of the Lord's +Supper." The early Christians met to partake of the Lord's Supper on +the First Day of every week, the day on which Jesus rose from the +dead. On the night before St. Paul intended to leave Troas, the +disciples met together to partake with him, for the last time, of the +Lord's Supper, and to listen to his farewell counsels. Much had the +Apostle to say, and his hearers were anxious to learn of him, so that +he continued his speech until midnight. "And there were many lights in +the upper chamber, where they were gathered together." This upper +chamber was, on what we should call the third story, and, like all +Eastern houses, would have large windows opening even with the floor. +"Many lights," and a number of people, naturally made the room very +hot, so that the windows were wide open. "And there sat in a window a +certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and +as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down +from the third loft, and was taken up dead." The terrible death of +this young man would, of course, create much confusion and distress +amongst the assembled Christians. "And Paul went down, and fell on +him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is +in him." The Apostle did not ask God to bring Eutychus at once to +life, but he told the brethren that his life would come back, and that +they need not therefore grieve and distress themselves about him. +Those to whom St. Paul now spake had faith in God, Whose servant he +was, and therefore believed his words, and were content to wait the +Lord's time; and so they returned to the upper chamber, leaving the +lifeless body of Eutychus for a time, while St. Paul continued his +preaching. "When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, +and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he +departed," and went at once on his way to Assos. The Apostle grudged +no labour done for the Lord; on the eve of a journey he gave up his +night's rest to preach the Gospel: Eutychus, who might probably never +have another opportunity of learning from him, had fallen asleep +instead of listening to the words of salvation. After St. Paul's +departure from amongst the brethren, the miracle which he had foretold +came to pass; for "they brought the young man alive, and were not a +little comforted." Comforted as to Eutychus himself, and comforted in +this additional proof, that St. Paul's words were indeed the words of +one under the especial direction and blessing of God Almighty, the +Lord of Life and Death. St. Luke now says, "And we went before to +ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so +had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. And when he met with +us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene." This was the chief +town in Lesbos, one of the islands of the Archipelago: the whole +island is now called Metelin. St. Paul did not stop at Mitylene, for +we read that he and his company passed the island of Chios next day, +then that of Samos, and landed at Trogyllium, a town of Asia Minor, to +the S.W. of Ephesus; and next day they came to Miletus, still lower on +the coast, but directly to the south of Ephesus, from whence it was no +great distance. St. Paul knew that if he went to Ephesus, he should +find it difficult to get away again so soon as he wished; and +therefore he "had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not +spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to +be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost." But although he could not spare +time to visit Ephesus, he would not be so near without seeing some of +the elders of the Church, especially as he had something he wished +particularly to say to them. The chief ruler of the Church under St. +Paul was now journeying with him; for Timotheus, or Timothy, was +Bishop of Ephesus, and during his absence had left the care of the +Church to a certain number of elders, or chief men amongst the +believers. From Miletus, therefore, St. Paul "sent to Ephesus, and +called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him," St. +Paul spake to them. He reminded them, that he had freely preached unto +them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in spite of all difficulties and +dangers; keeping back nothing that was profitable for them to know; +"testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance +toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." He then told them +that now, by the direction of the Holy Spirit, he was going up to +Jerusalem, not knowing what would happen to him there; except that the +Holy Ghost had made known unto him, that in every city bonds and +afflictions awaited him. But St. Paul then declared, that the prospect +of imprisonments and persecutions did not trouble him, for that he was +quite ready to give up his life also, if so he could best finish the +work which the Lord had given him to do: in the faithful service of +God he should finish his course, or end his life, with joy. The +Apostle then spake words grievous for the Ephesians to hear; saying, +"And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching +the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to +record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have +not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." St. Paul had +thoroughly done his duty to the Ephesians, in showing them the way of +salvation; and if any of them failed to obtain it, such failure could +in no way be laid to him: he was "pure from the blood," the _spiritual +death_, of all men. + + + + +Chapter XXI.--ST. PAUL GOES UP TO JERUSALEM. + + +After reminding the elders of Ephesus of what he had done for them and +their countrymen, St. Paul exhorted them to take heed unto themselves, +and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made them +overseers, so as in all things to set a good example to others; and to +feed the Church, or nourish and strengthen the souls of the brethren, +with the blessed truths of the Gospel, the pure Word of Him Who had +purchased the Church with his own blood. He told them, that he was the +more anxious to exhort them to do this, because he knew that, after +his departing, wicked men, whom he likens to "grievous wolves," would +enter in among them, not sparing the flock, but leading the brethren +astray to the destruction of their souls. And not only this, but also +of their own selves men should arise teaching false doctrines, +speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Having +thus warned them, St. Paul entreated them to "watch," remembering that +for three years he had not ceased to warn them of these things. Again +the Apostle commended the Ephesians to the grace of God, which was +able to give them an inheritance "among all them which are +sanctified": and ended by reminding them that he had "coveted no man's +silver, or gold, or apparel"; but that he had maintained himself by +working with his own hands, setting them an example that they also +should "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." St. Paul knew well that +without the blessing and help of God no good thing can be done; and +thus did he set an example to all men for ever, to ask His aid in all +their works. + +"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," in +which he was about to sail from Miletus; anxious not to lose sight of +him before it was absolutely necessary. It was natural and right that +the elders of Ephesus should be deeply grieved, at hearing that they +would never again in this world, see one who had been so much with +them, and from whom they had learnt so much. But had they duly +considered his words, they would not have sorrowed most of all on this +account, but for the troubles which were to fall upon their Church +from false and wicked teachers, who would lead many to forsake the +Gospel, and thus destroy them for ever. + +Having taken a final leave of the elders of Ephesus, St. Paul and his +company sailed to the island of Coos, or Cos; then to another called +Rhodes; and from thence to the coast of Asia Minor, where they landed +at Patara, a sea-port of Lycia. Here they found a ship about to sail +into Ph[oe]nicia, and going on board, they passed near the isle of +Cyprus, and finally landed at Tyre, "for there the ship was to unlade +her burden." Finding disciples at Tyre, St. Paul stayed with them +seven days, teaching and exhorting them. St. Luke tells us that some +of these disciples "said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should +not go up to Jerusalem." This means that the Holy Spirit had made +known to these disciples, that great troubles and dangers awaited the +Apostle at Jerusalem; and therefore they tried to persuade him that he +should not go up at all. St. Paul, however, knew that it was his duty +to go to Jerusalem at this time, and therefore no fear of personal +suffering would keep him away: he was ready to undergo whatever God +saw fit to send. St. Luke then says, "And when we had accomplished +those days, we departed, and went our way; and they all brought us on +our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we +kneeled down on the shore, and prayed." + +The brethren at Tyre were grieved to part with St. Paul, particularly +foreseeing that sufferings awaited him at Jerusalem. They accompanied +him to the sea-shore, where the ship waited for him. Their last act +sets us an example of what we should do in all times of sorrow and +anxiety. They would not part without praying to God; so they all knelt +down where they were, and prayed earnestly from their hearts. The Lord +will hear all such real prayers, wherever we say them, or whether we +are kneeling or not; but if we kneel down and repeat words without +caring or thinking about what we are saying, that is not such prayer +as the Lord our God has promised to hear. When St. Paul and his +companions had prayed with the Christians of Tyre, and taken leave of +them, they "took ship,"--that is, embarked on board the ship, whilst +the others "returned home again." + +From Tyre St. Paul sailed to Ptolemais, and landing there, stayed one +day with the brethren. Ptolemais was a celebrated sea-port of Syria, +to the north of Mount Carmel. In the Old Testament, Ptolemais is +called Accho. It was situated in that part of the Land of Canaan given +to the Tribe of Asher; and it was one of those cities out of which the +Children of Israel did not drive the idolatrous inhabitants, as the +Lord had commanded them to do. You will remember the sin and trouble +that came upon the Land of Israel, in consequence of the disobedience +of several of the tribes, who, instead of entirely driving out the +Canaanites, let them continue to live amongst them; by which they were +afterwards led into sin, and suffered much misery in consequence. + +The town of Accho was enlarged and beautified, after the death of +Alexander the Great, by the first of the Egyptian kings, called +Ptolemy; and the name of the city was in consequence changed to +Ptolemais. We now call it Acre, and you will find Acre often spoken of +in history. + +St. Luke now says, "And the next day we that were of Paul's company +departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of +Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with +him." We have heard of Philip as one of the seven deacons, (of whom +Stephen was another,) chosen to help the Apostles, by distributing +food and money to the believers, when they had all things in common; +and we have also heard of his being sent by the Spirit into the desert +between Jerusalem and Gaza, to teach the officer of Candace, queen of +Ethiopia; after which he returned to his home in Cæsarea. This Philip +must not be confounded with the Apostle of the same name, a native "of +Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter," unto whom our Lord said, +"Follow me." We do not call the deacon Philip an "evangelist," because +we only give that name to those four men who, by the inspiration of +God, wrote their several accounts of Christ's life and death; but St. +Luke might well call Philip so, because he preached the Gospel in +every place to which he was sent; and one who spreads the knowledge +of the Gospel by preaching it, was as much an "evangelist" as he who +spread it by his writing. + +Philip had four unmarried daughters, to whom God had, in a miraculous +way, given His Holy Spirit, so that they "did prophesy." This was a +fulfilment of the ancient promise recorded by the prophet Joel, that +in the days of the Messiah the Spirit should be poured out upon their +sons and daughters, servants and handmaidens, so that they should +prophesy. + +St. Paul stayed many days with Philip. We hear nothing of the work he +then did there; but St. Luke says, "And as we tarried there many days, +there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when +he was come unto us, 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." We have heard already of Agabus, as +one of the prophets who went from Jerusalem to Antioch, and foretold +the dearth, or famine, in consequence of which the Christians of +Antioch made a collection for the poorer brethren at Jerusalem, and +"sent it up by the hands of Barnabas and Saul," as St. Paul was at +that time called. Agabus, inspired by the Holy Spirit, now bore his +testimony to the dangers which threatened the Apostle at Jerusalem. +The consequence of this was, that St. Paul's companions themselves, +and "they of that place," (the brethren at Cæsarea,) "besought him not +to go up to Jerusalem"; and so avoid the dangers which threatened him +in that city. + +Here we see that even our friends may tempt us to sin, and that we +must be careful not to yield to their entreaties when they would make +us do wrong. When we know what our duty is, we must not be prevented +from doing it, either by love to our friends or fear of our enemies. +It is often very hard and difficult to do right, when those we love, +ask and beg us not to do it. In this way, children are often led to do +wrong. Let us all, whether we are old or young, take care not to give +way to such temptations; and, above all, let us never so tempt others +to do wrong: let us never ask any one to do what is wrong, but, on the +contrary, do all we can to persuade all to do what is right and +pleasing in the sight of God. St. Paul knew that it was his duty to go +up to Jerusalem; and therefore when those about him entreated him not +to go, he answered, "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? +for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for +the name of the Lord Jesus." + +Though the Apostle was firmly resolved to do his duty, and quite ready +to lay down his life for Christ's sake, if called upon to do so, it +grieved him to give pain to his friends; and therefore he reminds +them, that all their sorrow and weeping would but distress him more +and more--break his heart, as he expressed it, without in any way +changing his settled purpose to go up to Jerusalem. + +When St. Paul had thus declared his unalterable determination, those +who had tried to persuade him not to carry it out, did what they +should have done at first: they left the whole matter in the hands of +God, for "when he would not be persuaded," they "ceased, saying, The +will of the Lord be done." Thus St. Paul's example had a good effect +upon the brethren. + +St. Luke then says, "And after those days we took up our carriages, +and went to Jerusalem." The word "carriages" here does not mean +conveyances to take people from one place to another, but rather such +things as they _carried_ with them--their baggage, in short. Some of +the disciples from Cæsarea went with the Apostles. Amongst them was an +old disciple, a native of Cyprus, called Mnason, who appears at this +time to have had a house in Jerusalem, where St. Paul and his company +were to lodge. St. Luke tells us, "And when we were come to Jerusalem, +the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in +with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had +saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought +among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they +glorified the Lord." + + + + +Chapter XXII.--TUMULT AT JERUSALEM. + + +St. James, and the elders of the Church at Jerusalem, glorified God, +upon hearing of the conversion of so many Gentiles by the teaching of +St. Paul, and then they "said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many +thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of +the law: and they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the +Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they +ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the +customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: +for they will hear that thou art come." + +The elders feared, that St. Paul's coming to Jerusalem might cause a +disturbance amongst the Jewish converts; who, though Christians, +reverenced the Law, and could not bear that it should be neglected. +They had heard exaggerated accounts of what the Apostle had taught; +for he had never said that it was _wrong_ to observe and do the things +commanded by Moses, and that therefore they _ought not_ to do them. He +had only said, that it was not _necessary_ to keep the ceremonial Law; +and that it was _useless_ to do so, because no man could obtain +eternal life by any such outward acts. St. Paul's great object was to +make the Jews understand, that the Law given by Moses, was only meant +to be binding until the Messiah came; and that as Jesus had now +visited his people, the ceremonial part of the Law was done away with. +God no longer required it to be observed: therefore, if the Jews chose +still to observe it, they must not imagine that by doing so they would +now find favour with God: the only way to gain his favour was by +believing in Jesus Christ, and trying, out of love for Him, to obey +all the commands and precepts of the Gospel: all who thus strove to +please God, would find favour in His sight, whether they kept the +ceremonial Law or not. The Jewish converts at Jerusalem, not clearly +understanding what St. Paul had taught, were set against him; and as +they would be sure to meet together to discuss the matter, as soon as +they heard of his arrival, the elders now said to one another, "What +is it therefore?"--that is, what can be done to quiet the fears of +these Jewish brethren. The plan that the Apostles and elders now +proposed, was one that would show the Jews, that St. Paul did not +think it _wrong_ to observe the forms of the Law, though he taught +that it was not _necessary_ to do so. What this plan was, we shall +hear from what they now said to St. Paul, "Do therefore this that we +say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; them take, and +purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may +shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they +were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also +walkest orderly, and keepest the law." + +To understand this speech, we must remember that even in the time of +Moses, the Children of Israel were in the habit of showing their +piety, and their wish to serve God, by devoting themselves for a time +to the performance of special acts of worship; separating themselves +from their brethren, for the observance of certain forms and +ceremonies. A person who thus separated himself for a time from others +by a particular profession of religion, was called a Nazarite; and the +Lord Himself gave Moses directions, as to the outward forms and +ceremonies to be observed by every one, who should vow the vow of a +Nazarite. To take the vow of a Nazarite was a _voluntary_ act; that +is, it was at the choice of any person to take it: but once taken, the +person who had thus devoted himself to the special service of God, was +neither to drink wine, nor any of the drinks made from fruits or +honey: he was to drink water only, that his head might be cool and +clear, and better able to attend to his religious studies and +exercises. Then he was not to shave his head, nor to cut his hair; +neither was he to do any of the things usually done upon the death of +a relation, because such mourning for the dead would render him +unclean. + +Some persons vowed themselves to be Nazarites for life; others only +for a certain number of years, months, or even days: and at the end of +the time, the Nazarite was to bring certain offerings unto the priest +to be presented to the Lord: then he was to shave his head at the door +of the tabernacle, and burn the hair in the fire which consumed the +peace offerings. After all the appointed ceremonies had been gone +through, the Nazarite was free from his vow, and might return to live +like other people. You will, I hope, remember Samson, who was a +Nazarite from his birth; and who fell into great trouble, because his +vow was broken, when his hair was cut off by Delilah. + +Now at the time when St. Paul came to Jerusalem, there were four men +there, who had taken the vows of a Nazarite for a short time: their +time was nearly out, and the elders proposed that St. Paul should join +them in abstaining (or keeping) from such things, as they were +forbidden to do; and that he should "be at charges with them," that +is, pay for the sacrifices they must offer, before they could shave +their heads, and be free from their vows. The Jews looked upon it as +an act of piety, for any person to pay the expenses of those who had +taken the vow of a Nazarite. + +We have now seen what the elders advised St. Paul to do, in order to +show the Jews that he was no _enemy_ to the Law of Moses, and did not +think it _wrong_ to observe its forms, if people liked to do so, +though it was unnecessary. And they added, "As touching the Gentiles +which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such +thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to +idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication": thus +repeating that decision of the Church, with which the teaching of St. +Paul agreed. + +"Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them +entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of +purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one +of them." All this was done for the sake of peace, and to make the +Jews more willing to listen to St. Paul. Some people think it was not +right nor wise to act in this manner, because it might lead man to +believe, that the Law _ought_ to be observed in all its ceremonies, +and that St. Paul's practice did not quite agree with his preaching. +At any rate it had not the effect of satisfying the Jews; on the +contrary, it caused a serious disturbance. "When the seven days were +almost ended," some unbelieving Jews of Asia, who had persecuted St. +Paul in their own country, and were now come to Jerusalem for the same +purpose, "when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, +and laid hands on him, crying out, Men of Israel, help: this is the +man, that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, +and this place." They declared that St. Paul, by his teaching, was +taking away from the Jews all their privileges as the chosen people of +God, and putting the heathen on an equality with them; that he taught +men not to respect the law, nor to reverence the temple; and that he +did not reverence it himself, but had polluted and defiled it; for, +said they, he "brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted +this holy place." This they said, because they had seen an Ephesian +convert, named Trophimus, in the city with St. Paul, and "supposed +that Paul had brought (him) into the temple"; which of course he had +not done: because, though he knew that the entrance of a true +Christian into the temple would not be displeasing to God, he knew +that it would greatly offend the Jews, if any one who had been a +Gentile, went any further than the outer court of the temple, set +apart for the Gentiles: and he did not wish to offend or vex the Jews +needlessly. We should never do anything to vex or grieve others, +unless it is our _duty_ to do it. Our duty we must do, whatever be the +consequence. + +The Jews, who now tried to stir up the people against St. Paul, +succeeded to their utmost wish in raising a disturbance, for "all the +city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and +drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as +they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of +the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar." The band here spoken +of, was the Roman garrison, or party of soldiers, posted in Jerusalem, +to keep the city in order, and prevent any kind of disturbance or riot +amongst the Jews. The chief captain of this band, at the time we are +speaking of, was a Roman named Claudius Lysias; "who," upon hearing of +the uproar, "immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down +unto them." They had not far to go, for the place in which they were +posted was the castle of Antonia, close to the north-west corner of +the temple. This castle, or strong tower, had been built by Herod the +Great: it was so high, that from the upper part, the soldiers on watch +could see what was going on in the two outer courts of the temple: +they would therefore have seen St. Paul dragged out of the temple by +an angry mob, and they would at once have taken these tidings to their +captain, who went down with all haste, and arrived in time to save the +Apostle's life; for the Jews feared the Roman soldiers, and when they +saw them, "they left beating of Paul"--that is, ceased to beat him. + +"Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to +be bound with two chains"; for as he naturally concluded that St. Paul +must have committed some crime, to make the Jews treat him in this +way, his first care was to secure him, that he might not run away, and +thus escape the punishment he deserved. We may be quite sure that the +Apostle would have made no attempt to escape; but that the Romans +could not know. When Claudius Lysias had secured his prisoner, he +"demanded who he was, and what he had done." To this question, no +reasonable answer could be given; for as St. Paul had not committed +any crime, no intelligible accusation could be brought against him: +and therefore, "some cried one thing, some another, among the +multitude": so that Claudius Lysias could make out nothing for +certain; "and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he +commanded him to be carried into the castle." The Jews, unwilling to +lose their victim, pressed after the soldiers who were leading him +away, eager to kill him. "And when he came upon the stairs," leading +up into the castle, "so it was, that he was borne," or carried, by +"the soldiers for the violence of the people. For the multitude +followed after, crying, Away with him." On the top of the stairs, the +Apostle was out of reach of his furious enemies; "and as Paul was to +be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak +unto thee?" These words were spoken in Greek, to the astonishment of +Claudius Lysias, who imagined that his prisoner must be a certain +Egyptian, or rather a Jew who had come from Egypt to Jerusalem, about +two years before this time. Giving out that he was a great prophet +sent by God, this man persuaded great numbers of people to go with him +to the Mount of Olives, promising, that they should see the walls of +the city fall down at his command: but he intended, with the help of +these people, to force his way into the city, and destroy the Roman +guards. This attempt was, however, prevented by Felix, the governor of +Judæa: many of these foolish people were killed, and the leader +himself fled into the wilderness, accompanied by a great number of +men, that "were murderers," or had committed other crimes which made +them liable to punishment. Josephus the historian tells us, that these +murderers were persons who, under pretence of religion, came up to +Jerusalem with daggers or short swords, concealed under their cloaks, +ready to do any act of violence. They were employed by Felix to murder +Jonathan the High Priest; and for this crime they of course received +no punishment. They afterwards made it a practice, to come up to +Jerusalem for all the feasts; and then, either by hiring themselves +out as assassins to those who wished to get rid of an enemy, or by +killing those against whom they had any grudge, they committed +numerous murders, even in the temple itself. The number of these +murderers became very considerable, and the Roman Government wished to +destroy them. + + + + +Chapter XXIII.--ST. PAUL BROUGHT BEFORE THE SANHEDRIM. + + +When St. Paul said in Greek to the Chief captain, "May I speak unto +thee?" he said, in answer, "Canst thou speak Greek? Art not thou that +Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out +into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? But Paul +said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a +citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto +the people." Claudius Lysias readily granted this request. "And when +he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with +the hand unto the people"; signifying that he had something to say, if +they would only be quiet and listen to him. The people were now +willing to hear him. "And when there was made a great silence, he +spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying, Men, brethren, and +fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you." It would seem +that many of those who had been crying out against St. Paul, had no +idea that he was himself a Jew, and able to speak to them in their own +beloved language; for "when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew +tongue to them, they kept the more silence." St. Paul then told the +people that he himself was born a Jew, and had been brought up in +Jerusalem by their famous teacher Gamaliel, who had taught him the +very strictest observance of the Law of Moses; and that he himself had +been so zealous for the Law, that he had at one time cruelly +persecuted the Christians, as the High Priest and all the elders of +the Jews could bear witness. Then he went on to give an account of all +that had happened to him on his way to Damascus, and how he had in +consequence become himself a believer in Jesus Christ. He also told +the people, that when he was afterwards in Jerusalem, the Lord had +appeared to him in a vision, and given him a positive command to go +and preach to the Gentiles, saying, "Depart: for I will send thee far +hence unto the Gentiles." Hitherto, the assembled multitude had +listened quietly to what the Apostle said, "they gave him audience +unto this word"; but when they heard him plainly declare, that it was +the will of God that the Gentiles should share His favour, which they +thought belonged only to themselves, they were filled with rage, and +would hear no more: they "lifted up their voices, and said, Away with +such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live": +and they cast off their upper garments, that they might be ready to +stone him, and threw dust up into the air, to show their hatred and +contempt. + +The Arabs in these days have a custom like this; for when any person, +who is speaking in public, says anything they disapprove of, they +throw dust into the air, to show that they have no respect for the +speaker and do not believe what he is saying. St. Paul was now in +great danger of being torn in pieces, if the people, who stood raging +and shouting round the stairs on which he stood, could catch hold of +him. Claudius Lysias saw that the only hope of stopping the uproar, +was to take St. Paul out of sight of the enraged multitude. "And as +they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the +air, the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle." +But he was as far as ever from knowing what the Jews accused St. Paul +of: he did not understand Hebrew, and therefore he had no idea of what +had been said; but he naturally thought, that it must be something +very wrong to put the people into such a rage. Seeing therefore, that +there was no other chance of learning the truth, he now determined to +have St. Paul beaten, according to the custom of the Romans, who +treated prisoners in this way, in order to make them confess what +crimes they had committed. Claudius Lysias therefore, after having had +the Apostle brought into the castle, "bade that he should be examined +by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. +And as they bound him with thongs" to a pillar, as was usual in such +cases, "Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for +you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?" The privileges +of a Roman, that is, of a Roman citizen, have been explained. The +centurion, who commanded the party of soldiers about to scourge the +prisoner, was fully aware of the danger of so treating one, who had in +any way obtained the freedom of Rome; and therefore, when he heard +such words spoken by his prisoner, he at once "went, and told the +chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest; for this man is a +Roman." Such a startling piece of intelligence, at once brought +Claudius to the spot where the prisoner stood bound with thongs to a +pillar, with the soldiers round ready to scourge him. "Then the chief +captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, +Yea. And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this +freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born. Then straightway they +departed from him which should have examined him" by this torture: and +not only did the chief captain give up all idea of scourging St. Paul, +but he "also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and +because he had bound him." + +Even binding a Roman citizen was unlawful, and for doing this Claudius +Lysias was liable to be punished. Nero, who had become Emperor of Rome +about four years before this time, on the death of Claudius, A.D. 54, +was a harsh and cruel tyrant; and though he would not have cared +whether St. Paul was tortured or not, he would have been very angry if +any of the laws concerning the Roman privileges had been broken; and +therefore Claudius Lysias had good reason to fear, that if St. Paul +complained of the treatment which he, a free-born citizen of Rome, had +received, the Emperor would cause him to be punished. If he had known +more of the precepts taught by Jesus, he would have felt sure that St. +Paul would have no wish to revenge himself in such a manner. The +Apostle made use of his rights as a Roman citizen to save himself from +a cruel punishment; because, if he had been scourged, it might have +led men to think that he must have been guilty of some crime to +deserve such a punishment; and it was necessary that the teachers of +the holy Word of God should appear blameless before all men. + +The chief captain now took other measures for finding out what St. +Paul was accused of; and he summoned the Sanhedrim to meet, that they +might in a lawful manner examine and judge the prisoner, and so +ascertain whether there was any reason for the rage of the people +against him. We read, "On the morrow, because he would have known the +certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his +bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to +appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them. And Paul, +earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived +in all good conscience before God until this day." + +Now that the Apostle was called upon to defend himself, he rightly +wished all men to understand, that he was no criminal deserving of +anger or punishment; but a man who had always tried to do what he +believed to be his duty in the sight of God: most truly could he say +that he had done this; for even when he persecuted the followers of +Jesus, it was under the mistaken idea that it was his duty to do so. +But the Jews were angry at his saying this, "and the high priest +Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. +Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for +sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be +smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest +thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he +was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of +the ruler of thy people." + +The Apostle meant, that if he had known, or looked upon Ananias as +the High Priest, he would not have rebuked him in such words; because +a ruler of the people must be treated with respect, on account of his +office: but Ananias deserved the rebuke, for the Law commanded all who +ruled, or judged others, to do no unrighteousness or injustice +themselves; and Ananias broke the Law, and was guilty of very great +injustice in ordering St. Paul to be smitten in this way, before he +had been proved to be guilty of any crime. We must mention here that, +in fact, Ananias was _not_ the High Priest at this time. He had been +High Priest at the time of the famine, when Barnabas and Saul took +help to the poor brethren at Jerusalem; but after that, there had been +some disturbance between the Jews and Samaritans, and the Romans, +thinking Ananias to blame, deprived him of his sacred office, and sent +him as a prisoner to Rome: and though he was afterwards allowed to +return to Jerusalem, he was not restored to the office of High Priest, +to which another man, named Jonathan, had been appointed. This +Jonathan had been killed by the "murderers" hired by Felix the Roman +governor, and no other High Priest had as yet been appointed; +therefore there was, in fact, _no_ High Priest to be president, or +head, of the Sanhedrim. Under these circumstances, Ananias set himself +up as chief of the Council, and behaved in the unjust manner related. +St. Paul had only been a very few days in Jerusalem, and did not +perhaps know that Ananias had taken the office of High Priest upon +himself; or if he did know it, what he said would be a just rebuke to +him for having done so. + +One other matter requires a few words, that is, the "whited wall," to +which St. Paul compared Ananias. We shall remember that our Saviour +said, "Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like +unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but +are within full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so ye +also appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy +and iniquity." In the same manner St. Paul applied the comparison of +the "whited wall" of a sepulchre to Ananias, who pretended to judge +and rebuke another, whilst his own heart was full of all evil passions +and iniquity. + +Let us remember, that each such passage of Scripture has a lesson for +us: all who only think of what men will say, and try to _appear_ good +in the eyes of their fellow creatures, without trying to love and +serve God with all their heart, and to do His will whatever men may +think of them, are no more pleasing in the eyes of our Lord, than were +the Pharisees, whom Jesus compared to "whited sepulchres." + +Now we must return to the Council of the Sanhedrim, and hear what the +Apostle said in his defence. St. Luke says, "But when Paul perceived +that the one part (of his hearers) were Sadducees, and the other +Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a +Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the +dead I am called in question"--meaning that he was persecuted and +called to account, because he had taught that the dead would rise +again. "And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the +Pharisees and Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the +Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor +spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: +and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, +saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath +spoken to him, let us not fight against God." These scribes spake +well: but unhappily they did not speak in sincerity, but only out of +contradiction and spite to the Sadducees, whom they hated. They were +quite as much opposed to St. Paul's preaching to the Gentiles, as any +other class of persons could be; and therefore it was hypocrisy to +pretend to believe that an angel had bid him do so. St Paul, moreover, +had said nothing of any angel speaking to him; but had plainly +declared that Jesus Christ had spoken to him: and this of course the +Pharisees could not allow, because they would not acknowledge Jesus +Christ to be the Messiah. They were, in fact, fighting against +God--the very thing which they pretended to be afraid of doing. + +The Sadducees were very angry, and the whole Council became a scene of +the greatest confusion and violence; so that Claudius Lysias feared +for his prisoner's life; and being answerable for his safety, he sent +his soldiers to bring him back into the castle, where he would be out +of danger. + + + + +Chapter XXIV.--ST. PAUL SENT TO CÆSAREA. + + +We read in the Book of Acts, "And when there arose a great dissension, +the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces +of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force +from among them, and to bring him into the castle." + +In the midst of the troubles and dangers with which he was now +surrounded, the faithful servant of God was not left without comfort +and encouragement; for we read, that "the night following the Lord +stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast +testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. +And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound +themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink +till they had killed Paul." + +These men belonged to a party amongst the Jews, who were particularly +strict in the observance of all the forms and ceremonies of the Law; +and for their _zeal_ or eagerness in this matter, they were called +Zealots. These Zealots, quite overlooking the Moral Law, which +commanded "Thou shalt not kill," taught, that it was right to kill any +man who did not observe the whole of the Ceremonial Law: they +therefore made a practice of murdering, whenever they had an +opportunity, all whom they looked upon as enemies of the Law, without +waiting for any trial to decide whether or not they deserved +punishment. + +The Chief Priest and elders, instead of trying to prevent such +wickedness, too often approved of the practices of the Zealots; as by +their means they got rid of many whom they feared and hated, and who +certainly could not justly have been found guilty of any crime, for +which they could have been put to death. These Jewish Zealots had +bound themselves by a curse to kill St. Paul; that is, they expressed +a wish that God would bring evil upon them, if they did not kill St. +Paul, before they ate or drank anything. Any such oaths are very +sinful at all times, even if the act we bind ourselves to do is a good +and righteous one, because it may not please God that we should do it: +man proposes, but God disposes; and we must be content with striving +to do what is right and useful, and leave the issue in His hands. + +The Zealots, though they wickedly bound themselves by such an oath, +knew that there was no risk in any case of their being starved to +death, because any of their Rabbis could absolve, or set them free +from such oaths, whenever they did not find it convenient to keep +them. + +There were more than forty of the Zealots which made this conspiracy +against St. Paul; and they, knowing that the Chief Priests and elders +would be only too glad to have the Apostle silenced in any way, went +to them to get their help in the execution of this wicked plot. They +told the Priests and elders how they had bound themselves by a curse +to kill St. Paul: and then said, "Now therefore ye with the council +signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you +to-morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly +concerning him; and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him." + +This was a plan very likely to succeed: Claudius Lysias would have +thought it very natural that the Sanhedrim should wish to examine St. +Paul quietly, which could not be done in the tumult and excitement of +the day before. He would, therefore, have sent his prisoner down with +a small guard of soldiers, sufficient to prevent his escaping: these, +the Zealots who would be lying in wait, could easily overpower by +their greater number, and thus they would have no difficulty in +murdering the Apostle. It is sad to think that priests and rulers, +whose duty it was to teach the people what was right, and to see that +every man was treated justly, should have agreed thus to entrap and +slay a man who had been guilty of no crime: but so it was, for they +consented to do their part in the proposed scheme. + +The enemies of St. Paul must now have thought his destruction certain: +but they forgot that if the Lord was on the Apostle's side, all their +plots would come to nothing. And so it proved: for the Lord, Who had +work for His faithful servant to do, caused this plot to become in +some way known to a young man, the son of St. Paul's sister. We know +nothing of this young man; whether he was still a Jew, or had, as is +more probable, become a Christian: all we are told is, "And when +Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered +into the castle, and told Paul." + +We have now another example as to the duty of using all human means, +whilst humbly depending upon the blessing of God, without which all +our efforts are unavailing. St. Paul had the promise of God, that he +should live to preach the Gospel in Rome; therefore he was well +assured that the Zealots could not harm him. He also knew that the +Almighty could work a miracle for his deliverance; but he knew that to +depend upon such a display of Divine power, would be tempting God, not +trusting in Him. St. Paul felt, that the Lord, Who most generally +brings about events through human actions, had now given him the means +of saving his own life; and that it was his duty to make use of them, +in order to defeat the wicked plot contrived by the Zealots and the +Council. + +When St. Paul had heard from his sister's son the plot laid for his +destruction, he "called one of the centurions unto him, and said, +Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain +thing to tell him. So" the centurion "took him, and brought him to the +chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and +prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say +unto thee. Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with +him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell +me?" Then the young man told him all that was proposed, and begged him +not to yield to the request of the Council. Having heard what he had +to say, "the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged +him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me." +Claudius Lysias immediately took measures to save St. Paul, without +giving any cause or pretence for a disturbance, by refusing what would +appear to be a reasonable request from the Sanhedrim: and he +determined at once to send his prisoner out of the city, so that when +asked to produce him before the Council, he could truly say, that it +was no longer in his power to do so. We read that "he called unto him +two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to +Cæsarea, and horsemen three-score and ten, and spearmen two hundred, +at the third hour of the night; and provide them beasts, that they may +set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor," whose +residence was at Cæsarea. At the same time Claudius Lysias wrote a +letter to be given to Felix, by those who conducted St. Paul to +Cæsarea. "And he wrote a letter after this manner: Claudius Lysias +unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. This man was +taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I +with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. +And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I +brought him forth into their council: whom I perceived to be accused +of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge +worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was told me how that the Jews +laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave +commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had +against him. Farewell." + +Now this letter was not quite a truthful account of what had +happened: Claudius Lysias told the story most favourably for himself, +by making it appear that he rescued St. Paul because he was a Roman +citizen; whereas he did not know that fact, till he was on the point +of scourging the prisoner--a circumstance of which he makes no +mention. In relating anything, either by word of mouth or by letter, +we should be very careful to state exactly what happened, whether it +is favourable to ourselves or not. Saying that he had given +commandment to the accusers to go down to Cæsarea with their +complaints, was different; because by the time the letter reached +Felix, the command would be given. Of course he could say nothing to +the Jews that evening, as it was needful to send the Apostle away +secretly; but we may be sure that the next day, when the Council +demanded that St. Paul should be brought before them for further +examination, this advice was given to them. The third hour of the +night was about nine o'clock in the evening, and "then the soldiers, +as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to +Antipatris," a city about thirty-eight miles from Jerusalem, and +twenty-seven from Cæsarea. It had been rebuilt, like many other +cities, by Herod the Great, who called it Antipatris, after his father +Antipater. + +Here St. Paul was quite out of reach of the Zealots who had banded to +kill him, and so large a guard was therefore quite unnecessary: so +that "on the morrow" the soldiers "left the horsemen to go with him, +and returned to the castle" of Antonia. The horsemen went on, "who, +when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, +presented Paul also before him. And when the governor had read the +letter, he asked of what province" the prisoner was. And when he +understood that he was of Cilicia, "I will hear thee, said he, when +thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in +Herod's judgment hall." Herod's judgment hall, in which Felix +commanded the Apostle to be kept till his accusers should come down, +was a large building erected by Herod the Great as a palace for +himself: part of it was afterwards made into a residence for the Roman +governor of Judæa; and part of it was used as a prison for prisoners, +not charged with any great or serious crime. Here, then, St. Paul was +kept for five days. "And after five days Ananias the high priest +descended," or went down to Cæsarea, "with the elders, and with a +certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against +Paul." + +An orator was a person who was able to make a good speech upon any +subject set before him. Many men made a business of this; that is, a +man who was able to speak well, would speak for others, who were not +able to do so, on condition of being paid for his services. Thus, if +any man were accused of a crime, he would get one of these public +orators to speak for him at the time of trial, and try to persuade the +Judge that he was innocent, whether he really were so or not. The same +sort of thing is done amongst us, by barristers--men who have made it +their business to study the laws of their country, in order to advise +and help others who are ignorant in such matters. The Jewish priests +and rulers were so very anxious that Felix should believe St. Paul to +be in the wrong, and condemn him accordingly, that they had engaged an +orator named Tertullus, to come and speak for them, and make the best +of their case; so as to persuade Felix to condemn St. Paul, and thus +gratify their malice. + + + + +Chapter XXV.--ST. PAUL ACCUSED BEFORE FELIX. + + +Tertullus "informed the governor against Paul,"--that is, he came to +Cæsarea for the express purpose of informing the governor of the many +and serious accusations, which the Jews brought against the prisoner. +The accusers being now come, Felix sat to judge the matter, and hear +what each party had to say. "And when he was called forth, Tertullus," +in the name of the Jewish priests and rulers, "began to accuse" Paul, +"saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very +worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, we accept it +always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. +Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee +that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words." + +Now Felix was a harsh and tyrannical governor; and though he had done +good service in freeing the country from the robbers which had +infested it, and in punishing impostors (like the Egyptian), he had +caused the High Priest to be murdered, and had often driven the Jews +into rebellion by his barbarous and unjust acts. In short, his whole +conduct created such disturbances in the land, and made him so hateful +to the Jewish people, that within two years of this time, they +petitioned the Roman Government for his removal; and Porcius Festus +was appointed governor instead of him. When therefore Tertullus, as +the mouthpiece of the Jews, spake in this way of the peace and quiet +they enjoyed under his excellent government, they were not expressing +their real true opinions, but were only saying what they thought would +please Felix, and make him more willing to do what they wished. +Tertullus having thus prepared the way, went on to bring his +accusations against St. Paul, saying, "For we have found this man a +pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews +throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: +who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and +would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias +came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, +commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom +thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse +him." + +This speech was full of falsehood, inasmuch as it so misrepresented +what had happened, as to lead Felix to think that the prisoner before +him had proved himself a dangerous enemy to the Roman Government, and +that the chief captain had violently and unnecessarily interfered with +the peaceable exercise of the Council's rights, of examining into +those matters of which St. Paul was accused. The Jews, however, +assented, saying that these things which Tertullus had spoken were +true. + +When Tertullus had thus informed Felix, the latter called upon St. +Paul to answer to these charges. Felix having now been governor of +Judæa for four or five years, knew something of the religion, laws, +and customs of the Jews, and was therefore the better able to judge in +these matters. "Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto +him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of +many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer +for myself: because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet +but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. And they +neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising +up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: neither can +they prove the things whereof they now accuse me." + +In these few words, the Apostle contradicted absolutely the charges +brought against him by his enemies. Felix, he knew, would understand +his wish of going to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Pentecost, and +that, as he had only been in the city for twelve days, he could not +have done much to stir up the people to rebellion. Having thus +declared the falseness of the charges brought against him, the Apostle +went on to notice what was in fact the real cause of all the +persecution against him; and boldly said, "But this I confess unto +thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God +of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and +in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they themselves also +allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the +just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a +conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Now after many +years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon +certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with +multitude, nor with tumult. Who ought to have been here before thee, +and object, if they had ought against me. Or else let these same here +say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the +council, except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among +them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by +you this day." + +We cannot read this beautiful speech without wishing that each one of +us could say from our hearts, that we too are endeavouring so to live +and act, that our consciences may not reproach us with any wilful sin. +It was customary for the Jews, in whatever countries they might happen +to dwell, to send alms and offerings from time to time to Jerusalem; +and St. Paul had now, according to that custom, brought contributions +from the foreign Jews. We should notice the close of St. Paul's +speech, when he challenges the priests and rulers to say, whether any +fault whatever had been proved against him during his examination +before the Sanhedrim, unless they looked upon his having said, "that +the Jews persecuted him because he had preached the resurrection of +the dead," as a crime. St. Paul's accusers seem to have answered +nothing; they were unable to contradict him, for he had spoken nothing +but the truth, and had plainly shown that he was no "pestilent +fellow," nor mover of sedition among the people. + +"And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of +that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain +shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. And he +commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and +that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come +unto him." Felix, living at Cæsarea, where Cornelius, a Roman +centurion, had been so wonderfully converted, and where Philip the +deacon, and many other Christians resided, must have heard a good deal +about the doctrines of "that way" of worshipping the Lord; and he had +certainly found, that the Christians were better subjects, and +altogether better men, than the Jews. He would not therefore be +inclined to condemn St. Paul _because_ he was a Christian; and, +listening carefully to the accusations and defence just made before +him, he saw at once that the prisoner had not committed any crime +whatever, and that the whole affair arose from the hatred, which the +Jews bore to the followers of Jesus Christ. Instead, however, of +boldly pronouncing sentence one way or the other, he tried to pacify +the Jews by putting off the trial till Claudius Lysias, whom they had +accused of illegal violence, could come down; and mean time he +entrusted St. Paul to the care of a centurion, with orders not to +treat him as a prisoner. It must have been a bitter disappointment to +the Jews, to see the man whom they persecuted thus kindly treated. + +We may also see the protecting hand of God overruling these events. +Had St. Paul been set at liberty, the Jews would doubtless have tried +to take his life; but under the watchful care of the centurion, he was +safe from their malice. + +Whether Claudius Lysias ever did come down to Cæsarea, we are not +told; but it is quite clear that St. Paul was neither declared guilty +of any offence deserving punishment, nor set at liberty, which, as an +innocent man, he ought to have been. + +St. Luke next tells us, "And after certain days, when Felix came with +his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him +concerning the faith in Christ." It has already been said that +Drusilla was one of the daughters of Herod Agrippa, who died miserably +at Cæsarea, as a punishment for allowing himself to be treated as a +god. Drusilla had been married to another man, but Felix had persuaded +her to leave her husband, and become his wife. This was a great sin in +both Felix and Drusilla. After the trial of St. Paul, the governor +appears to have left Cæsarea for a while; and when he came back, +bringing Drusilla with him, they both wished to hear more of the +doctrines of Christianity, and therefore they sent for St. Paul, that +he might talk to them "concerning the faith in Christ." St. Paul was +always ready to speak the truth boldly in the service of his heavenly +Master; and knowing that Felix was an unjust and unrighteous ruler, +and a man who at all times thought only of pleasing and indulging +himself, without caring what injury or suffering he inflicted upon +others, he took this opportunity of showing the sinfulness of such +conduct, and that those who persisted in it would be punished +hereafter, when Jesus Christ should come to judge the world. "And as +he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix +trembled"; for his conscience told him, that he was guilty of the very +sins for which the Apostle declared that the wrath of God would fall +upon the impenitent. Well would it have been for him, if the fear +which made him tremble, had made him at once anxiously inquire in true +penitence, What must I do to be saved? But, unhappily, he took another +course, too often followed amongst ourselves: he did not _like to +hear_ such things, and so he tried to put them away, and answered, "Go +thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call +for thee." + +Even in worldly matters, it is a good maxim, never to put off till +to-morrow what ought to be done to-day. Infinitely more does it apply +to spiritual things; to repentance, to abstaining from what we feel to +be wrong, to making the sacrifice we know we ought to make, to doing +the duty which we perceive we ought to do. Never let us put off such +things, and thus quench the Spirit of God speaking in our hearts. If +we wilfully let one opportunity slip, we may never have another given +to us. There is no "season" so "convenient" for doing right as the +moment in which we feel what _is_ right. Felix stifled the voice of +conscience, which answered to St. Paul's teaching; and we have no +reason to believe that the convenient season ever came, for, though he +often talked with him after this, we hear of no good results from such +meetings; nor could any good results be expected, from a course in +which covetousness had so great a share; for one of the governor's +motives for keeping the Apostle still in some sort as a prisoner, was +the hope that he or his friends would purchase his liberty, by giving +money. But Felix ought to have felt, that St. Paul would never offer a +bribe, which it was very wrong for any Judge to take. However that may +be, we read, "He hoped also that money should have been given him of +Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, +and communed with him." + + + + +Chapter XXVI.--ST. PAUL BEFORE FESTUS. + + +"But after two years, Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, +willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound." Felix might now +at least have let the Apostle go, for he could no longer hope for any +advantage by leaving him still a prisoner. This governor had never +tried to please the Jews by a just and kind government: then he +preferred pleasing himself: now, that it does not interfere with his +own gratification, he was willing to do the Jews a pleasure, by +committing another sin, in the detention of an innocent man, whom he +well knew ought to have been set free long ago. The Bible says truly, +that "the fear of man bringeth a snare," and the same may be said of +the wish to please him, when we cannot do so without doing wrong or +neglecting our duty. + +Felix gained nothing by thus sacrificing St. Paul, for the Jews of +Cæsarea followed him to Rome, and there made such complaints of him to +the Emperor Nero, that it was with great difficulty that Felix saved +himself from severe punishment. The new governor of Judæa, when he +"was come into the province," made in the first instance a very short +stay at Cæsarea, and "after three days" went up to Jerusalem. Of +course in this short time, he had not had leisure to hear anything +concerning St. Paul. The Jews of Jerusalem, therefore, gladly seized +this opportunity to try and prejudice Festus against St. Paul. "Then +the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, +and besought him, and desired favour against him, that he would send +for him to Jerusalem," to be there tried. But they had another end in +view; even the same which the Zealots, with the approbation of the +Sanhedrim, had hoped to accomplish on a former occasion. The high +priest and the elders, knowing well that St. Paul could not be found +guilty of any crime, only besought Festus to have him brought to +Jerusalem, because they were determined to get rid of him, by "laying +wait in the way to kill him." But their wicked scheme was again +defeated, for "Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, +and that he himself would depart shortly thither. Let them therefore, +said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this +man, if there be any wickedness in him." + +And when Festus had been about ten days in Jerusalem, "he went down +unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat, commanded +Paul to be brought. And when he was come" before the judgment seat, +"the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid +many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. +While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, +neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended +anything at all." Festus quite saw that St. Paul had been guilty of no +offence towards the Roman Government, but that the whole matter +concerned the doctrines and customs of the Jewish Law; and that he, as +the Roman governor, had no cause to keep him prisoner, or trouble him +any further. "But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered +Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of +these things before me?" The Sanhedrim was the proper Court to try +questions concerning the Jewish Law. Festus knew nothing of the plots +to kill St. Paul, for he was a just man, and would not have +countenanced such wickedness. He could not order St. Paul to be tried +by the Sanhedrim, for the authority of that Court was not recognized +by the Romans; but probably with the view of convincing the Jews that +St. Paul had not offended against their Law, he proposed that the +Apostle should go up to Jerusalem to answer their charges. + +"Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar's judgment seat, where I ought to be +judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. +For if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I +refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these +accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar." As a +freeman of Rome, St. Paul could only be tried for any crime, by a +Court composed of Judges appointed by Cæsar; hence called "Cæsar's +judgment seat." Again, he declared that he was innocent of any offence +against the Jews, but that he had no wish to escape a lawful trial, or +any just punishment; but that if he were not found guilty of any +crime, no person had any right to put him in the power of men so well +known to be his enemies as the Jews were. He ended by making use of +another privilege belonging to a Roman citizen, that of appealing unto +Cæsar: after which he could only be tried at Rome, by persons +appointed especially for that purpose by the Emperor himself. A +freeman of Rome who had been tried anywhere and found guilty, could +then appeal to Cæsar, if he thought his sentence unjust. Or before +trial, if he suspected that his judge was not acting according to law, +he could thus appeal to the Emperor. An appeal to Cæsar was highly +respected by every person in authority, and any magistrate who, after +such an appeal, dared to punish a prisoner, would himself be liable to +severe punishment. This, and all the privileges of a Roman citizen, +were so much respected, that many years after this time, when the +Christians were persecuted by order of the Emperor Trajan, a Roman +called Pliny, whose duty it was to have all Christians put to death, +wrote a letter to the Emperor, in which, after speaking of the numbers +he had executed because they would not give up their religion, he +says, "There are others, guilty of similar folly, but finding them to +be Roman citizens, I have determined to send them to Rome." Perhaps +these poor creatures had appealed to Cæsar; at any rate, Pliny, +respecting their privileges, thought it safest to send them to Rome, +though there could be no doubt that the Emperor would immediately +order them to be put to death. + +It was usual for a Roman President, or Judge, to have a small Council +of some of the chief Romans in the province, whose advice he could ask +in any doubtful matter. Festus had such a Council; for we read, "Then +Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou +appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go." Thus did the Lord +overrule events to fulfil his words, "thou must bear witness also at +Rome." Before St. Paul could be sent off from Cæsarea, he was again +called upon to defend himself and declare his doctrines. St. Luke +says, "And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto +Cæsarea to salute Festus." This Agrippa and Bernice were both the +children of Herod Agrippa, and therefore Drusilla was their sister. +The Emperor Claudius had made Agrippa king of some of the Roman +Provinces in Asia, and had also given him some dominions in Judæa, +which had been added to by the present Emperor Nero. It was probably +to look after these dominions that Agrippa was now come into the +country, bringing his sister Bernice with him; and it was very natural +that they should go to Cæsarea to visit the governor. Festus, who was +evidently rather puzzled about St. Paul, as he could see no reason for +the accusations of the Jews, was glad to have an opportunity of +talking over the matter with one, who being himself a Jew, would know +the laws and customs of his own people, as well as those of the +Romans. Therefore, when Agrippa and Bernice had been at Cæsarea "many +days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a +certain man left in bonds by Felix: about whom, when I was at +Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, +desiring to have judgment against him. To whom I answered, It is not +the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he +which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to +answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. Therefore, +when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on +the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Against +whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such +things as I supposed: but had certain questions against him of their +own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed +to be alive. And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I +asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of +these matters. But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the +hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him +to Cæsar." + +By "their superstition," Festus meant the religion of the Jews: for +the heathen always thus spake of it, and said, that "Moses was the +inventor of the Jews' superstition." The heathens saw that the Jews +believed in an Almighty power, of which they knew nothing, and did +certain things to obtain favour from the God they worshipped: this +they called Superstition, and no doubt they looked upon the Christian +religion in much the same light. + +The term "Superstition," might much more properly be applied to the +belief and practice of the Romans themselves, with all their omens and +auguries, supposed to reveal the will of their imaginary gods; and +their sacrifices and ceremonies, in order to gain their favour. + +At the time of which we are now speaking, the Jews _had_ indeed +introduced many superstitions into their religion; for they thought to +please God by outward forms and ceremonies, whilst they committed all +manner of sins, and rejected the Messiah. + +The Christians were ready to give up all earthly joys and comforts, +and to suffer death, rather than act contrary to the religion which +they professed; and this the heathens looked upon as "foolishness." + +Festus evidently thought that both Jews and Christians were very +foolish, to dispute upon such a subject as the life or death of Jesus; +for he neither knew nor cared about the doctrines of Christianity, and +the need of a Saviour. Little did the Roman governor conceive, that +the question concerning the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was one of +the greatest importance to all mankind, when he thus slightingly spake +of "one Jesus," "whom Paul affirmed to be alive." Had St. Paul been +accused of crimes, as the governor supposed would have been the case, +he would have known how to act: but when the accusations were only +about such matters as to the Romans were "foolishness," Festus was +perplexed and doubtful, as to the course which he ought to take; for +as these questions had caused disturbances in the country, they could +not be allowed to pass unnoticed by a Roman governor. And probably it +was as much to relieve himself from his perplexity as to please the +Jews, that he proposed to the Apostle to go up to Jerusalem. + +All the Roman Emperors had the title of Cæsar, and they also all took +that of Augustus: but each one had his own particular name or names +besides: the "Augustus Cæsar" here spoken of, was the Emperor Nero. +Agrippa listened with interest to all that Festus told him of St. +Paul, and then said, "I would also hear the man myself"--a desire +which Festus was too happy to gratify. "To-morrow, said he, thou shalt +hear him." + + + + +Chapter XXVII.--ST. PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA. + + +"And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great +pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief +captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul +was brought forth." This "place of hearing" was probably some large +apartment in the palace where Festus lived, set apart for the governor +to receive, and give audience to, all persons who came to him on +business. This we must remember was no _trial_ of St. Paul; he could +now have no further trial till he reached Rome: there were now no Jews +present to make accusations against him; it was, in fact, only a +private examination of St. Paul's opinions, for the gratification of +king Agrippa. If the Apostle had now refused to speak, he could not +have been held guilty of disobedience; but he was always ready and +willing to give an account of the faith which was in him, and probably +he was particularly glad to have an opportunity of speaking of "Jesus +Christ, and Him crucified," before Agrippa, who, as a Jew, had learnt +from the prophets to expect the Messiah. + +When all was ready, Festus opened the business, and explained the +matter to the assembly; who, with the exception of king Agrippa, and +perhaps a few of his attendants, were all heathens. + +"And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present +with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews +have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he +ought not to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed +nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to +Augustus, I have determined to send him. Of whom I have no certain +thing to write unto my lord." (That is, no crimes or offences to give, +as a reason for his being tried at all.) "Wherefore I have brought him +forth before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, +after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. For it seemeth +to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the +crimes laid against him. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art +permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, +and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because +I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things +whereof I am accused of the Jews: especially because I know thee to be +expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: +wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently." Agrippa having been +brought up in Jerusalem, when his father Herod Agrippa lived there as +king of Judæa by permission of the Emperor Caligula, had been well +instructed in the Jewish law and customs; and at this time the Emperor +Nero had entrusted to him the government of the temple, and the care +of its treasury: he was also allowed to nominate the High Priest. St. +Paul, conscious of his own innocence, was glad to speak before one so +well able to judge of the truth of his words. Having bespoken a +patient hearing from the king, the Apostle continued, "My manner of +life from my youth, which was at first among mine own nation at +Jerusalem" (where he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel), "know +all the Jews; which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, +that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. +And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God +unto our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly +serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king +Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews." + +The "promise" here spoken of, was that made by God Himself to Abraham +and the patriarchs, and repeated more plainly by the prophets, that +the Messiah should come upon earth, and by His rising from the dead, +prove the truth of the promise of a future life for all men. This +promise had always been believed, and its fulfilment looked for, by +all true Israelites. So far, then, there was no difference of opinion. +But the Apostle had been convinced, by unmistakable signs, that the +promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. For declaring that Jesus of +Nazareth was the Messiah, the hope of Israel, for whom the twelve +tribes had ever been looking, and that He had risen from the dead +according to the promise, St. Paul was "accused" and persecuted by the +Jews: some denying that there could be any resurrection at all; +others, who allowed that, denying that Jesus Christ had risen. Agrippa +as a Jew ought to have learnt from all the wonderful things that had +been done for his forefathers, that with God nothing was impossible; +whilst his study of the Jewish Scriptures should have taught him, that +the Resurrection was more than a possibility. St. Paul now, therefore, +speaking to him as a Jew, asks, "Why should it be thought a thing +incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" + +The doctrine of the Resurrection--or rather the great Truth that Jesus +Christ had really risen from the dead--was the one especial point of +St. Paul's teaching: because all by whom that was once acknowledged, +could not fail to see, that He was indeed the promised Messiah, worthy +of all the love and service His creatures could give Him. + +Having spoken of the Resurrection, St. Paul went on to show Agrippa, +that what he now taught upon the subject was the more worthy of +belief, inasmuch as he himself had not been easily persuaded of this +truth, or inclined to join those who believed it. On the contrary, he +says, "I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things +contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." Then, after telling +Agrippa how in consequence of this idea, he persecuted the followers +of Jesus, he described the wonderful manner in which he had been +brought to see that He _was_ the promised Messiah; and he mentioned +the peculiar charge given unto him by God, to go unto the Gentiles, +"to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from +the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of +sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith." +"Whereupon," continued the Apostle, "I was not disobedient unto the +heavenly vision: but shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at +Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the +Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet +for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and +went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I +continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying +none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say +should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the +first who should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the +people, and to the Gentiles." Strange indeed did these things sound in +the ears of the heathen governor; and without pausing to consider +whether they might not indeed be true, "Festus said with a loud voice, +Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad." Firm +and respectful was the reply to this charge, that he knew not what he +was saying: for he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak +forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these +things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none +of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a +corner." Agrippa, who could bear witness to the things spoken by Moses +and the prophets, must also have heard of the many wonderful acts done +by Jesus during His life; of the events attending His death; and of +the works since performed by His Apostles; and therefore St. Paul +refers to him, as able to bear witness that the words which had so +astonished Festus, were not the words of madness, but of sober truth. + +Having thus replied to Festus, St. Paul, turning to Agrippa, said, +"King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?" As a Jew, the king must +necessarily be a believer in all the Scriptures of the Old Testament; +therefore, without waiting for an answer, the Apostle added, "I know +that thou believest." He said no more, but his meaning was easy to +understand. Any one, who believing in the Scriptures of the Old +Testament, would carefully and honestly compare all that was written +concerning the Messiah with the Birth, Life, and Death of Jesus, must +perceive that He was indeed the promised Messiah, the Anointed, the +Christ. + +It is clear by the answer, that the king did so understand the +question. "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to +be a Christian." He could not deny the truth of what the Apostle had +said; his reason, if he would have followed its teaching to the end, +would have convinced him that the Gospel preached by St. Paul was the +gift of God; the continuation and ending, as it were, of the Law of +Moses; that it involved no _change_ of religion, but its completion or +_perfect state_, for that the Law had been given to prepare the way +for the Gospel. Just as St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Galatians, +wrote, "the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ." + +It is probable that Agrippa felt much of this; why then did he not +become entirely, not _almost_, a Christian? Because he was not willing +to renounce the Devil and all his works, and the sinful lusts of the +flesh. His life and actions were very far from the purity and holiness +necessary in a real true Christian; he could not make up his mind to +endeavour to lead a new life, consistent with the profession of +Christianity; and therefore, though almost persuaded, he stopped +there. + +To be _almost_ a Christian, is to be in a condition most displeasing +to the Lord; and yet there are many now, who professing to be members +of the Church of Christ, are, it is to be feared, in this sad state. +Let us watch and pray, that such may not be our case--remembering, +that if we are not daily striving with all our might, to keep our part +of the Baptismal Covenant, whatever it may cost us to do so, we are no +more than _almost_ Christians, who will never be received as good and +faithful servants by our heavenly Master. + +Agrippa was not ready to live a life of self-denial, and therefore he +could only say, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul +said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me +this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these +bonds." + +St. Paul could not offer a better prayer for his hearers, nor for all +mankind who have ever lived upon earth, than that they should be true +and sincere Christians, like him in every respect, except in that of +being prisoners. The "bonds" here spoken of were the light chains upon +his hands, by which, as we have said, prisoners amongst the Romans +were usually bound to the soldier who had charge of them. St. Paul +bore no ill-will to those who had unjustly kept him so long a +prisoner; he only desired their good, expressing, in the words we have +just read, his solemn wish that they might become true Christians. + + + + +Chapter XXVIII.--ST. PAUL BEGINS HIS FOURTH VOYAGE. + + +St. Paul's solemn prayer for all who had listened to his words closed +the examination. "And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and +the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: and when they +were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man +doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds." All who had heard St. Paul +speak, saw at once that he had been guilty of no offence against the +Roman Government: and Agrippa, who understood the Jewish law, +pronounced that there was no reason on that account either, to keep +him a prisoner. "Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have +been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar." Having done +so, no prisoner could be set at liberty, without the express command +of the Emperor. + +Agrippa's opinion would incline the unprejudiced Jews not to believe +all that the priests and elders had said against St. Paul; and it +would make Festus write a favourable report of his case to Rome. +Probably it was owing to what Agrippa now said, that St. Paul met with +kind treatment, both on the voyage to Italy and after his arrival in +Rome. + +Nothing now remained but to send St. Paul to Cæsar; and of this +voyage, St. Luke, who appears never to have quitted him, gives us a +full account, saying, "And when it was determined that we should sail +into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one +named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band." Although the garrison of +Cæsarea was at this time composed of Syrian soldiers, there was also +a small body of Roman soldiers, called the Augustan Band, as belonging +particularly to the Emperor. Under a centurion of this band, St. Paul +was now to begin his fourth and last journey, A.D. 60. + +This journey differed from the three former, inasmuch as they had been +undertaken voluntarily, (by direction of the Holy Spirit,) for the +accomplishment of the work given him to do. This fourth journey, +though it would equally serve to the great work of spreading the +Gospel, was to be made as a prisoner. + +In those days, a voyage was a more serious affair than it is now. It +was not easy to find a ship sailing direct from any port in Asia to +Italy, and accordingly we read, "And entering into a ship of +Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one +Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us." Adramyttium +was a sea-port of Mysia, quite out of the way of any person wishing to +go to Italy; but, as the ship was to touch at many ports in Asia Minor +on her way home, it was probable that at one of these ports some +vessel might be found which was going into Italy, and could take +Julius and his company on board. The Aristarchus here mentioned had +become a Christian when St. Paul preached the Gospel in Macedonia, and +had then gone with the Apostle to Jerusalem, and helped him in his +great work. _Why_ he was now a prisoner, we are not told; but it was +no doubt for preaching the Gospel that he was now a fellow prisoner of +St. Paul. St. Luke, after mentioning the launching at Cæsarea, says, +"And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously +entreated Paul," (that is, treated him kindly,) "and gave him liberty +to go unto his friends to refresh himself." There were at this time +many Christians in Ph[oe]nicia; and it must have been a great comfort +both to them and to St. Paul, to meet and talk and pray together. + +Then we read, "And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under +Cyprus, because the winds were contrary." The wind blowing pretty +strongly from the south-west, the ship, instead of passing to the +south of the island, which would have been the shortest way into the +Archipelago, sailed to the north, where it would be sheltered from the +wind by the island itself. Thus coming to Myra, a sea-port of Lycia, +Julius disembarked his company, as it was useless for those who wished +to go into Italy, to continue any longer in a ship bound for +Adramyttium, which would take them greatly out of their way. + +At Myra, the centurion found a ship which had come from the opposite +port of Alexandria, in Egypt, and was now going on to Italy. St. Luke +says, "and he put us therein." Much corn was taken from Egypt into +Italy. It was brought from different parts of the country to +Alexandria, and there put on board ships, which landed it at Puteoli, +in the south-eastern part of Italy; and from thence it was taken to +other places as it was wanted. It was one of these vessels, laden with +corn, in which Julius now embarked his prisoners. + +St. Luke says, "And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce +were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed +under Crete, over against Salmone; and, hardly passing it, came unto a +place which is called the Fair Havens, nigh whereunto was the city of +Lasea." Cnidus stood on a point of high land at the south-west corner +of Asia Minor; and from thence the master of the vessel meant to steer +directly westward, passing to the north of the isle of Crete; but the +wind being contrary, the vessel was many days in going from Myra as +far as Cnidus, and then it was obliged to go to the south of Crete, +passing by Salmone, a promontory, or cape, on the eastern end of the +island. This they had much difficulty in passing; and then they took +refuge in a port, called the Fair Havens, near to which was a city +called Lasea. + +It was now a time of year when sailing was considered dangerous, on +account of high winds, called the Equinoctial Gales, which generally +begin to blow in September. At this time of the year, on the 10th of +their month Tisri, answering to our 25th of September, the Jews, by +the appointment of God, kept the great "Fast of Expiation," according +to the Law of Moses. On this day, no work was to be done; the people +were to spend their time in confessing their sins, and praying for +true repentance, and consequent forgiveness. They were further to +afflict their souls by fasting, and by abstaining from every kind of +pleasure or amusement. + +In the early times of the Jewish history, this fast was so strictly +kept, that no Jew would upon it wash his face, nor put on his shoes, +nor even read any part of the Scriptures which gave him pleasure. The +Law commanded that this day should be kept entirely as a day of +mourning and sorrow; whilst the priests were to offer certain +sacrifices as an atonement, or expiation, for all the sins of the +people, that they might be looked upon as clean from all their sins. +All that was commanded to be done on this solemn fast-day, was to be a +type, or sign, of the great future sacrifice to be made by Jesus +Christ; Who by His death, made a sufficient expiation and atonement +for the sins of the whole world, and thus took away from all His +faithful people the dreadful consequences of sin, which _no_ sacrifice +of beasts ever could have done. + +The "Fast of Expiation" took place, as we have said, on the 25th of +September; and after that time, the ancients considered a sea-voyage +dangerous, on account of the tempestuous winds which blew at that +season: they therefore generally laid up their ships for the winter. +St. Paul had had considerable experience in the dangers of the sea, +for he had often been in "perils of the sea," of which St. Luke makes +no mention. In the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, written, as we +have heard, about two years before this last voyage, St. Paul, +speaking of the dangers and sufferings he had undergone whilst +preaching the Gospel, says, amongst other things, "thrice I suffered +shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep." St. Paul +therefore was well aware of the danger of sailing at this season of +the year; and probably the Holy Spirit had made known unto him, that +danger awaited the ship if she now continued her voyage. This +explanation is necessary for the right understanding of what we shall +now read, as told us by St. Luke. The ship, we must remember, had with +much difficulty arrived safely at the "Fair Havens" in Crete. + +"Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, +because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, and said +unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and +much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. +Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the +ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. And because +the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to +depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and +there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the +south-west and north-west." That is, Phenice was on the south-west +coast of the island, to the north-west of Lasea and the Fair Havens. + +A change in the weather at this time, confirmed those who were anxious +to reach Phenice, in their opinion that it might be done. "And when +the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their +purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete." By keeping close +to the shore, they hoped to accomplish their purpose. "But not long +after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon." +The word "Euroclydon" is made up from two Greek words, one of which +means a wave, and the other the south-east wind. It was a violent wind +which blew furiously generally from the south-east, and made the waves +exceedingly rough, and very dangerous for small vessels. The same kind +of wind is now known in the Mediterranean Sea as a "Levanter," because +it generally blows from the east, and the Levant is the eastern part +of that sea. Sometimes it blows for a short time from some other +quarter, which makes it all the more dangerous, because the sudden +change of a very violent wind is apt to capsize, or overset, a ship, +not prepared for such a change. + +This terrible wind now came on, blowing furiously from the east. The +rudder--that is, the machine by which a ship is guided on its +course--was useless in such a storm, and the vessel became quite +unmanageable. St. Luke says, "And when the ship was caught, and could +not bear up into the wind, we let her drive." The ship, thus left to +the mercy of the wind, was driven straight to an island, called +Clauda. We read, "And running under a certain island which is called +Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: which when they had +taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship." Most ships have a +small boat, which is usually drawn after them by a rope fastened to +the stern, or hind part, of the vessel; but, fearing that the violence +of the wind and waves would wash the boat quite away, the sailors, +though with great difficulty, managed to draw it up on the ship's +deck, ready for use in case of need. "Undergirding," was passing +strong ropes under the ship, and bringing the ends from each side upon +deck, where they were fastened together; so as to support and hold in +their places, all the planks and timbers of which the ship was built. +Sheltered a little from the storm under the north side of the island +of Clauda, the seamen were able to accomplish this work, after which +they could do no more. + + + + +Chapter XXIX.--THE SHIP RUNS AGROUND. + + +St. Luke having mentioned the undergirding of the ship, adds, "and, +fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so +were driven." + +The ship being unable to resist the wind blowing strongly from the +north-east, must of necessity be carried into the Gulf of Syrtis +Minor, on the African coast; but before reaching it, the vessel would +have to pass a dangerous bank of sand on the coast of Africa. This +bank was of great extent, and any ship that was carried upon it would +gradually sink, and sink into the sand, until it was quite buried. The +sailors, fearing such a fate for their ship, took down all the sails, +so that the wind might have less power over it. In this condition the +ship was at the mercy of the wind and waves; and was driven here and +there, without power to help herself. All on board the ship were now +in a dreadful situation: exposed to the fury of a wind which blew them +sometimes one way and sometimes another. In order to make the ship +lighter, so that it might more easily rise to the top of the waves, +the seamen first threw overboard the cargo of wheat carried by the +ship, and then even the very ropes and sails belonging to it. But the +storm continued, the sky was dark with clouds, and as there was no +possibility of help, all gave themselves up for lost, and expected to +be swallowed up in this tempestuous sea. Under such circumstances, all +regular habits were at an end; no one thought of taking food, and +consequently the strength of all was rapidly becoming less and less. +St. Luke's account is, "And we being exceedingly tossed with a +tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; and the third day we +cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither +sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, +all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long +abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye +should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to +have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good +cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of +the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I +am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought +before Cæsar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with +thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it +shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a +certain island." + +St. Paul's words and his steadfast faith, must have been a comfort to +his fellow voyagers; and if any of the heathens were then inclined to +believe in the God Whose servant he was, their faith would be +confirmed by all that took place afterwards. + +We next read in the Book of Acts, "But when the fourteenth night was +come," (think of being fourteen days in such an awful position!) "as +we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed +that they drew near to some country; and sounded, and found it twenty +fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, +and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest we should have fallen +upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for +the day." + +The ancients seem to have given the name of "Adria," to that part of +the Mediterranean Sea between Greece and the south of Italy, extending +up into what we call the Adriatic Sea; here, by the force of the wind +and the currents, the ship was driven backwards and forwards, even as +far as the islands off the coast of Dalmatia. + +"Sounding" means measuring how deep the sea is: this is done by means +of a piece of lead fastened to a very long string, called "the line," +which has marks upon it, to show the number of feet. The lead of +course sinks straight down into the water: if it touches the bottom of +the sea, it is immediately drawn up, and by observing how much of the +line is wet, they can tell how deep the sea is in any particular spot. +As every ship has a good portion of it _below_ the water, she requires +a certain depth of water to keep her from touching the bottom. The sea +generally becomes less deep near the shore, and thus when the shipmen +found that the depth of the sea had diminished from twenty to fifteen +fathoms, it was high time to wait for daylight to see where they were; +lest during the night the ship should run upon some land, or rock, or +sandbank, and so be lost. A fathom is seven feet, so that twenty +fathoms were 140 feet, and fifteen 105 feet. + +In order to understand what follows, we must remember that although +_now_ anchors are always let down from the _prow_, or fore part of the +ship, it was the custom of the ancients to let them down from the +_stern_, or hind part of their vessels. Some of the large Egyptian +ships do even now carry their anchors at the stern, and not at the +prow. The vessel in which St. Paul was, was anchored from the stern by +four anchors, to wait for daylight. + +It seems that some of the shipmen, or sailors, seeing the dangerous +condition of the ship, thought they should be safer out of it; and so +without any consideration for others, made up their minds to steal +away secretly during the night, taking the boat with them; under +pretence that their only object in now leaving the ship, was to make +its position more secure, by letting down some anchors from the prow +also. St. Luke says, "And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the +ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as +though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to +the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye +cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and +let her fall off." + +Of course the Lord could equally have saved the passengers, whether +the sailors remained in the ship or not; but it was His Will that all +should be delivered in one way; and perhaps this was intended to be a +test of faith and obedience. The Roman soldiers certainly had faith in +St. Paul as the servant of a Mighty God, to Whom all things are +possible, and Whose promise would be assuredly fulfilled: therefore +they at once took effectual means to prevent any one leaving the ship, +by cutting the ropes which still held the boat, and letting it drift +away. + +According to the opinion of man, they did a very foolish act in +getting rid of a boat, which might be of the greatest use to them. At +Crete they had "believed the master and the owner of the ship, more +than those things which were spoken by Paul"; but they had had good +reason to change their opinion, and to believe that the Apostle was +indeed guided by his God; and their faith made them obedient. "And +while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, +saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and +continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take +some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair +fall from the head of any of you"; meaning, that no one would suffer +the slightest injury, but that it was necessary for them to take some +food, that they might have strength for all that they would be called +upon to do. To his precept, the Apostle added example; for "when he +had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of +them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat." Even at such a +moment, St. Paul did not forget to give God thanks for his food. The +whole company in the ship would thus see how constantly he thought of +God, and endeavoured to do Him honour; and heathens though they were, +his example must have taught them to think with reverence of the God +of the Christians. Mean time the calm and firm trust displayed by the +whole conduct of the Apostle, gave comfort and encouragement to all. +"Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat." St. +Luke tells us how many people there were on board the ship: for he +says, "And we were all in the ship two hundred three-score and sixteen +souls," or 276 persons. "And when they had eaten enough, they +lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea." This wheat +was probably the remainder of their provisions for the voyage, for the +cargo seems to have been thrown overboard before: but perhaps the +owner of the vessel had tried to keep some of the cargo, in hope of +still carrying it to Italy: but now, finding that hope was vain, he +consented to let it be cast out, so as to lighten the ship, and +render her more likely to go safely on shore. Whilst, under all +circumstances, we put our whole trust in God, Who alone can bless any +of our efforts with success, we must never forget that it is our duty +to _use_ all our efforts, and make use of every means which the Lord +places within our reach. + +"And when it was day, they knew not the land," the shore which they +saw was that of a strange land; "but they discovered a certain creek +with a shore," a narrow arm of the sea, with a shore on each side; +into this creek "they were minded," that is, they wished "to thrust in +the ship," as it would then be easier for those on board to get to +shore. + +"And when they had taken up the anchors," or rather cut the ropes +which held the ship to them, "they committed themselves unto the sea," +that is, left the ship to be carried along by the wind and waves, "and +loosed the rudder bands," which appear to have been ropes used to +fasten the rudder, so as to steer the ship in any particular +direction; "and hoised up the mainsail," to give the wind more power +to move the ship, and so "made toward shore." + +The wind now seemed likely to take them into the creek; but at the +entrance of it, there appears to have been a headland or bank of +earth, which caused a strong current from two sides, so that two seas +might be said to meet. As they could not guide the ship to go round +either end of this barrier, the wind drove it directly upon it. St. +Luke's account is, "And falling into a place where two seas met, they +ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast and remained +unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the +waves." It was now evident that the ship must go to pieces in a few +minutes, and that to remain in it would be certain death. + + + + +Chapter XXX.--THE SHIP'S COMPANY SAVED. + + +In the hopeless condition of the ship, gradually breaking up from the +violence of the waves which beat upon the hind part, whilst the fore +part was held fast on the bank, all possibility of guarding the +prisoners was at an end. "And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the +prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape." They +probably feared, that even under such peculiar circumstances, if any +of the prisoners under their charge escaped, they would be blamed and +punished by the Roman Government; which treated with great severity +any fault or carelessness committed by soldiers, or others trusted +with the charge of criminals. But the centurion, "willing to save +Paul," to whom he must have felt that their safety was owing, "kept +them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim +should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: and the +rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship"; in +short, anything which would float on the top of the water, and so keep +them from sinking, whilst the wind and the waves would drive them to +the shore. "And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to +land." There have been many wonderful escapes of shipwrecked persons, +but that 276 people, many of whom could not swim, should all have got +safe to the shore in such a storm, must be looked upon as the +miraculous fulfilment of the Lord's promise to St. Paul, that there +should be no loss of any man's life. "And when they were escaped, then +they knew that the island was called Melita." + +In the map we find the island of Melita, or Meleda, in the Adriatic +Sea, on the coast of Dalmatia; and this is most probably the island +upon which St. Paul and his companions were shipwrecked: but in maps +where the journeys of this Apostle are traced out by lines, you will +not see any line running out to this Melita; but you will observe that +they go to Melita, or Malta, to the south of Sicily, because many +people have imagined that _that_ was the island on which the ship was +wrecked. Now when we have read St. Luke's account of what happened +when St. Paul landed at Melita, we shall see the reasons why the +island must have been Melita, or Meleda, on the Dalmatian coast, and +not Melita, or Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea. St. Luke says, "And +the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a +fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and +because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, +and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and +fastened on his hand." A viper is a very dangerous kind of serpent, as +the venom or poison from its bite will kill a man; these creatures +become stupid in cold wet weather, and lie _torpid_, or as if they +were asleep: one of them lying thus amongst the sticks, was picked up +with them by St. Paul; but as soon as it felt the heat it came to +life, and darting out upon the Apostle's hand, bit it. "And when the +barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among +themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath +escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live." + +These people having no idea of true religion, fancied that the gods +punished crimes upon earth only; and that as St. Paul had not been +drowned, they had caused the viper to sting him, that he might die as +he deserved. "And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no +harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down +dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no +harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a +god." + +Now we must remember, that the shipwreck took place as the vessel was +driven up and down in Adria, that part of the sea close to Meleda. The +inhabitants of that island were, as St. Luke calls them, "barbarous" +and "barbarians," in the sense of being uncivilized, unacquainted even +with the comforts and conveniences of life. + +The inhabitants of Malta, on the contrary, were a civilized people: +they had good towns and fine buildings: the people were rich and +prosperous, and acquainted with the arts and science of civilized +life: the finest linen was made there; and ships came from all parts +for the purposes of trade. + +Then, again, Meleda _is_ cold and damp, with plenty of trees all over +it, even down to the water's edge; and there are many serpents in the +island. + +Malta, on the contrary, is warm and dry; there are but few trees in +the island, and none near the shore: and besides, there are no +serpents there. + +Now all these are good reasons for our believing that St. Paul was +shipwrecked on the island of Melita, or Meleda, in the Adriatic Sea, +and not upon the Melita, or Malta, which lies to the south of Sicily. + +St. Luke next tells us, that "in the same quarters were possessions of +the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, +and lodged us three days courteously": by which time some arrangement +could be made for the future entertainment of the shipwrecked +strangers, who would have to remain for some months in the island. The +father of Publius lay ill at this time of a painful and dangerous +illness; "to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on +him, and healed him. So when this was done, others also, which had +diseases in the island, came, and were healed: who also honoured us +with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such +things as were necessary." These people were truly grateful for all +the benefits they received from the Apostle; and besides honouring or +treating him with respect, whilst he lived amongst them, they +furnished the provisions needful for himself and his companions, when +at last they quitted Melita. + +We may be quite sure, though we are told nothing on the subject, that +during the three months passed in this island by St. Paul, he preached +the Gospel faithfully and earnestly: and we may well hope and believe, +that some of these barbarous people became true followers of the +blessed Jesus, of Whose power they had seen such a wonderful instance, +in the preservation of St. Paul and his companions. Another ship from +Alexandria had passed the winter at Meleda: perhaps she had come up +the Adriatic to bring corn from Egypt to the countries on the borders +of that sea, and when the storm came on, had wisely determined to +remain where she was for the winter; or perhaps she had only been on +her way to Rome, and had turned out of her course to take shelter, as +soon as the storm arose and made sailing dangerous. However that may +be, this ship, which was called "The Castor and Pollux" had passed the +winter at Meleda. + +We all know that ships and boats always have a name painted upon the +stern, to distinguish them from one another. Many large ships have +also a figure or image as well: thus a ship called "The Lord Nelson," +would have fastened to the _fore_ part, or prow, an image or figure of +Lord Nelson cut out in wood and painted. This sort of thing is called +the "figure-head." The ancients, instead of putting a figure, painted +the picture of one, on the fore part of their vessels, and this was +called "the sign." Castor and Pollux were two of the imaginary gods or +heroes of the ancients: they were twin brothers, and were supposed to +take particular care of sailors. A picture of Castor and Pollux was +painted on this ship of Alexandria. + +St. Luke says, "And after three months we departed in a ship of +Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and +Pollux." Their voyage was undisturbed now, and they soon reached the +island of Sicily, "and landing at Syracuse," then the capital of the +island, "tarried there three days. And from thence," St. Luke says, +"we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium," a town in Italy, almost +opposite to that of Messina, another considerable town in Sicily, and +just at the entrance of the Straits of Messina. At Rhegium they appear +to have intended to wait for a favourable wind; for we read, "and +after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to +Puteoli." Here the voyage ended: at Puteoli the ship would land +whatever cargo she carried, and then return to Alexandria. St. Paul +and his companions must go by land to Rome, about one hundred miles to +the north-west of Puteoli. Puteoli was not only a great place of trade +for corn, but also for merchandise of all kinds, which was brought +there from different countries, to be exchanged for the productions of +Italy. This exchange is, as we have already said, called "commerce." + +With so many people from all parts coming to Puteoli, it was +impossible that the Christian religion should not have been brought +into the place by some of them; and it appears that there were at this +time a certain number of Christians at Puteoli: for St. Luke says, +"where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven +days." They were naturally glad of such an opportunity of conversing +with the Apostle, and wished to keep him with them for seven days; and +it seems that he was allowed to remain with them, which speaks well +for the kindness of Julius, the centurion under whose care he was +placed, and who had all along evidently favoured St. Paul. They then +"went toward Rome. And from thence," St. Luke says, "when the brethren +heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and the Three +Taverns." Rome was at this time the most important city in the world: +people came there from all countries; so we are not surprised to find +that there were great numbers of Christians there. When the news +reached them that St. Paul, whom many of them had probably known in +other countries, was not only landed in Italy, but was actually +approaching Rome from Puteoli, great numbers went out to meet and +welcome him. Some of them went as far as Appii Forum, a place about +fifty miles from Rome; others met him at the "Three Taverns," about +thirty miles from Rome. The sight of so many true Christians was a +great joy to the Apostle, who was anxious that all men everywhere +should repent and turn to God. St. Luke says, "Whom when Paul saw, he +thanked God, and took courage." Thanked God for all that had been done +in the conversion of the heathen; whilst he was encouraged to hope for +a still further spread of the Gospel, whatever might be his own fate. + + + + +Chapter XXXI.--ST. PAUL A PRISONER AT ROME. + + +The centurion Julius had now finished his work, he had brought St. +Paul from Cæsarea to Rome, as he had been ordered to do. On the way, +he had seen wonderful things, which must have convinced him that the +prisoner whom he was now to deliver into the charge of others, was a +good and holy man, under the especial protection of his God; and he +had moreover seen that this God was great and powerful, and able to +command the wind and waves, as none of the gods worshipped by the +heathen, could do. Whether he, or any other of St. Paul's fellow +voyagers, became Christians, we are not told. + +St. Luke tells us, "And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered +the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to +dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him." It was probably owing +to what Festus had written after Agrippa's interview with his +prisoner, that he was now allowed to live in a hired house of his own, +with merely one soldier to guard him; instead of being shut up in +prison, as he would have been, had he been supposed to have broken +any of the Roman laws. According to custom, he was probably linked by +a small chain to this soldier, but he was not prevented from seeing +anybody who came to him; and he soon made use of this liberty, for "it +came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews +together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and +brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or +customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem +into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, would +have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when +the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Cæsar; not +that I had ought to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore have +I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for +the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain." + +St. Paul was anxious that the Jews at Rome should not be prevented +from listening to his teaching, by the idea that he was a prisoner on +account of any crimes he had committed; and as they might, perhaps, +have heard some account of all that had happened at Jerusalem, he took +the earliest opportunity of explaining, that he had done nothing +contrary to the religion taught by Moses; and that, in fact, the only +reason for which he was a prisoner was, that he had preached of the +coming of the Messiah, and of the future resurrection of all +men,--matters taught by all the prophets, and so firmly believed by +the Children of Israel in all ages, that the doctrine might truly be +called "The hope of Israel"; for upon it, depended all their hope of +obtaining favour and mercy from the Almighty. The Jews of Rome, +however, had heard nothing of the treatment which St. Paul had +received from their brethren in Jerusalem, "And they said unto him, We +neither received letters out of Judæa concerning thee, neither any of +the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire +to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we +know that everywhere it is spoken against." + +These Jews were not prejudiced against St. Paul, but were willing to +listen to all he had to say. They knew that the Christians, "this +sect," as they called them, were much spoken against, and that while +some thought their doctrines were true and right, others said they +were false and mischievous,--likely to make men _wicked_ instead of +good,--and ought not, therefore, to be attended to at all. + +Under these circumstances, the Jews at Rome were anxious to hear from +St. Paul's own mouth, a true account of the doctrines which he taught. +The Apostle was only too glad of having such an opportunity of +explaining the truths of the Gospel to the Jews. + +"And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into +his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, +persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and +out of the prophets, from morning till evening,"--that is, he showed +them from what had been said both by Moses and the prophets, that +Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Messiah, promised to faithful +Abraham, as the Son or Seed in Whom all nations of the earth should be +blessed. For one whole day, from morning till evening, did the Apostle +argue with these Jews, trying to persuade them to become followers of +Jesus: with some he succeeded; with some he failed: for St. Luke says, +"And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed +not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after +that Paul had spoken one word." This "one word" of which St. Luke +speaks, was a quotation from the writings of the prophet Isaiah, +showing them, that by their obstinate refusal to believe the Word of +God, they put themselves amongst the number of those, who would be +left in their own wilful blindness: and that the Gospel, or words of +Salvation, would be preached to the Gentiles, and that they would be +far more willing to receive it, than the Jews had ever been. The +Apostle's speech, or "one word," addressed to these unbelieving Jews, +was, "Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our +fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, +and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: +for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull +of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with +their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, +and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore +unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and +that they will hear it." + +We have read the words which St. Paul spake to the unbelieving Jews, +"And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great +reasoning among themselves." Whether their "reasoning," or talking +together, led to the conversion of any of them, we do not know. Nor +are we told of any trial of St. Paul taking place, either before the +Emperor himself, or by persons appointed by him: all that we do know +is, that "Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and +received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and +teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all +confidence, no man forbidding him." This shows that St. Paul enjoyed a +great deal of liberty, although he was still considered as a prisoner, +and could not leave Rome. + +During these two years, St. Paul, besides preaching to all who would +hear him, wrote Epistles to the Ephesians; Philippians, or inhabitants +of Philippi; to the Colossians, or people of Colossé, in Asia Minor; +and one to Philemon, a rich man of Colossé. In these Epistles he +speaks of himself as a "prisoner," and mentions his "bonds." + +You will remember all that happened at Ephesus, and how long St. Paul +remained there at one time; and how on another occasion he sent for +the elders to Miletus, and took leave of them, knowing that he should +see them again no more. That was three years before the time of which +we are now speaking: but St. Paul had not forgotten them, and +therefore, in the year 61 (A.D.), he, being a prisoner at Rome, wrote +an Epistle, or Letter, to the Christians at Ephesus. In this Epistle, +the Apostle speaks to the Ephesians of the great mercy shown by God to +the Gentiles (amongst whom they themselves were), in allowing them to +share the blessings of the Gospel, without being required to keep the +Law of Moses. In return for such great mercy, St. Paul entreats the +Ephesians to show their gratitude by their conduct, and to walk worthy +of the vocation wherewith they were called. "Vocation" means calling, +profession, employment, state, or condition: they were _called_ to be +Christians; their _profession_ was that they were His servants; their +_employment_ ought to be doing the Will of God: by the atonement of +Jesus, they had been brought into a state or condition for obtaining +salvation, and now they must try to walk worthy of their vocation: +leading in all things such a life as was expected from the followers +of the Holy Jesus, who are bound to follow His example to the extent +of their powers. What St. Paul said on this subject, equally applies +to us; for our vocation is the same as that of the Ephesians, and we +must strive hard to work worthy of it, that is, to be good Christians. +In this Epistle, many particular rules are given for the conduct of +Christians; one of which is, "Children, obey your parents." St. Paul +had, as we have read, established during his second journey a Church, +or company of believers, at Philippi, in Macedonia. We shall remember +how Lydia showed her gratitude to St. Paul, and how the imprisonment +of him and Silas, led to the conversion of the jailor, who became a +true believer in Jesus. + +During his Third Journey, St. Paul again went into Macedonia, after +the riot at Ephesus, and then he visited Philippi once more. The +Philippians, grateful to God for the gift of the holy Gospel received +through St. Paul, were anxious to do whatever they could for the +Apostle; and whilst he was preaching at Thessalonica, the chief town +in their part of the country, the Christians of Philippi, who were but +a small company, twice sent money to St. Paul, that the success of his +teaching might be in no way hindered, by his having to depend upon the +Thessalonians for the supply of his temporal wants. They did the same +thing again whilst St. Paul was at Corinth; and now, hearing that he +was in confinement at Rome, they feared that he might be badly off for +food and other necessary things. A collection was therefore made +amongst the Christians at Philippi, and the sum thus collected was +sent to Rome by Epaphroditus, one of their Pastors, or Ministers. + +St Paul was truly thankful for this timely supply; for before +Epaphroditus came, he really had been in great want of necessaries: he +could not work at his trade of tent-making now he was a prisoner, and +he did not think it advisable to ask assistance from the Christians at +Rome. + +Epaphroditus stayed at Rome for several months; and during the time he +became extremely ill. After he got well again, St. Paul sent him back +to Philippi: and by him, he sent an Epistle, which he had written to +thank the Philippians for their thoughtful care of him in his time of +need. In this Epistle, also, the Apostle begs the Christians of +Philippi not to listen to false teachers, who tried to draw them away +from the truth as he had taught it to them; but to try to obey the +Lord in all things, and continue to love each other. As usual in all +his Epistles, St. Paul gives the Philippians much good advice and many +holy precepts: he also speaks much of Jesus Christ, and of the +necessity of loving Him, and following His example. + + + + +Chapter XXXII.--ST. PAUL SET AT LIBERTY. + + +The Epistle to the Colossians was also written by St. Paul whilst he +was a prisoner at Rome: probably about the end of the year 62 (A.D.). +Colossé was a city of Phrygia, where St. Paul had founded a Church; +that is, converted a certain number to be believers or Christians, +during his First or Second Journey, when he was travelling throughout +Asia Minor. The believers of Colossé, having heard of the Apostle's +imprisonment at Rome, sent one of their ministers, named Epaphras, to +see how he was treated; and also to give him an account of how the +Church at Colossé was going on. After hearing all that Epaphras could +tell him, St. Paul wrote an Epistle, which he sent to the Colossians +by Tychicus, of whom he speaks as a "beloved brother," that is, a +faithful fellow Christian. Tychicus was accompanied to Colossé by +Onesimus, of whom we shall say more presently. + +In this Epistle to the Colossians, St. Paul proves, that man's only +hope of salvation rests upon the atonement made by Jesus Christ; and +he shows, therefore, how wrong the Jews were to insist upon the +observance of the Law of Moses, as if that could save them. He also +warned the Colossians not to be led away by the errors of the +philosophers, or wise men, who taught doctrines _not_ taught by the +Gospel. He exhorts them to show their faith in Christ by holiness of +life, and the due performance of every duty to their fellow creatures; +and entreats them to "continue in prayer, and watch in the same with +thanksgiving." St. Paul ends this letter, by telling the Colossians +that they will hear everything concerning him from Tychicus and +Onesimus, by whom he had sent the Epistle. + +Onesimus, who is here spoken of, had been the slave of a rich man of +Colossé, named Philemon, who had been converted to Christianity by St +Paul. Onesimus ran away from his master, to whom he belonged, and thus +robbed him of his services; and some think he also robbed Philemon of +money. Onesimus fled to Rome; and there God inclined this runaway +slave to listen to the teaching of St. Paul, and, in consequence, he +became a Christian and was baptized: after this, the Apostle kept +Onesimus with him for some time, that he might see whether his conduct +showed that he was really and truly a Christian. He soon saw that this +was the case; and indeed Onesimus gave a strong proof of the change +in his heart and feelings, by wishing to go back to Colossé, and give +himself up again as a slave to Philemon, in order to make up for the +injury he had done him by running away. In doing this, Onesimus ran +some risk; for the laws of Phrygia allowed a master to punish a +runaway slave very severely, and even put him to death if he pleased: +but he felt that it was his duty to go back, and make amends for the +wrong he had done; and therefore he went, trusting in God to save him, +or to enable him to bear whatever punishment might be inflicted. St. +Paul felt a great interest in Onesimus, whom he speaks of as his son, +because he had converted him to the new life of a Christian; and +therefore he wrote to Philemon, earnestly begging of him not only to +pardon Onesimus for any wrong he had done him, but also now to receive +him, not as a servant, but as a fellow Christian, "a brother beloved." +We are not told in the Scriptures any more on this subject, but there +can be no doubt that Philemon did all that St. Paul requested. + +There is reason to believe that Onesimus became a preacher of the +Gospel: some people think that he was afterwards Bishop of Ephesus, +and that he finally suffered martyrdom at Rome: but this is not +certain. St. Paul was not the only Apostle who wrote Epistles, though +he wrote twice as many as all the other Apostles put together. + +During this time, when St. Paul was a prisoner in Rome, St. James wrote +the Epistle which bears his name. St. James was, we must remember, head +or Bishop of the Church at Jerusalem; and from Jerusalem he wrote his +Epistle, not to the inhabitants of any particular place, but to the +Jewish Christians in general; that is, to those Christians who had been +Jews before, wherever they might now be residing. In this Epistle, St. +James warns those to whom he wrote, not to be led away to follow any of +the bad practices which were but too common in those days; and he also +explained to them, that they were mistaken as to the meaning of some of +the doctrines taught by St. Paul, who had never preached anything that +was not quite according to the Will of God. St. James also gave many +precepts for the conduct of Christians, and for the due performance of +their various duties--encouraging them to try, by showing that the Lord +had promised success to those who do really try. "Resist the devil, and +he will flee from you." "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to +you." "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." +"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up." +These are texts full of encouragement to all Christians, to the end of +time. And equally necessary for us now, as for the believers to whom St. +James wrote, are, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, +deceiving your own selves." "Speak not evil one of another." "Grudge not +one against another"; and all the other warnings and precepts contained +in this short, but beautiful Epistle, written by St. James. + +Some time in the course of the year 62 (A.D.), St. Paul was set +completely at liberty, so that he might go wherever he pleased: but he +did not immediately quit Rome, but remained there till he had completed +two years; "preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things +which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man +forbidding him." The Roman Emperor Nero had not made any law to forbid +the Christian religion being preached and followed; the Jews did not +therefore, dare to persecute St. Paul at Rome; for by his being set at +liberty, the Roman Government had shown that they considered him an +innocent man, unjustly accused by his fellow countrymen. It seems that +one reason why St. Paul now remained in Italy was, that he expected +Timothy to join him in Rome, and then set out with him on another +voyage. Whilst St. Paul was thus waiting for Timothy, he wrote his +Epistle to the Hebrews. The object of this Epistle was to convince the +Hebrews or Jews, of the truth of the Gospel; and in it, he pointed out +that everything which he had told them of Christ's human and divine +nature, of His Atonement and Intercession, agreed perfectly with all +that the Scriptures of the Old Testament, the writings of Moses and the +Prophets, had said of the Messiah. He showed them that the Gospel was +far superior to the Law; for that, in fact, the Law had only been given +to prepare the way for the Messiah, and to lead men to believe in Him +and to serve Him. + +The Bible gives us no further account of St. Paul's travels, but we +have reason to believe, that after Timothy had joined him at Rome, +they went to Spain and Britain, and to other western countries, +preaching the Gospel everywhere, and converting great numbers of his +hearers. After this voyage to the West, St. Paul appears to have +visited Jerusalem again; and then to have gone through Syria and other +parts of Asia Minor, and so on even into Macedonia; this we gather +from one of his Epistles, in which he says, that at Miletum he had +been obliged to leave one of his companions, called Trophimus, who was +too ill to go on any further, and that at Troas he had left a cloak +and some parchments. Parchment is the skin of sheep, prepared in a +particular manner, so as to be fit to write upon. Very soon after St. +Paul left Jerusalem, to make this Fifth and last Journey, St. James +was killed at Jerusalem by the unbelieving Jews. Festus, the Roman +governor, died; and before his successor, Albinus, could get to Judæa, +the Jews raised a tumult, and St. James is said to have been thrown +down from some part of the temple, and then knocked on the head with a +club or heavy stick. Albinus, when he did come, proved himself to be a +very bad ruler; for he was so extremely fond of money, that in order +to get it, he was not only guilty of great oppression, but he allowed +the people to commit all sorts of wickedness without being punished, +if they would only give him a sufficient sum of money. He was not +governor for long, but was succeeded by Gessius Florus, about A.D. 64. + +This Gessius Florus was one of the worst of men, and the Jews suffered +dreadfully under his government, for he pillaged whole provinces; +encouraged the banditti, on condition that they gave him part of their +plunder; he robbed the sacred treasury, and even tried to excite the +Jews to open rebellion, in order that, in the confusion, no complaints +of his conduct might be carried to Rome. Awful indeed were the evils +which now began to fall upon the unhappy Jews, who had provoked the +wrath of God by their rejection of the Messiah. In consequence of the +sad state of Judæa, many of the inhabitants sought refuge in foreign +countries; those who remained applied to Cestius Gallus, the governor +of Syria, and earnestly begged that he would deliver them from the +cruel tyranny of Florus. Gallus, instead of inquiring into Florus's +conduct, sent the Jews away, merely telling them their governor should +behave better for the future, which, however, he did not do. + +In the year 65 (A.D.), there was a fire at Rome, which burnt a great +many houses, and did much damage in the city; the Emperor Nero himself +was greatly suspected of having caused it, in order to have an excuse +for persecuting the Christians: he delighted in the sufferings and +miseries of others, and would have no pity for the poor creatures who +would lose all their property in such a fire. At any rate, Nero chose +to accuse the Christians of having set fire to the city, and on this +pretence they were now treated with the greatest cruelty; tortured +first, and then put to death in many barbarous ways. When this +persecution began, it is probable that St. Paul was in the island of +Crete; but, on hearing of the sufferings of the Christians at Rome, he +immediately went there, to strengthen and encourage the brethren to +bear any torture, and even death itself, rather than give up their +religion. He comforted them by reminding them of the love of Christ, +and by assuring them that His blessing would rest upon them, whether +they lived or died. St Paul was not long allowed to carry on this good +work, for he was himself imprisoned on account of his religion; and he +saw plainly that he should soon be called upon to give up his life for +the sake of his divine Master; but this prospect did not disturb him; +he was ready and willing to go, and be with Christ. + + + + +Chapter XXXIII.--MARTYRDOM OF ST. PAUL AND ST. PETER. + + +St. Paul, feeling that he was about to be taken away from earth, wrote +to take leave of Timothy, whom he had loved as his own son. This +letter, which is called "The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to +Timothy," gave him such advice as the Apostle thought might be useful +to him. + +The First Epistle to Timothy has already been mentioned, as having +been written nine years before, when St. Paul went into Macedonia, +after the riot at Ephesus, where he had left Timothy to direct the +affairs of the Church. + +In this Second Epistle, St Paul entreats Timothy to keep steadfastly +in the faith of the Gospel, in spite of every danger. In this Epistle +the Apostle declares his willingness to die; his conscience told him +that ever since he became a follower of Jesus, he had tried to please +his heavenly Master; and therefore he felt, that he should enjoy in +heaven that happiness which God has promised to all who truly love and +serve Him. St. Paul's own words are, "I am now ready to be offered, +and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I +have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is +laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous +judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all +them also that love his appearing." + +We must all try to fight a good fight against the Devil, and all our +own sinful tempers and wishes: we too must keep the faith, doing all +those things which the Gospel bids Christians do: then when we have +finished our course, and done the work given us to do, we, like St. +Paul, may hope, that for the sake of Jesus Christ, we shall be looked +upon as righteous, and as such, be received into everlasting +happiness. + +Very soon after writing this Second Epistle to Timothy, St. Paul +suffered martyrdom by command of Nero, because he would not renounce +his faith, and bow down to the false gods of the heathen. Being a +freeman of Rome, St. Paul was put to death by having his head cut off +with a sword, instead of being given to be devoured by wild beasts, as +the Christians usually were. The Apostle died in the month of June, +A.D. 66. Slaves and persons guilty of great crimes, were often +condemned to fight with wild beasts, who of course tore them to +pieces: this was a most cruel barbarous way of putting even the +greatest criminals to death; and yet to such a fate were Christians +condemned, because they would not "deny the Lord Who bought them!" + +It is dreadful to think that the people delighted in witnessing such +dreadful fights, which took place in the amphitheatres. These +amphitheatres were buildings without roofs; each consisting of a large +space enclosed by walls of moderate height, called the arena; and rows +of seats outside the wall of the arena, rising up like steps to the +outward wall of the building. From these seats, which were always +crowded, the spectators could see whatever was going on in the arena. + +About the time that St. Paul suffered martyrdom at Rome, strange and +awful sights were seen at Jerusalem: the Almighty thus warning His +once-favoured people, that as they had forsaken Him, so He had given +them up; and that all the evils foretold by Jesus Christ, were now +about to fall upon their devoted city. + +The cruel and unjust conduct of their Governor Florus, and the +consequent anger of the people, threatened to produce a war in Judæa; +and in addition to this there were famines and earthquakes, and +fearful sights in the heavens. Just before the Passover, when a +multitude of people were assembled at Jerusalem to keep it, on a +sudden, in the middle of the night, such a brilliant light shone round +the temple and the altar, that it seemed to be day. A few days +afterwards, just before the sun set, chariots and troops of soldiers +were seen passing through the clouds, fighting with each other. Then +the eastern gate of the temple, which was of solid brass, and so heavy +that twenty men could hardly open or shut it, flew open of itself one +night, although it was fastened with strong bars and bolts. At the +Feast of Pentecost, when the Priests were going into the inner temple +by night to attend to their duties, they heard voices saying, "Let us +depart hence"; and immediately there was a noise as of a multitude of +people, rushing forth out of the temple. + +These and other wonderful signs must have filled the Jews with alarm; +whilst real troubles were daily increasing upon them. + +There had long been a dispute between the Syrians and the Jews, as to +which of them had the best right to the city of Cæsarea Philippi, +built on the borders of the two countries. In the time of Felix, the +two parties were preparing to fight for the possession of it; but the +governor stopped them for a time, and sent the chiefs of both nations +to Rome, to plead their cause before the Emperor. Nothing had then +been decided; but now, in the year A.D. 66, Nero declared that the +town of Cæsarea Philippi should belong to the Syrians. This decision +was very displeasing to the Jews, and led to a dreadful war, which +ended in the destruction of Jerusalem a few years later. But before we +go on with this subject, we must go back a little, and say a few words +about St. Peter. + +The Book of Acts tells us nothing more of the Apostle St. Peter after +the Council held by St. James and the Church at Jerusalem, when "Paul +and Barnabas, and certain other of them," were sent up from Antioch +"to Jerusalem, unto the Apostles and elders," to inquire whether it +was needful for the Gentiles who became Christians, to be also +"circumcised after the manner of Moses," and "to keep the law." When +there had been much disputation on the subject, St. Peter spake out +boldly; reminding the assembly of the conversion of Cornelius, and +telling them that after what God had then done, it would be quite +wrong to require the Gentiles to be circumcised and keep the Law of +Moses. This speech decided the matter; and St. James then gave +sentence, that the Ceremonial Law was not binding upon the Gentile +converts. + +Soon after this, St. Peter and St. Paul were together at Antioch; and +there, St. Peter, in his eagerness to please the Jews, withdrew +himself from the Gentiles, as thus countenancing the idea that being +uncircumcised, they were not fit company for the Jews. St. Paul blamed +him, and showed him that he was doing wrong, since he himself knew, +that in the sight of God there would be no difference between Jew and +Gentile, circumcision or uncircumcision, when once they became +believers in Jesus Christ. This happened A.D. 49. + +Where St. Peter spent the next seventeen years, we do not know; but +wherever he was, we may be quite sure that he zealously preached the +Gospel, and endeavoured to bring all men to believe in Jesus Christ. +It is most likely that St. Peter came to Rome just before or after St. +Paul's martyrdom, in the year 66 (A.D.); and he then wrote his First +Epistle. This Epistle was not written to the inhabitants of any +particular place, but generally, to all the Jewish Christians, who had +been forced by persecution to leave their own land and take refuge in +heathen countries; and also to those Gentiles who had become +Christians, and were now living in many different countries. In his +Epistle, St. Peter entreats all to whom he writes, to keep steady to +their religion, and suffer anything rather than give it up. He also +shows them how necessary it is that they should lead holy and +blameless lives, not only for their own sake, that they might obtain +the blessing of God, but also to show all men, that Christians were in +every respect better than any other men. St. Peter speaks of writing +from "Babylon"; but by Babylon, he means the city of Rome, which in +figurative language he calls Babylon, because in the idolatry and +wickedness of its inhabitants, it resembled that ancient city. Besides +this, the real Babylon was the place where the Jews, then the Church +of God, suffered much during their long captivity; and now the +Christian Church was suffering fearful things at Rome. St. Peter might +well then use the figurative language so common amongst the Jews at +that time, and speak of wicked, persecuting Rome, as "Babylon." It was +prudent moreover to do so, for had the Christians spoken openly and +plainly of Rome, they would have provoked the anger of the Romans; and +though the Christians suffered patiently all that was laid upon them, +they never provoked persecution unnecessarily. St. Peter did not long +escape persecution; and with the prospect of a cruel death before him, +he wrote his Second Epistle to the Jewish and Gentile Christians in +all countries, to warn them not to listen to the doctrines of false +teachers, but to keep firm in the faith of the holy Gospel, which he +and the other Apostles had taught. In this Letter, he gives many +directions for living a holy life; and reminds those to whom he +writes, that the Lord Jesus Christ will one day come to judge the +world, and that all who believe this, must try to be then found +blameless, without spot of sin. This applies just as well to each one +of us, as it did to those to whom St. Peter originally wrote: let us +therefore watch and pray, that we may, as he says at the end of this +Epistle, "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour +Jesus Christ." + +Very soon after he had written this Second Epistle, the death which +St. Peter had expected came upon him. He who had once denied his Lord +from fear, now boldly refused to give up his religion to purchase +safety: he was therefore sentenced to be crucified, according to what +the Lord had foretold to him long before; saying, "When thou shalt be +old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, +and carry thee whither thou wouldest not." From histories of that +time, we learn that St. Peter, not thinking himself worthy to die in +the same manner as his blessed Lord and Master, begged that he might +be fastened to the cross with his head downward: this must greatly +have increased his sufferings for the time they lasted, though it +probably caused him to die sooner. St. Peter was thus crucified at +Rome with his head downward, A.D. 68, when Nero had been Emperor for +fourteen years; and, as we believe, about two years after St. Paul's +death; though some people think that St. Peter was put to death first. +We cannot, of course be quite sure; but it is most probable as we have +said, that St. Paul was beheaded A.D. 66, and that St. Peter was +crucified A.D. 68. Nero died very soon after the crucifixion of St. +Peter, and in the short space of one year, three different Emperors, +Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, succeeded each other. + +We must now return to Jerusalem. + + + + +Chapter XXXIV.--VESPASIAN SENT INTO JUDÆA. + + +The decree of the Emperor giving Cæsarea Philippi to Syria, was no +sooner known, than the Jews in all parts of Judæa took up arms. +Agrippa happened at this time to be in Jerusalem, and he did his best +to show the Jews the extreme folly of trying to fight against such a +powerful people as the Romans, and begged and entreated of them not to +rebel, and so bring misery upon themselves. Instead of listening to +this wise and kind advice, the Jews were so enraged with Agrippa for +giving it, that he was obliged to leave the city at once, to save +himself from their violence. War now raged on every side, and fearful +acts of cruelty were perpetrated by both parties. Thousands and +thousands of Jews were massacred at Cæsarea, at Ptolemais, and even at +Alexandria; and at Jerusalem, the soldiers of Florus put 3,500 to +death in one day. The Jews acted in the same manner as far as they +could, and murdered great numbers both of Syrians and Romans. Upon +this general revolt of the Jews, Cestius Gallus the governor of Syria, +marched with a large army into Judæa and Galilee; burning all the +towns and villages in his way, and killing the inhabitants. + +Near Jerusalem he was met by a great number of Jews, who attacked him +with such fury, that his whole army was in the greatest danger. +Agrippa, who with a body of troops had joined Gallus, now again +attempted to stop further bloodshed, and sent two of his officers to +speak to his countrymen, the Jews, and propose terms of peace. The +enraged Jews, however, killed one of the officers, whilst the other +escaped wounded: Gallus then advanced with his whole army, defeated +the rebellious Jews, and took possession of the lower parts of +Jerusalem. Had he at once attacked the upper part of the city, and +laid siege to the forts, it is probable that he would have taken the +whole, and then the war must have ended. But, as a writer of that time +says, "it seems as if God, being angry with the Jews, had determined +that they should expiate their sin by the most severe suffering, and +would not therefore allow the war to end so soon." + +Some say, Gallus was advised to retire by some of his own officers, +who had been bribed to do so by Florus. However that maybe, Gallus +suddenly went away with his army: his retreat gave the Jews fresh +hopes, and they pursued him even to his camp at Gibeon, about six +miles from Jerusalem: here, the Jews attacked the Syrians with the +greatest fury, and killed more than 5,000 of them; whilst Gallus +escaped by night. + +Leaving the history of this terrible war for a few minutes, we must +speak of another Epistle to be found in the New Testament, where it is +called "The General Epistle of Jude." The writer of this Epistle was, +the "Judas (not Iscariot)" mentioned by St. John; whom St. Luke tells +us (ch. vi.) was the brother of James; and he appears to have been the +same person whom St. Mark (ch. iii.) calls "Thaddeus," and of whom St. +Matthew (ch. x.) speaks as "Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus." + +In the Gospels, therefore, we have four names for this Apostle, Jude, +Judas, Thaddeus, and Lebbeus. The Book of Acts makes no mention of +him. From other histories we have reason to believe, that this Apostle +was a husbandman, or cultivator of the earth, and not a fisherman, as +so many of the twelve were. After Jude became an Apostle, he, of +course, followed the Lord as long as he lived; and then we have reason +to believe that he went eastward, and preached the Gospel in +Mesopotamia and other countries. He then returned to Syria, from +whence he wrote his Epistle, about the same time as St. Peter wrote +his First Epistle from Rome, that is, A.D. 66; just when Nero gave +that decree concerning Cæsarea, that led to the war of which we have +been speaking. St. Jude's Epistle is very short, and was written to +warn the Christians in general not to listen to false teachers; but to +take care to believe only such truths as had been taught by Jesus +Christ and His Apostles. After writing this Epistle, it is supposed +that St. Jude travelled again eastward, and preached the Gospel in +Persia, where he suffered martyrdom. + +To return to the Jews: their defeat of Gallus made them more obstinate +in their determination not to submit to the Romans, and they +accordingly made very great preparations for carrying on the war with +vigour. At this time all the Christians quitted Jerusalem. They +remembered how Jesus had told His disciples, that when they should see +Jerusalem surrounded with armies, and "the abomination of desolation," +they would know that the destruction of the city was near at hand, and +that they must leave it, and take refuge in the mountains. The +prophecy had now been fulfilled; for the armies of the heathen Romans +had compassed or surrounded the city, and these armies were fitly +called "the abomination of desolation," because they not only spread +desolation and misery wherever they went, but they were abominable and +hateful to the Jews, because on their standards and flags they had +images and pictures of the false gods of the Romans, and also of their +emperors, to whom, as well as to the gods, they offered sacrifices. + +The Christians, seeing that the time of which Jesus had warned them +was now come, left Jerusalem, and crossing the river Jordan journeyed +on about one hundred miles, and took refuge in a city called Pella, +belonging to King Agrippa: the inhabitants of Pella were Gentiles. +Nero, who was still alive when the Jews defeated Gallus, ordered +Vespasian, one of his bravest and most skilful generals, to march at +once into Judæa with a large army. Vespasian set to work to collect +soldiers, and his son Titus went into Egypt to fetch from Alexandria +two Roman _legions_, or "regiments," as we should call them. An +immense army thus entered Galilee: one town after another fell into +the hands of the Romans, and thousands of the Jews were slain. At +Joppa, large numbers of the wretched inhabitants took refuge on board +their ships, hoping thus to escape; but a violent storm dashed the +vessels back upon the rocks; many of the people were drowned or +crushed by the broken ships; and many, seeing no further hope of +escape, killed themselves: such as did reach the shore, were +slaughtered without mercy by the Romans. It is said that for a long +space the sea was red with the blood of these poor creatures, and that +not a man remained alive to carry these terrible tidings to Jerusalem. + +During this time Vespasian had taken prisoner a man, who is famous for +having written a History of the Jews, and of the destruction of +Jerusalem. This man, whose name was Josephus, was a Jew, born in +Jerusalem, a few years after the Crucifixion of our Lord. When he was +quite young he showed a great fondness for learning, and was so very +clever and sensible, that when he was only sixteen years old, the +Chief Priests and rulers often asked his advice. Josephus adopted the +opinions of the Pharisees; and as he grew up he took an active part in +the management of public affairs. + +When the wars broke out, Josephus showed so much knowledge and skill +in military matters, that he was made governor, and acted as general +of the Jewish armies. + +Amongst other places which the Romans besieged, was a small town +called Jotapa, or Jotaphata. Josephus defended it for nearly two +months, but at last the Romans took it, and slew all the inhabitants +except Josephus and forty of his men who escaped, and took refuge in a +cave. Some one told Vespasian where Josephus was concealed; and the +Roman general sent to offer life and safety to him and his companions, +upon certain conditions, which they might have accepted without any +disgrace. Josephus wished to accept these terms; but when he spake of +submitting to the Romans, his companions threatened to murder him. +Determined not to live to become prisoners to the Romans, and +unwilling to be guilty of the great crime of self-murder, these +wretched people drew lots to decide who should kill his companion: in +this way one fell after another, until one man only remained alive +besides Josephus, who had of course taken no share in this +transaction. Josephus easily persuaded his companion to submit to the +Romans: Vespasian treated the Jewish general with the greatest +kindness: he kept him with him more as a friend than as a prisoner, +and often consulted him, and asked his advice. + +Mean time, Vespasian in one part of the country, and his son Titus in +another, carried on the war with vigour; taking one city after +another: in vain they besought the Jews to submit; these miserable +people persisted in their useless resistance, and thus enraged the +Romans, who treated them with great barbarity. Multitudes were +destroyed, and a vast number were sold as slaves. + +After the whole of Galilee had been thus subdued, Titus joined his +father at Cæsarea, and there their armies had a little rest. + +The troubles in Rome after the death of Nero, A.D. 68, prevented +Vespasian having the means of carrying on the war with vigour; and +indeed he was in no hurry to begin the siege of Jerusalem, because the +Jews were daily rendering his task more easy, by fighting amongst +themselves, and so wasting that strength which should have been kept +to resist the enemy. + +The city of Jerusalem was at this time in a most dreadful state of +confusion and tumult. The inhabitants were divided into two parties: +one party, seeing that a continuance of war would totally ruin their +country, wished to submit to the Romans; the other party, the Zealots, +would not hear of submission; and as they were the worst of men, they +committed the most horrid crimes, often under pretence of religion. No +person's life was safe, and the whole city was distracted by acts of +violence and cruelty. The leader of the party of Zealots within the +city was a man named John; another man named Simon, of equally bad +character, headed a party outside, and collecting a band of ruffians, +encamped with them before the city. Some of the inhabitants of +Jerusalem, who suffered severely from the tyranny of John, fearing +that he would burn the city, unhappily determined to let Simon and his +troops come in, by way of defending them against John. But this step +only increased their miseries; for they now suffered from the +violence and wickedness of two parties, instead of one. Thus a third +party was formed in Jerusalem; and these three parties, instead of +joining to defend themselves against the Romans, fought against each +other, and many were killed, even in the temple, and before the very +altar itself. + + + + +Chapter XXXV.--DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. + + +We have said that after the death of Nero, A.D. 68, there were great +troubles in Rome, where three different Emperors succeeded each other +in the space of one year; but this state of things was put an end to +in A.D. 69, when the Romans chose Vespasian to be their Emperor. The +next year, the Emperor Vespasian sent his son Titus to force the +rebellious Jews into obedience, and so put an end to this destructive +war. Titus and his army marched towards Jerusalem, which to look at +was a most magnificent and glorious city, though it had unhappily +become the habitation of violence and all that is bad and wicked. The +city was built upon two mountains, enclosed with walls, and surrounded +by deep valleys. The walls were guarded by towers; and altogether the +place was well able to resist the attacks of an enemy. But, instead of +preparing to defend themselves, the Jews hurried on their own +destruction; for at the very time when a formidable army was rapidly +approaching the city, the contending parties within the walls were +continually occupied in inventing new ways of destroying each other; +and in their fury, they wasted and destroyed considerable quantities +of provisions, of which they had afterwards great reason to repent. + +Although danger and misery now threatened the city from the factions +within and the enemy without, multitudes of people unwisely crowded +into it to keep the Passover; thus adding sadly to the general +confusion and distress. Miserable indeed was the state of Jerusalem +when, in the year A.D. 70, Titus marched towards it with a formidable +army. The actual approach of the Romans, put a stop for the time to +the fighting amongst the Jews; and joining together, they left the +city, and forced Titus and his soldiers to leave their camp and retire +to the mountains: but no sooner had the Jews thus obtained an interval +of quiet, than their quarrels began again. In the mean time the +Romans were making every exertion to prepare for the siege of +Jerusalem, which was surrounded by three walls, one within another, +with a good space between them, filled with buildings. + +Titus sent Josephus to speak to his countrymen, and offer them peace +and safety if they would now submit and receive him into their city; +but these offers were refused by the infatuated Jews. They were +repeated with no better success; and after they had been several times +rejected, the Romans made their first attack; and at length made a +breach, or gap, in the first, or outermost, wall, and so entered into +that part of the city, whilst the Jews retreated within the second +wall. + +The Romans having encamped within the first wall, now attacked the +second wall, and forced their way through that also: and the Jews +retired within the third wall, many of them taking refuge in the +temple and in the Fort Antonia. The greater part of the wretched +inhabitants would now have submitted to the Romans, and given up their +city; but the Zealots murdered all who ventured to speak of such a +thing. The great numbers of people now shut up within the walls of +Jerusalem, soon devoured the provisions, and added the horrors of +famine to the other terrible sufferings of the Jews. The Zealots +forced their way into the houses of all whom they suspected of having +any food, and carried away whatever they could find. The nearest +relations snatched food from each other, in the extremity of their +hunger. Many of the starving Jews, who during the night ventured to go +beyond the city walls, to collect roots and herbs, were seized by the +Roman soldiers, and crucified in the morning: so that several hundreds +were frequently seen at a time, suffering the same agony of body which +had been endured by our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. It is impossible to +describe what the Jews went through at this time. We shall remember +that when they insisted on the crucifixion of Jesus, contrary to the +wishes of Pilate himself, they had cried out, "His blood be on us and +on our children"; and fearfully were they now punished for having shed +His blood. Josephus, in his history of all that happened in Jerusalem +at this time, writes: "Never did any other city suffer such woes, nor +was there ever a more wicked generation since the beginning of the +world." + +At length the Romans broke through the third, or inner, wall, and got +possession of the Fort Antonia, and pursued the Jews into the temple. +The Jews for a moment fled before their enemies; but the foremost +soldier slipped upon the marble pavement and fell. Then the Jews +turned, and killed him, and drove the rest of the soldiers back into +the fort. Even now the Jews still refused to submit; and the temple, +instead of being a place of worship, became a scene of battle and +confusion. + +At this time, when the famine pressed sore upon all the people, a most +horrible thing was done; for a mother killed her infant child, roasted +it, and actually ate part of it! Titus was so shocked when he heard of +this, that he declared that he would leave nothing but the ruins of a +city, in which so horrible a crime had been committed. Again he +attacked the temple, and got possession of the outer courts. He wished +to preserve the temple itself, and gave orders for that purpose. But +the Lord Himself had foretold the destruction of the temple, and a +Roman soldier was the means of fulfilling this prophecy. Contrary to +orders, this man threw a flaming brand, or stick, into one of the +chambers: the flames quickly burst forth and spread on all sides: the +Roman soldiers rushed into the sacred building, and all became a scene +of plunder and murder. + +The once glorious temple was soon nothing but a heap of smoking ruins, +in spite of all the efforts made by the command of Titus to stop the +conflagration. This sad destruction of the second temple took place on +the anniversary of that day upon which the first temple, built by +Solomon, was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, 587 years before Jesus +Christ came upon earth. + +Even whilst the temple was in flames, 6,000 people actually listened +to an impostor, who led them to the roof of a part of the building, +promising them a miraculous deliverance: they all of course perished +in the flames. Thousands of Jews were now killed by the Romans, and +every building in the city, excepting a few towers, was burned. + +In this dreadful war, the greater part of the Jewish people perished: +many of the rest were sold as slaves, and nothing could be more +wretched than the state of all who were left. Jerusalem has ever since +been "trodden down," or oppressed, by the Gentiles; and the Jews have +remained in such a state as constantly to remind us of the prophecy of +Moses (Deut. xxix.), where it is written, "Even all nations shall say, +Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land? What meaneth the +heat of this great anger?" The answer is given to us, "_Because_ they +have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God." Let us ever bear this in +mind, and not provoke God by _our_ sins, to punish us as He punished +the descendants of His chosen people, the Children of Israel. + +Titus commanded the whole city and its walls to be destroyed. This was +done so completely, that not one stone was left upon another, as the +Lord Himself had said. + +When Titus saw how strong the walls and forts of the city were, he +made a remark worthy of a Christian; saying, "We have fought with the +assistance of God: it was God Who drove the Jews out of these +fortifications; for what can the hands of men, or the force of +machines, effect against these towers?" + +After the destruction of Jerusalem, Titus went back to Rome, taking +with him Josephus, to whom Vespasian gave the freedom of the city and +a pension. Josephus immediately set to work to learn the Greek +language, in which he wrote his History of the Wars of the Jews and of +the Destruction of Jerusalem. He died A.D. 93, at the age of +fifty-six: but we are now speaking of the year A.D. 70, when Titus +took him to Rome. + +The Roman Senate decreed a Triumph to Titus and Vespasian. "A Triumph" +was a grand procession, in honour of a general who had gained some +great victory. A magnificent car was provided to convey the person for +whom the honour was intended: his army, partly before, partly behind +the car, marched with flags and banners, to the sound of music: any +prisoners who had been taken in the war were made to follow the car, +chained two and two together; and if any valuable spoils had been +taken from the enemy, they were carried in the procession. In short, +everything was done to make the Triumph a very grand affair; and it +was considered the greatest honour that could be bestowed upon a +military leader: it often cost an immense sum of money. The Senate now +decreed, that a Triumph should take place in honour of Titus and +Vespasian, who were to share the chariot provided for the occasion. +Amongst the beautiful things carried in this procession, the most +remarkable were the golden candlestick, and other precious things +saved from the temple at Jerusalem: also the volume, or Book of the +Law of Moses, which was indeed deserving of the greatest respect, +though the heathens did not know its real value. + +In remembrance of the great deeds of Titus, a marble arch was erected +at Rome, not far from the Forum. On the inside of the archway are +carved representations of the golden candlestick, and of many other +things brought from Jerusalem. This arch, called "The Arch of Titus," +still stands in Rome; and not one of the Jews, of whom there are now +many thousands living in Rome, will ever pass under this archway, +because it reminds them of the destruction of their once glorious +temple, and of the ruin of their nation. + +When Jerusalem was destroyed, there still remained in the almost +desolate land of Judæa three strong castles, which resisted the +Romans. Two were soon taken; but the third was so very strong both by +nature and art, and was so well defended by a man of great courage, +called Eleazer, that for some time the Romans could not succeed in +getting possession of it. At last they built a high wall round it, so +that no one could come out or go in: they then set fire to the gates, +and prepared to storm, or attack, the castle the next day. The Jews +now saw that there was no hope of defending the fortress, or of saving +their own lives; and Eleazer therefore persuaded the garrison to burn +all their valuable stores, kill the women and children that were with +them, and then destroy themselves. Ten men were chosen to murder all +the rest: after they had done this, they killed each other; and the +last man who was left set fire to the place, and then killed himself. +The next day, when the Romans were preparing to climb the walls, two +of the women who had hid themselves, and so escaped being murdered, +came forth, and told all that had happened. + + + + +Chapter XXXVI.--ST. JOHN'S WRITINGS. + + +After the terrible event which has just been related, the Jews who +still remained in the land, ceased for a time to oppose the Romans. It +was the submission of despair; for they felt that they had no power to +resist, and ruin and desolation surrounded them on all sides. The once +flourishing fields and plains of Judæa were covered with dead bodies; +most of the celebrated cities were merely heaps of ruins. All the +fighting men were removed from Jerusalem, and only some women and old +men were allowed to take up their abode amongst the ruins of their +beloved city. + +The Emperor only allowed the Jews to observe the forms of their own +religion, on condition of their paying to the Temple of Jupiter +Capitolinus, one of the heathen deities, the tax hitherto paid by +every Jew for the service of the Temple, or House of the Lord. Ever +since Judæa had been made a Roman province, the Jews had been allowed +to collect their own taxes: the annual tribute to the temple they +looked upon as an offering to God, Whose subjects they were. The +Emperor now, in their opinion, usurped the place of God; and this was +a great affliction to the Jews; whilst the use to which the tax was to +be put, and the severity exercised in collecting it, made these +unhappy people feel it to be an intolerable disgrace and burden. + +Vespasian died nine years after the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 79, +and his son Titus became Emperor. Titus reigned for only two years, +and was succeeded by his brother Domitian, A.D. 81. + +We have reason to believe that only one of the Apostles was alive when +Titus took Jerusalem: this was St. John, the disciple "whom Jesus +loved." As the Bible tells us nothing concerning this holy man, during +the time that St. Paul was journeying about, we cannot be sure as to +what he was doing; but he is supposed to have remained in his native +land, and probably in Jerusalem itself, till he saw the city compassed +by foreign soldiers, and beheld the other signs of its approaching +ruin, as foretold by his Divine Master. Then it is believed, that St. +John travelled through Parthia, India, and Arabia; and also founded +Churches at Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, +Laodicia, and other places in Asia Minor; after which, he passed some +time at Ephesus. There is a story that he afterwards went to Rome, and +was, by the order of Domitian, who persecuted the Christians most +cruelly, thrown into a large vessel of boiling oil. But instead of +dying in tortures, as was expected, the Lord preserved him, and he +came out unhurt. We may well believe this story, though we cannot be +quite sure that it is true. After this, Domitian banished the Apostle, +now a very old man, to the island of Patmos, in the southern part of +the Archipelago. At Patmos, the Lord sent St. John a most wonderful +vision; and his account of it forms part of the New Testament, where +it is called "The Revelation of St. John the Divine": it is also +called the "Apocalypse." "Revelation" means some hidden secret thing +made known. "Apocalypse" comes from a Greek word, meaning the same as +Revelation. + +The Apocalypse is a book of prophecies, revealing and foretelling in +mysterious language, events which are to happen even to the end of the +world. It is of course very difficult to understand any of the +prophecies in this book, and quite impossible to do so perfectly; but +like every other part of Scripture, it teaches men to be holy. In the +first chapter of this book, St. John tells us himself, that this +Revelation was made known to him in the isle of Patmos, to which he +had been banished on account of his religion. + +Domitian persecuted the Jews as well as the Christians; and great +numbers of both were put to death by this tyrannical and wicked +Emperor, who proposed to destroy all the descendants of David, lest +any one of them should attempt to become king of Judæa. Some grandsons +of the Apostle Jude, or Thaddeus, who was of the family of David, were +brought before the Emperor; but on being asked concerning the kingdom +of Christ, they declared that it was a spiritual, not a temporal +kingdom; and as they were very poor, and could only by the hardest +labour contrive to support themselves, and pay the tax demanded by the +Romans, he spared them, as persons who were not to be feared. Some of +the Jews, who had retired to Alexandria, had endeavoured to get up a +disturbance there; but the Jews, who had long lived quietly in that +city, fearful of the consequence of any revolt, gave up their +seditious countrymen to the Romans, who put them to death: they were +obstinate to the last, and even their children suffered the greatest +tortures, rather than acknowledge the Roman Emperor to be their +master. Such conduct, however mistaken it may have been, sets a good +example to Christians in every age. These Jews believed that to submit +to the Roman Emperor was contrary to their duty to God; and therefore +they bore any sufferings rather than do it. Let us ever be ready and +willing to suffer, rather than do anything which we believe to be +contrary to our duty to God. + +The Emperor Domitian, displeased with what had happened in Alexandria, +ordered the temple which had been built in that city to be shut up; +lest, under pretence of public worship, the Jews of that place should +meet there and plot rebellion. + +Domitian died A.D. 96, and was succeeded by Nerva, who immediately +set St. John at liberty: the Apostle at once left Patmos, and went +into Asia Minor, where he wrote the account of the wonderful Vision or +Revelation made to him in that island. Very soon afterwards, St. John +wrote the three Epistles called by his name. + +The First of these Epistles is not addressed to any persons in +particular; but was written to warn all Christians not to listen to +the false teachers, who were then leading many into serious error. +Some of these false teachers, pretended that Jesus was not really man; +and that, as He had no real body like ours, He did not really suffer +crucifixion. Others, on the contrary, taught that He was _only_ man. +Both doctrines were equally fatal to the hopes of Christians: if Jesus +Christ did not share our human nature, He could not atone for the sin +of man; if He were only man, however free from sin Himself, He could +not atone for the sins of His fellow mortals. Thus a firm belief in +Jesus Christ as _God and Man_, is absolutely necessary for all who +look for salvation through Him. Another set of false teachers taught, +that those who believed themselves to be justified by faith, and so +freed from the restraints of the Levitical Law, might sin without fear +of punishment. St. John cautions all Christians not to be led away by +these, or any other false doctrines; and he shows them how very +different they are from the truths contained in the Gospel as taught +by Jesus Christ, and fully explained by His Apostles. St. John, in +this Epistle, speaks much of the love of God towards His creatures, +and of the duty of all men to love Him and their fellow creatures for +His sake. + +The Second Epistle of St. John was probably written from Ephesus, his +usual abode at this time. This Epistle is addressed to some particular +lady, to warn her and her children not to listen to the dangerous +doctrines of false teachers. + +The Third of St. John's Epistles is written to a man named Gaius, who +is supposed to have been converted by the Apostle, who therefore +speaks of him as one of his children: a very usual figure of speech +with teachers, respecting those whom they converted. In this way St. +Paul calls Timothy his "son." In the Acts of the Apostles, and in the +Epistles, we meet with the name of Gaius five times; and four +different persons seem to be meant. Gaius, of Macedonia (Acts xix.); +Gaius, of Derbe (Acts xx.); Gaius, whom St. Paul baptized at Corinth +(1 Cor. i.), and who lodged that Apostle in his own house at Corinth +(Rom. xvi.); and this Gaius, to whom St. John writes his Epistle; +whether he was one of those already mentioned, we cannot know. + +The object of this Epistle from St. John, seems to have been to praise +Gaius for his steady faith, and for having shown kindness to some +Christian strangers, who had passed through the place where he lived: +at the same time, St. John cautions him to have nothing to do with a +teacher named Diotrephes, who had denied St. John's authority, and set +himself up as the head of a party, in opposition to the Apostles. + +St. John entreats Gaius to do, what may equally apply to each one of +us, for he says, "Follow not that which is evil, but that which is +good." He also recommends to him Demetrius, of whom we know nothing, +except that he was a good man. This letter to Gaius is very short, +because, as St. John writes, he hoped shortly to meet and talk to him. + +St. John spent the last years of his long life at Ephesus, and there, +about A.D. 99, he wrote that very valuable and beautiful portion of +Holy Scripture known to us as "The Gospel according to St. John." When +St. John wrote, he was of course well acquainted with the Gospels of +St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke, and also with the Book of Acts, +for they had all been written many years before this time. He does +not, therefore, repeat much of what they tell us, but gives an account +of many things which they do not mention; and repeats especially much +of what his blessed Lord said at different times to His disciples. +There was a good reason for this. + +Even by this time, many errors had crept into the Christian Church, as +has already been said, when speaking of St. John's First Epistle. + +St. John, therefore, wrote his Gospel to correct these errors, and to +show all men, that Jesus Christ was truly and indeed the Son of Man +and the Son of God: the Word that was from the beginning with God, and +was God, and was made man, that He might suffer for us. + +The Gospel of St. John completed the Canon of Scripture; that is, +those writings which are undoubtedly written by inspiration of God, +and are, therefore, to be the general rule of Christian faith and +practice. + + + + +Chapter XXXVII.--THE DEATH OF ST. JOHN. + + +St. John was nearly 100 years old when he wrote his Gospel: he had +spent a long life in preaching and exhorting, and we are told that, +when his great age prevented his continuing his active labours, he +used to be carried into the public assemblies of the Christians, in +order to repeat his exhortation, "Little children, love one another": +words constantly repeated in some shape or other, in the writings of +this Apostle, who also dwells much upon the love of Christ for man, as +a reason why men should love Him, and love each other for His sake. +Let us try to obey the precept, "Love one another"; remembering that +St. John also says, "Love not in word neither in tongue, but in deed +and in truth"; that is, do not talk about your love, but show it by +your actions. Love to Christ must show itself in obedience; love to +man for His sake, by kindness to every fellow creature, and by doing +all the good we can to them, whether they are kind to us or not. + +St. John died quietly at Ephesus, about A.D. 100: his faith and love +were great, therefore his death was peaceful and happy; for he felt +that he was now going home to his beloved Master, Whom he had +faithfully served for many years on earth. + +A century, or space of 100 years, had now passed since the birth of +Jesus Christ: at the time of that event, the inhabitants of the world, +with the exception of the Jews, were Heathens or Pagans; who, in their +total ignorance of an Almighty and Holy God, gave themselves up to +follow their own sinful inclinations, and were guilty of every sort of +wickedness and vice. The Jews, though still retaining a nominal +observance of the Law of Moses and the worship of One True God, had +strangely forgotten and forsaken the religion, so long the glory of +their nation. Thinking more of temporal than of spiritual things, they +wilfully misunderstood the writings of the prophets, and looked for a +temporal king in the promised Messiah: those who dared to hold a +different opinion, were treated with contempt. + +The two sects of Sadducees and Pharisees, though in other matters +opposed to each other, equally set at naught the holiness of heart and +life commanded by the Law of Moses. The Sadducees, denying the +possibility of a future life, laughed at the idea of denying one's +self any gratification here, from the fear of punishment hereafter. +The Pharisees, passing by the Moral Law, which it did not suit them to +keep, taught, that a strict observance of the Ceremonial Law, and of +the traditions handed down from father to son, would secure the favour +of God. + +Thus Sadducees and Pharisees both destroyed all true religion; that +is, all devotion of the heart to God, producing holiness of life. + +The consequence of this was, that the knowledge and love of God were +daily growing less amongst the Jewish people, and rapidly ceasing to +have any effect on their motives and actions. So that, both as +regarded Jews and Gentiles, it might truly be said, "The whole world +lieth in wickedness." + +The doctrines and precepts of our blessed Lord, were meant to make man +hate and renounce all sin and wickedness; to show him the necessity of +self-denial, and of holiness in thought, word, and deed; and to set +before him that love towards God, which was to be the motive and +principle to govern all his actions. + +Thus, wherever the Gospel was received, a great change at once took +place; and the close of the first century, found the world in a very +different condition from that, in which it had been at the beginning. +Mankind must now be considered as divided into three classes: First, +the Heathen, who, in addition to all former wickedness, now added a +spirit of hatred and persecution towards those who rejected their +false religion, for the Truth as is in Jesus. Second, the Jews, who, +in spite of all the miseries they had gone through for their rejection +of Jesus Christ, still clung to the Law of Moses; hating the Heathen, +but above all, hating the followers of Jesus with an increasing +hatred. The third class comprehended all, who, by the mercy of God, +had been brought out of either of the other two classes, to be sincere +and faithful followers of the precepts and examples of the Holy Jesus. +This class, called Christians, already contained a very large number +of persons of all ages and sexes; and their number was increasing +daily, by fresh converts from amongst the Gentiles. + +Thus, by the close of the first century, the Church of Christ was so +firmly established upon earth, as to defy all the efforts made to +overthrow it. + +Even during the first century the Christians suffered persecution; and +many of them were put to death, because they would not give up their +belief in Jesus, and act contrary to His precepts. This cruel +persecution of the Christians continued during the second and third +centuries; sometimes with greater, sometimes with less severity. But +it has been truly said, that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of +the Church"; for numbers, seeing their holy lives, and then witnessing +the wonderful manner in which they were supported to bear the most +exquisite tortures rather than give up their religion, felt that there +must be some sure and strong foundation for such faith and +steadfastness, and were thus led to become Christians themselves; and +by their future conduct and martyrdom they again, in their turn, +brought others to join the Church of Christ, which thus extended +itself rapidly on all sides. + +Before the close of the second century, Christianity had been +established as the religion of the Britons; but how, or by whom, it +was brought into our island, we do not know: it seems very probable +that, during the long interval in which we know nothing of St. Peter's +movements, he came to Britain, and established the Church which has +ever since existed here. + +In reading of the martyrs, we should remember that they, knowing that +the favour of God was the only thing worth having, were willing to +suffer and die in order to obtain it; trusting to the Lord to give +them a happy issue out of all their sufferings. They did not trust in +vain. We must also recollect, that the religion of the martyrs was no +sham; no system of outward forms, but an entire devotion of the whole +heart and life to God; and that the same devotion is required of +Christians now. If we are not now called upon to suffer martyrdom, we +are called upon to give our hearts to God; and show our Faith, by +denying ourselves in everything contrary to His Will, whatever pain or +difficulty we may have in doing so. + +Do we do this? + +The Jews, who outlived the destruction of their city and temple, +sought refuge in different parts of the world. Many went into Egypt, +where there was a Jewish colony, that had been established in the time +of Alexander the Great. Others fled to Cyrene, another part of Africa. +A large number removed to Babylon, and joined their brethren who had +remained from father to son in that country, instead of returning to +Jerusalem when the decree of Cyrus permitted them to do so. Some took +refuge in Persia and other Eastern countries. + +By degrees, these Jews formed a regular system of government for +themselves. + +They were divided into Eastern and Western Jews. The Eastern Jews were +those who settled in Babylon, Chaldæa, Assyria, Persia, and the +adjacent countries. Those who remained in Judæa, or took up their +abode in Egypt, Italy, and other parts of the Roman dominions in +Europe, were called Western Jews. In the course of time, these two +parties each chose some distinguished person as their head, or chief. +The chiefs of the Eastern Jews were called "Princes of the Captivity"; +and those of the Western Jews, were simply styled "Patriarchs." +Gradually these chiefs obtained more and more influence and authority +amongst their fellow countrymen in all matters. Both parties of Jews +also founded schools, that the children might be fully and carefully +instructed in all the doctrines and practices of their religion. But +these things were done gradually during a long course of years, one +step leading to another; for naturally, on their first dispersion +after the destruction of Jerusalem, their whole attention was turned +to securing a safe asylum, where they might worship God after the +manner of their fathers--as far, at least, as they could do so; but +the destruction of the Temple had rendered it impossible to keep the +feasts and offer the sacrifices, so strictly enjoined by the Law of +Moses. + +The impossibility of obeying the precepts of their religion, should +have made the Jews more ready to listen to those, who declared that +the promised Messiah had indeed come; and that therefore, the Old +Dispensation contained in the Law of Moses was at an end. + +As Scripture history closes before the destruction of Jerusalem, all +that has been said regarding that and subsequent events, has been +gathered from other histories; and all that has been related +concerning the latter days of some of the Apostles, has been supplied +in a similar way. It will be well now to give a short account of the +labours and deaths of such of the Apostles as have not been already +mentioned; only remembering, that whilst we have every reason to +believe such accounts are true, we cannot feel certain, as we do in +regard to all the facts related in the Holy Scriptures. + +Taking, then, "the names of the twelve Apostles" as given by St. +Matthew (x. 2, &c.), we have "first, Simon, who is called Peter." Of +him we have heard much in the course of our Lord's life, and during +the time of which the Book of Acts gives us the history: and we have +also spoken of what he is believed to have done after that period, and +of his martyrdom. Of "Andrew his brother," we only know that he was +also a fisherman, and that he was a disciple of John the Baptist, with +whom he was standing when the Baptist said of Jesus, "Behold the Lamb +of God." Andrew, nothing doubting, at once sought an interview with +Jesus, and then went to find, his own brother Simon, giving him the +joyful news, "We have found the Messias." Andrew became afterwards one +of the constant followers of our Lord, chosen to be Apostles; and his +name is mentioned two or three times in sacred history. + +From other sources we learn, that after the Ascension of our Lord, +St. Andrew travelled to Byzantium, now called Constantinople, and +there founded a Church; and that he also preached the Gospel in the +Crimea. But he ended his life in Greece, under the following +circumstances: St. Andrew was preaching at a place in Achaia with +great success, when Ægeas, the pro-consul or Roman governor of the +province, came there, and was greatly enraged to find that multitudes +had already been converted from Heathenism to Christianity: he +therefore told the Apostle, that he should be crucified unless he +would himself offer a sacrifice to the heathen gods. This St. Andrew +of course refused to do, and he was put into prison; but the people +were so angry at this, that they would have rescued him by force, had +he not begged them not to do so; telling them that he was quite ready +to suffer martyrdom, if such was the will of God. It is said, that +amongst other miracles performed in the name of Jesus by St. Andrew, +he had healed the wife and the brother of Ægeas of diseases; and that +both had, in consequence, become Christians. This made the pro-consul +still more furious; and, in his rage, he ordered St. Andrew to be +severely scourged by seven men, before he was put to death. He was +tied to a cross of the shape of the letter X; and it is said that he +hung upon it for two days, during which, in the midst of his agony, +he continued to instruct and exhort the people. After his death, his +body was embalmed and buried with all honour, at the expense of a +noble lady, named Maximilla. We are told that, 300 years later, St. +Andrew's body was taken to Constantinople by the Emperor Constantine, +who had become a Christian, and buried in a church which the Emperor +had built in honour of the Apostles. + +In after times, St. Andrew came to be looked upon as the patron Saint +of Scotland. + +A cross, the shape of that upon which St. Andrew was crucified, is +always called a St. Andrew's Cross. + + + + +Chapter XXXVIII.--THE APOSTLES. + + +The next on the list of the Apostles, are "James the son of Zebedee, +and John his brother." Both of these have been already mentioned: the +Scripture tells us, that St. James the elder, the brother of St. John, +was killed with the sword by Herod Agrippa. + +St. John, as we have heard, survived the destruction of Jerusalem; was +banished for some years to the island of Patmos; and finally died a +natural death at Ephesus. + +"Philip and Bartholomew" are the next upon our list; and throughout +their lives they seem to have been intimately connected with each +other. Philip's name is mentioned two or three times in Scripture. He +was no sooner called to be a follower of Jesus, than, as we are told, +"he findeth Nathanael (or Bartholomew), and saith unto him, We have +found Him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus +of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Or, in other words, that they had +found out, that Jesus of Nazareth the reputed son of Joseph, was, in +truth, The Messiah, of whom Moses and the prophets had written. + +After the Lord's Ascension, Philip is supposed to have preached the +Gospel in some parts of Asia, and then to have suffered martyrdom in +Phrygia. It is said, that coming to a place where the inhabitants were +the grossest idolaters, Philip, greatly distressed at their condition, +prayed constantly for them; at the same time labouring to convince +them of the folly of their present worship, and telling them of the +true God, and of His Son Jesus Christ. The Lord so blessed Philip's +efforts, that many of his hearers turned from idolatry and became +Christians. This success, stirred up the opposition and persecution of +the heathen magistrates, who accordingly seized the Apostle, put him +in prison, caused him to be unmercifully scourged, and afterwards +crucified. It is said, moreover, that whilst hanging on the cross, he +was stoned to death; and that then, such a violent earthquake took +place, as greatly alarmed all the people; and that many, in +consequence, repented of their idolatry and wickedness, and turned to +God. + +Bartholomew, or Nathanael, could not at first believe that Jesus of +Nazareth was the promised Messiah, but after acting according to +Philip's advice, of "Come and see," he cordially acknowledged Jesus +Christ to be the "Son of God, the King of Israel." After our Lord's +Ascension, this Apostle is said to have laboured amongst the savage +tribes of Abyssinia, then called Ethiopia; and we are told, that 100 +years afterwards, a missionary who went to preach the Gospel in those +parts, found a copy of St. Matthew's Gospel, which was said to have +been left there by Bartholomew. Bartholomew was in Phrygia with +Philip, when the latter was put to death: and it is said that he was +also fastened to a cross, but that the heathens were so alarmed by the +earthquake, that they took him down, and set him at liberty. After +this, he is said to have preached in various parts of Asia Minor, +ending with Armenia, where he was seized by the idolatrous governor, +and treated with the greatest cruelty; he was beaten to the ground +with staves; crucified head downwards; then taken from the cross, +flayed, and finally beheaded. + +Thomas, the next on the list of Apostles, is well known to us for his +doubts as to the reality of the Resurrection--doubts mercifully +removed by the Lord Himself. After the Ascension, Thomas is said to +have laboured in Judæa, Parthia, Medea, Persia, and other countries, +until he reached India. Here he was at first afraid of venturing +amongst the dark-coloured and cruel heathens, who inhabited the +country; but being encouraged by a vision, he fearlessly journeyed on +into the country, and was most successful in bringing the people out +of the darkness of Paganism into the light of the Gospel. The Brahmins +or priests, however, were much opposed to him: at a certain town he +began to build a place of worship for the Christians, and Segamo, the +prince of the country, persuaded probably by the Brahmins, forbade him +to go on with it. Thomas, however, by the help of God, performed +several miracles, which so convinced Segamo of the truth of all his +doctrines, that he himself became a Christian, and allowed the +building to be continued. The idolatrous priests now saw that their +religion was in great danger, and therefore, watching for a convenient +opportunity, they came upon Thomas in a quiet spot, to which he had +gone to pray, and shot him with their arrows. Having thus disabled the +Apostle, the Brahmins stoned him, and finally ran a lance through his +body. The dead body of Thomas was carried by his disciples to the +church which he had just completed, and there buried. About 1,500 +years afterwards, when the Portuguese first made their way to India, +they found upon the Malabar coast many Christian families, who called +themselves "St. Thomas's Christians"; being descendants of those, who +had been converted from Paganism to Christianity, by this Apostle. + +Matthew's name stands next on the list of the Apostles; he has already +been spoken of, as far as the Scriptures make mention of him; and also +as the writer of the first of the four accounts of our Saviour's life +and death. We neither know what this Apostle did after our Lord's +Ascension, nor how he died; but there is a tradition that he was +murdered in Ethiopia, where by his teaching, and the miracles he was +enabled to perform, he had been the means of converting multitudes +from Heathenism to Christianity. + +"James the son of Alphæus, and Lebbæus, whose surname was Thaddæus," +now come under consideration. They were brothers; two of the sons of +Mary, sister to the Virgin Mary, and of Cleophas one of the disciples +to whom, after His resurrection, the Lord appeared on the way to +Emmaus. This James, distinguished as "the Less," has already been +spoken of as Bishop of Jerusalem, and his death has also been +mentioned (p. 351). + +Lebbæus, also called Judas and Jude, was, as has been said, the writer +of an Epistle. No ancient writer gives any account either of his +labours after the Lord's Ascension, or of the manner of his death. + +Of "Simon the Canaanite," whose name stands next on our list, +Scripture tells us nothing, except that he was also called "Simon +Zelotes." "Zelotes" means full of zeal and eagerness; and the name was +probably given to this Apostle, on account of his great zeal and +earnestness in the service of his Master. The term "Canaanite" seems +to be derived from a Hebrew word, which also means zeal. After the +Ascension, Simon is said to have preached the Gospel amongst some of +the barbarous nations in Africa; and then to have gone westward, +finally reaching Britain, where he was crucified, probably by the +Romans. + +The last on the list of Apostles is Judas Iscariot, whose surname, it +is thought, is merely derived from the place of his birth. Of him it +is unnecessary to speak now. The mention of Judas Iscariot naturally +reminds us of him who was afterwards chosen to fill the place, "from +which by transgression he fell." + +Matthias, chosen after the Ascension to complete the original number +of Apostles, was one of those disciples "which had companied with the +Apostles, all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among +them." Beyond this, Scripture says nothing about him; nor do any +ancient writers tell us how long he laboured in the holy office to +which he was appointed; but it is said, that he was finally put to +death by some amongst whom he was preaching. + +No sketch of our Lord's Apostles would be complete without some notice +of Paul and Barnabas; who, though not called to be Apostles until +after the Ascension, laboured zealously in that sacred ministry. St. +Paul has already been spoken of most fully, and frequent mention has +been made of St. Barnabas, up to the time of his separation from St. +Paul, after which the Book of Acts contains no account of him: but in +one of his Epistles, St. Paul writes of him in such a manner, as shows +that though for the moment "the contention between them was so sharp +as to part them asunder," it had not caused any real coolness or +estrangement. Another proof of this, is found in the fact, that St. +Mark afterwards became a devoted attendant upon St. Paul, by whom he +was highly valued. St. Mark was with the Apostle whilst he was a +prisoner in Rome. + +Of the labours of St. Barnabas after his separation from St. Paul, we +have no certain account anywhere: in the end he is said to have been +stoned. + +Before closing this chapter, it seems well to take notice of St. Luke +and St. Mark, who, though not Apostles, are, as writers of the Gospel, +entitled to the respect and gratitude of all who value the holy +Scriptures. + +There is, however, little to add to what has been already said of +them. + +Luke, by birth a Jew, and probably a native of Antioch in Syria, was a +physician, who became a convert to the religion of Jesus. He is said +to have been one of the seventy disciples, sent out on one occasion, +"two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he +himself would come." This is very probable, although, as he is not +once named in any of the Gospels, we cannot be sure. + +From St. Luke's own account in the Book of Acts, we find that he went +with St. Paul on his first voyage to Macedon. At Philippi, he seems to +have left the Apostle; why we know not, but perhaps St. Paul sent him +on some mission. It is not unlikely that he remained in that country; +but during St. Paul's second journey, he rejoined him, and sailed with +him from Philippi. For the next five years, St. Luke continued with +St. Paul: this brings us to the release of the Apostle from his +confinement in Rome. Here ends any certain account of St. Luke. It is +said that he then went into Achaia, and afterwards preached the Gospel +in Africa. As no ancient writers mention his having suffered +martyrdom, it is probable that he died a natural death. + +If the Evangelist St. Mark was, as there is every reason to believe, +the same "Mark whose surname was John," he was nephew to Barnabas. We +first hear of him in Scripture, as going from Antioch to Jerusalem +with Barnabas and Saul; and then accompanying them on a journey, but +leaving them unaccountably at Perga; in consequence of which, St. Paul +afterwards refused to take him with them on another journey, thus +causing the contention already mentioned. "Barnabas, taking Mark, +sailed to Cyprus." It is said that St. Mark was with St. Barnabas at +the time of the latter's death, and received his dying commands to go +without delay to St. Paul, by whom, as has been already said, he was +well received. What his ultimate fate was, we know not. + +It may not be amiss to mention, before we take leave of the immediate +followers of our Lord, that in pictures, the four Evangelists are +distinguished by certain signs or symbols. St. Matthew is simply a man +with a pen in his hand; St. Mark is accompanied by a Lion; St. Luke by +an Ox; and St. John by an Eagle. + + + + +PART III. + + + + +Chapter I.--THE JEWS TO THE TIME OF THE EMPEROR ADRIAN. + + +The history of those chosen by the Lord to be His peculiar people, has +now been traced for more than two thousand years, from the Call of +Abraham, B.C. 1921. For the two centuries immediately following that +event, we have the history of Abraham's descendants, Isaac, Jacob or +Israel, and the twelve sons of Israel, or Patriarchs, as they are +called, from being the fathers of all the tribes of Israel. Israel and +his sons and grand-children, to the number of sixty-six persons, went +down, B.C. 1706, into Egypt, where Joseph then was, having been sold +as a slave about twenty years before. + +During the next 300 years, the descendants of Israel multiplied so +wonderfully that, in B.C. 1491, 600,000 men, besides women and +children, went out of Egypt under the guidance of Moses. + +The giving of the Law, Ceremonial and Political, as well as Moral, +established the chosen people of God, as a Church and Nation. + +Forty years of wandering in the wilderness brought the Children of +Israel to the eastern banks of the Jordan, B.C. 1451. The Bible then +relates how, under the command of Joshua, the Jordan was crossed, and +the heathen wonderfully driven out of the land, which the Lord had +promised to give to Abraham and his descendants, for a possession. + +For forty-six years, the Children of Israel were ruled by Joshua and +the elders who outlived him. For the next 300 years, they were +governed by Judges, raised up by the Almighty at different times, as +they were needed. In B.C. 1095 the Children of Israel were bent upon +having a king, and Saul was accordingly crowned, and reigned for forty +years. During the next eighty years, the kingdom flourished under +David and his son Solomon; the latter of whom built the glorious +Temple, dedicated to the service of the Lord with much ceremony, B.C. +1004. It had taken eight years to build. + +The division of the country into the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel, +under Solomon's son Rehoboam, took place B.C. 975. One king succeeded +another more or less quickly, until the sins of kings and people led +to the destruction of the kingdom of Israel by Shalmaneser, king of +Assyria, B.C. 721; and to the burning of Jerusalem and of the Temple, +B.C. 587, when Nebuchadnezzar carried the inhabitants of the kingdom +of Judah into a long captivity in Babylon. Some years before, in B.C. +606, this same Nebuchadnezzar had carried away many of the children of +Judah; and from _this_ date the Captivity, which lasted seventy years, +is reckoned to have begun. The seventy years expired in B.C. 536; and +Cyrus, king of Medea and Persia, having conquered the Babylonian +Empire, gave the children of Judah leave to go back into their own +land, showing them much kindness upon the occasion. The Jews, as they +were now called, returned in great numbers to Judæa; though many of +them still, by their own choice, remained in the land where they had +been born and bred. + +The Jews who did return, had great difficulties to overcome; but at +length they built a Second Temple, which was dedicated B.C. 515. Under +the governance of Ezra and Nehemiah, the Jews served the Lord in the +land of their fathers; but soon they again fell into grievous sin, +though they were never more guilty of idolatry: that crime which +principally caused their captivity. So far the Bible has given us the +history of the people of God. + +From other histories we learn, that Alexander the Great, who became +king of Macedonia B.C. 336, conquered Persia and all the countries in +any way dependent upon her: Judæa, of course, amongst the rest. The +remarkable vision which made Alexander treat the Jews with kindness +has been mentioned (iii. 425). After the death of this monarch, B.C. +323, Judæa became in some sort dependent upon Syria; and we have +already seen how severely the Jews suffered during the next 153 years, +from the wars and fightings going on continually between Syria and +Egypt. The cruelty and oppression of the Syrian princes became +intolerable; and, after Antiochus Epiphanes had taken Jerusalem, B.C. +170, the Lord in mercy raised up the family of Maccabæus, to deliver +the Jews from his tyranny. + +Under the Maccabæan princes, the Jews fought successfully against the +enemies of their religion. Judæa gradually recovered from its +desolation and misery, and again became prosperous; whilst the pure +worship of the One True God was once more the established religion of +the nation. But after the death of John Hyrcanus (iii. 481), B.C. 107, +enemies without, and divisions and troubles amongst themselves, again +filled Judæa with confusion. + +In B.C. 63, Judæa became, like so many other countries, a province of +Rome; and we have seen how the Romans appointed governors or kings, +and even high priests also. The Government of Rome itself underwent a +great change about this time: the Republic, or Commonwealth, which had +lasted 479 years, from the Expulsion of Tarquinius Superbus, B.C. 509, +now came to an end, and Octavius Augustus Cæsar was chosen as the +first Emperor, B.C. 27. + +Octavius Augustus had ruled the vast dominions of Rome as Emperor for +twenty-seven years, when that event took place, destined to affect in +the most momentous manner all races and kindreds of men: even the +Birth of Jesus Christ, the long-promised Messiah. When our blessed +Lord was twenty-nine years old, that is, in A.D. 29, He began to teach +publicly amongst the Jews. Octavius Augustus was no longer Emperor of +Rome at this time; he had died when Jesus was fourteen years old, and +had been succeeded by Tiberius. + +Although a small number of the Jews owned and received Jesus Christ as +the expected Messiah, He was rejected by the nation in general: and +after His crucifixion, the Jews tried in every way to oppose His +Apostles, and prevent the spreading of Christianity. We have read +their punishment in the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 70, and the +dreadful sufferings which came upon the unhappy Jews, and forced them +to scatter themselves through all lands, hoping to find safety--a hope +too often disappointed, and that constantly through their own fault. + +The history of the Jews has thus been traced to the close of the first +century after the Birth of Christ, that is, to A.D. 100. + +It will now be advisable to give a slight sketch of their history, +from that date until the present time. Unhappily there are many +thousand Jews who profess still to expect the promised Messiah; +refusing to believe that Jesus of Nazareth, in Whom all the prophecies +of their Scriptures have been so literally and exactly fulfilled, was +indeed the Messiah, of Whom Moses and the prophets did write. + +May the Lord take away their blindness, and bring them into the one +fold, under the one Shepherd, Jesus Christ. + +In spite of all that the Jews had suffered from their opposition to +the Romans, they could not make up their minds to submit quietly to +foreign rulers. + +Trajan, who became Emperor quite at the close of the first century, +treated them with great severity, and even forbade them to read the +Law. In consequence, a rebellion broke out, A.D. 115, at Cyrene, in +Africa, where the Jews had been settled for many years: it quickly +spread over Libya into Alexandria: in the struggle, the country was +plundered and ruined, whilst thousands of people were killed on both +sides: but finally, after a great slaughter, the Romans got the better +of the rebellious Jews. The next year, the Jews in Mesopotamia took up +arms, and filled the country with terror. Trajan sent against them a +famous general, who, after killing great numbers of the people, forced +the rest to submit to the Roman power: the successful general was then +made governor of Judæa, that he might keep the Jews still residing +there, in submission. Soon afterwards, there was a still more dreadful +insurrection in the isle of Cyprus, where the Jews massacred an +incredible number of the inhabitants: a Roman general called Adrian, +then went into Cyprus, and defeated the Jews after an obstinate +battle. Trajan now published an order, that all Jews should leave the +isle of Cyprus, and never return to it. + +When Trajan died, A.D. 117, Adrian became Emperor; he forbade the Jews +to circumcise their children, and sent strangers to settle in the land +of Judæa, and rebuild the city of Jerusalem, which he meant to +ornament in the Roman style, and call by some Roman name. These +measures so enraged the Jews, that they again broke out into open +rebellion: their leader was Coziba, one of the banditti who infested +the country; and under his command, all kinds of violence were +committed against the subjects of Rome. Coziba pretended that he +himself was the person spoken of by Balaam, when he said, "There shall +come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel": and +in consequence, he called himself Barchocheba, or "the son of a star." +Even before this time, several impostors had pretended to be either +the promised Messiah, or the Elias who was to prepare his way; but +Coziba was the first whose pretensions led to any important +consequences. + +Coziba promised to deliver his countrymen from the power of Adrian, +and to make them once more an independent and glorious nation: such a +Messiah as this exactly suited the false ideas of the Jews, and they +acknowledged Coziba to be the Christ, the Son of God. The Rabbi +Akibha, chosen by the impostor to be his forerunner or messenger, +publicly anointed him as the Messiah, the king of the Jews; placed a +crown upon his head; coined money in his name; and collected for him a +body of 20,000 disciples. By calling upon all the descendants of +Abraham to help "the Hope of Israel," promised to their common +forefather, an immense army was soon assembled at Bither, a town near +Jerusalem, chosen by Coziba to be the capital of his new kingdom. + +Adrian, not believing that after all they had gone through, the Jews +could raise an army, thought little of this revolt at first; and when +at length he did send against them a powerful army, it was totally +defeated. The news of this misfortune caused great astonishment and +dismay at Rome: and Julius Severus, one of the greatest generals of +his time, was sent to put an end to this dangerous rebellion,-a +matter which he found it difficult to accomplish; but at length, in an +attack upon Bither, Coziba was killed; a dreadful slaughter of men, +women, and children followed; and Akibha and his sons were put to a +cruel death by the Roman conqueror. + +The Jewish historians say, that between battle, famine, sickness, +fire, and other calamities, the number of Jews that perished in this +war was greater than the number of the Children of Israel who +originally came out of Egypt: and they also declare, that their +terrible sufferings under Nebuchadnezzar and Titus, were not so great +as those inflicted upon them in the reign of Adrian. Both these +statements are probably exaggerated; but they show that the misery of +the unhappy Jews at this time, was most extreme. + + + + +Chapter II.--STATE OF THE JEWS TO THE END OF THE THIRD CENTURY. + + +The repeated provocations which, by their rebellions, the Jews gave to +the Romans, could not, of course, tend to make their conquerors deal +mercifully with them: thus did they, time after time, draw upon +themselves those miseries, which were a chastisement for all their +sins against God; and especially of that crowning one, the Crucifixion +of "the Lord of Life and Glory." + +After the rebellion under Coziba, numbers of the Jews who outlived it, +were offered for sale at the same price as a horse, at the fair of +Terebinth, held every year on the plain of Mamre. The horror of such a +fate was doubled by the fact, that the plain of Mamre was looked upon +by the Jews as a sacred spot; because here their great forefather +Abraham received the angel, who gave him the promise of a son. + +Those of the unhappy captives who were not sold at Terebinth, were +taken to another fair, at Gaza, or sent into Egypt, to be disposed of +there. + +When this terrible war was at an end, Adrian caused the building of +his city to be continued. He did all he could to profane, and hold up +to contempt, whatever the Jews looked upon as most sacred: he placed a +marble hog over the gate of the city nearest to Bethlehem; built a +temple to Jupiter Capitolinus, on the spot where the temple of the +Jews, the House of God, had stood; and used the stones which had been +employed for the temple, to build a theatre. + +As Adrian hated the Christians as well as the Jews, he set up statues +of heathen deities at Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ was born; on the +spot where He was crucified; and in the garden, from whence He rose +again from the dead. + +Adrian also forbade the Jews to enter Jerusalem, or even to go near +enough to look upon its ruins. Before this time, they were constantly +to be seen, clothed in rags, wandering sadly upon the Mount of Olives, +and amongst the ruins of their once glorious temple and city: a Roman +garrison was now charged to see that Adrian's harsh decree was obeyed, +or to put the transgressors to death. But by giving money to the +garrison, the unhappy Jews did get leave to go once a year, on the +anniversary of the destruction of Jerusalem, to weep over the ruins of +their beloved city. + +Thus were the Jews forced to pay even for the privilege of shedding +tears, in the places where they had purchased and shed the blood of +Jesus Christ. Truly was "His blood," that is, the punishment for +shedding it, "on them and on their children." When they had madly +cried, "His blood be on us and on our children," they had, in fact, +_asked_ that the curse of God might come upon them; and heavily indeed +had it fallen. The dreadful fate of the Jews should ever be a warning +to each individual Christian. We have owned Jesus Christ to be the +Messiah, the Redeemer of mankind; we are called by His name; His Word +is in our hands: if we do not love and obey Him, shall we not deserve +a greater punishment even than the Jews? whose history is given us as +a warning of the hatefulness of sin, in the sight of the Almighty. + +Whilst the Western Jews had been suffering as has been described, the +Eastern Jews were more fortunate. The Emperor Adrian had agreed to let +the Euphrates be the eastern boundary of the Roman Empire, and +therefore the Jews on the eastern side were no longer subject to his +power. Many of them, however, eager for the liberty of their country, +went into Judæa to help their brethren, but they only added to the +number of sufferers. + +Little is known of these Eastern Jews: they chose chiefs, called +"Princes of the Captivity," to preside over their synagogues; they +founded schools, and encouraged learned men; so that some of their +rabbis became famous for their learning. One of these rabbis, named +Judah, wrote a book called "The Misna," of which some account must be +given. + +After the destruction of Jerusalem, the sect of Pharisees became very +powerful amongst the Jews; the chief thing taught by them in the +schools was, not the written Law of Moses, but all the _traditions_, +or doctrines and precepts, handed down by word of mouth from father to +son. Of course doctrines handed down in such a way, got sadly altered +from what they had been at first; and thus the truth was corrupted. As +time went on, fresh traditions were added, till at last they were so +many, that the doctors, whose duty it was to explain the meaning of +them, found it necessary to write them out, as it was impossible +otherwise even to remember them. The disciples of the doctors again, +took notes of the explanations given of these traditions; and all this +made so much confusion, that the Rabbi Judah undertook to make a new +arrangement of the traditions, or oral Law. The meaning of the word +"oral," is "delivered by the mouth"; and this Law was called "oral," +because it was originally given by the mouth. Judah, therefore, +collected together all the traditions, with the commentaries or +explanations given by the most famous amongst their teachers or +doctors. This work occupied him for forty years; it contained all the +laws and doctrines, with an account of the institutions and modes of +life, which the Jews supposed themselves bound to observe, _beyond_ +those commanded in the Mosaical Law. The Jews held this work in the +greatest possible veneration, and called it "The Misna"--Misna being a +Hebrew word, meaning the Second Law. It was also called "The First +Talmud." The Jews called it "The Misna," or Second Law, because they +considered that it was as necessary to obey it, as it was to keep the +Pentateuch, or First Law. The Misna did not, however, settle all the +doubtful cases and questions often raised by the Jews; and another +rabbi, with the assistance of two of Judah's disciples, wrote a +commentary, or rather an addition to the Misna. This addition was +called the Talmud of Jerusalem, because it was compiled or put +together in the land of Judæa, for the benefit of those Jews who still +remained in their native country. + +During the second century the Jews became still further divided into +sects, holding many opinions or doctrines contrary to those held +originally by the Jewish people; but the sect of the Pharisees still +continued to be the largest. + +The consequence of these divisions into numerous sects was, that there +were perpetual jealousies and contentions amongst them. One great +subject of dispute was, as to the use of the Septuagint version of the +Scriptures by the Hellenists. The Hellenists were Jews who spoke +Greek, and did not understand Hebrew, so as to read the Scriptures in +their original language; and who were, therefore, very glad to make +use of the Septuagint version, which was written in Greek. The rest of +the Jews used the Hebrew Scriptures; but at last they agreed that the +Hellenists might use the Greek copies. Afterwards, however, finding +that the Christians always used the Septuagint, when endeavouring to +convince the Jews that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, their dislike to +that version of the Holy Scriptures increased to such a degree, that +they came to look upon all persons who used it as Schismatics; that +is, as persons who sinfully separated themselves from their brethren, +who held the true faith as delivered to them by Moses. + +Antoninus Pius became Emperor of Rome towards the middle of the +second century, that is, in A.D. 138. The edict forbidding the Jews to +circumcise their children, was so hateful to them, that in spite of +the warnings given them by former sufferings, they again revolted. +Antoninus put down the revolt by force; but afterwards he treated the +Jews very mildly, and gave them the privilege for which they had +fought; only forbidding their attempting to make proselytes. In the +reign of Marcus Aurelius, who became Emperor A.D. 161, the Eastern +Jews, who were subject to the king of Parthia, joined that monarch in +a war against the Romans; and Marcus Aurelius was so angry, that he +unjustly revenged himself upon his Jewish subjects, and once more +ordered Adrian's law against circumcision to be put in force: but in +the distant provinces this law was not observed. + +In A.D. 197, Septimius Severus became Emperor: at this time the Jews +had settlements in Galilee, but the law forbidding them to enter +Jerusalem was still in force. Though defeated and humbled so +constantly, this unhappy people attempted to get possession of Samaria +and Judæa by force. When the Romans had again brought them into +subjection, Severus treated the Jews as Antoninus had done before; and +in reward for some service they had done him, he also granted them the +privilege of Roman citizens, and even allowed them to be chosen to +fill offices of trust and honour. So ended the second century. + +Early in the third century, Heliogab[=a]lus became Emperor of Rome, +A.D. 218. This Emperor pretended to be in some respects a Jew himself, +and would not, in consequence, eat the flesh of swine; but at the same +time he built a temple in honour of the Sun, and was anxious to make +both Jews and Samaritans mix this worship, with their own religious +observances. The Jews, who never would have consented to such +idolatry, were saved from the misery which a refusal would have +brought upon them, by the death of Heliogab[=a]lus, who was +assassinated by his own soldiers, A.D. 222. Alexander Severus, who +succeeded him, favoured the Jews, and caused himself to be instructed +in their religion. The great object of Alexander Severus was to mix up +the Christian and Jewish doctrines with those of Paganism, and make +one religion of the whole: this shows that he could have had no real +knowledge of the two former. In his own private chapel, Severus placed +statues of Jesus Christ, of Abraham, and of Orpheus, a famous musician +of ancient times, of whom many mythological tales are told. + +The Eastern Jews established academies in the beginning of the third +century; and in Persia their rabbis were for some time treated with +great respect: but at last the Persians became jealous of the power +and influence of the Jews, and persuaded Sapor, king of the country, +to allow a violent persecution to be carried on against these unhappy +people: those who could escape sought refuge in other lands. Under +Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, (the Tadmor built by Solomon,) the Jews +flourished exceedingly: they built handsome synagogues in every part +of her dominions, and filled the highest offices in the state. In A.D. +273, the Emperor Aurelian defeated Zenobia, and took possession of her +dominions: some of the Jews then returned into Persia; but under +Aurelian, and the Pagan emperors who succeeded him during the +remainder of the third century, the Jews enjoyed peace and +tranquillity in the dominions of the Romans. In this respect they were +more fortunate than the Christians, who were persecuted by various +Emperors, and especially by Diocletian, who began to reign A.D. 284. +Whilst the Christians were treated with the most barbarous cruelty, +because they would not give up their religion, the Jews were allowed +to celebrate all the forms of their worship in the most public manner. +Thus ended the third century; but early in the next, an event took +place, which made a great change in the condition of Jews and +Christians. + + + + +Chapter III.--JEWS IN THE FOURTH CENTURY. + + +Early in the fourth century, as has been said, a great change took +place in religious matters. Constantine, surnamed the Great, who began +to reign as sole Emperor of Rome A.D. 324, became a Christian. It is +said, that when going to fight against a rival who claimed the +Imperial power, Constantine saw, or dreamed that he saw in the sky, a +bright cross, and upon it the words, "In hoc vince" (in this conquer). +He gained the victory; and ascribing it to the God worshipped by the +Christians, (whose emblem was a cross,) he became a convert to their +religion, and adopted the cross as his standard. The example of +Constantine was followed by the greater part of his subjects, so that +Christianity was established as the religion of the Roman Empire, +though many of the inhabitants still remained Pagans. + +The city of Jerusalem, which Adrian had called Elia, took again its +own name; and many beautiful churches were built in it by Constantine. +But the establishment of the Christian religion was by no means a +favourable circumstance for the Jews, who were looked upon as its +worst enemies: against them, Constantine, in the beginning of his +reign, made some very severe laws. The Jews in Persia had grown +insolent in consequence of the prosperity they had enjoyed: they +insulted and abused all Christians, and were even supposed to have put +to death some of their brethren who had embraced Christianity. +Constantine, indignant at such conduct, visited it upon the Jews in +his own dominions, and treated them with the greatest severity, even +forbidding Christians to eat with them. In short, the unhappy +Israelites were now subjected to every sort of insult and suffering. + +The Persian Jews were very angry at such treatment of their brethren; +and as they had great influence over the King of Persia, they now +tried to avenge the Jews in the west, by raising a bloody persecution +against Christians in the east: numbers of Christ's followers were +accordingly killed; their churches destroyed; and their sacred book +burnt. This persecution was carried on, until every trace of +Christianity was almost rooted out of the country. + +But the cruelty of the Persian Jews did not go unpunished, although +the Roman Empire was now greatly disturbed by internal strife, as well +as by the attacks of foreign enemies. + +Constantine the Great died in A.D. 337; and after his death the Roman +Empire rapidly declined, both in extent and power; but of this we need +say nothing here, as our business is with the Jews. Constantius, who +succeeded Constantine as Emperor, hated the Jews, and by his cruel +treatment, drove them to raise an insurrection in Palestine. This only +enraged the Emperor still more, and led him to add new and more severe +laws to those already made against these unhappy creatures, by former +Emperors. Any Jew who dared to marry a Christian, was to be put to +death; and the same punishment was inflicted upon one who tried to +make a proselyte of his own slave; or who kept in slavery any man who +had become a Christian. + +On the death of Constantius, A.D. 361, the Jews experienced some +relief from his successor the Emperor Julian, surnamed the Apostate; +because, after having been brought up as a Christian, he renounced +that true religion, and lived as a Pagan. + +When Constantine the Great died, he left Constantius and two other +sons, who were to divide his dominions amongst them: and he left two +brothers, who had sons also. Gallus and Julian were the sons of one of +these brothers, and were consequently cousins to Constantius. The +generals and ministers of Constantine, persuaded the people after his +death, that there would be constant struggles for power between the +brothers and sons of the late Emperor. The soldiers, who were very +fond of Constantine, declared that no one but a son of their beloved +Emperor should reign over his dominions, or rule in the city of +Constantinople, which he had built to be the capital of his dominions, +and the royal residence. The soldiers stirred up the people, and +formed a plot to destroy the brothers and nephews of Constantine. + +Constantius, when he first came to Constantinople after his father's +death, had solemnly promised to protect his uncles and cousins from +all their enemies; but in spite of this, he was easily persuaded to +join in the plot for their destruction; and a pretext was soon found +for carrying out the scheme. A paper was produced, which was pretended +to have been written by Constantine just before his death. In this +paper, the Emperor was made to declare his belief, that he had been +poisoned by his brothers; and he desired his sons to revenge his +death, and secure their own safety, by the destruction of their uncles +and cousins. Such a pretext was quite sufficient; and the soldiers, +without waiting for any inquiry or trial, murdered the suspected +princes and all their sons, excepting the two young boys Gallus and +Julian, who were hidden by their attendants from the fury of the +soldiers; and thus escaped the fate of the two brothers and seven +nephews of Constantine, who were now murdered. + +Gallus and Julian, who alone escaped the slaughter, were of the +respective ages of twelve and six years. Constantius justly felt, that +to put these children to death in cold blood, would be looked upon by +all mankind as an act of wanton and needless cruelty: perhaps, too, he +felt some sorrow for the crime already committed. At any rate, the two +boys were allowed to live, and were sent to some city in Bithynia, or +Ionia, where persons were appointed by the Emperor to educate them. As +Gallus and Julian grew up, Constantius feared that they might plot +against him; and he therefore chose for their residence a strong +castle, standing in a pleasant situation, with extensive grounds +belonging to it: having been an ancient palace, it contained very +good rooms. Here, attended, or rather _guarded_, by a numerous +household, the young princes lived for six years: they were carefully +instructed by the best teachers, in all branches of learning, as well +as in active exercises; but in spite of every attention and comfort, +they felt themselves to be prisoners, shut out from all society except +that of persons devoted to Constantius, and ready to obey him in every +matter. A very strict observance of all the outward forms of +Christianity, had been forced upon them; but upon the heart of Julian, +at least, the blessed truths and precepts of the Gospel had taken no +hold. He had rather learnt to connect Constantius and his religion, +with cruelty and tyranny; and the violent disputes carried on by the +bishops, who professed to be the followers of Jesus Christ, still +further increased his dislike to a religion, associated in his mind +with his own sufferings. + +When Gallus was twenty-five years old, disturbances in his dominions +induced Constantius to release him, and even to place him as governor +over part of the country. The cousins, therefore, met, and took a +solemn oath, never to do anything to injure each other; and then +Gallus was settled at Antioch, to rule over the neighbouring +provinces. Gallus was not unmindful of his brother, but also obtained +liberty for him. Julian, now nineteen years of age, having been so +long restricted in his choice of society, eagerly sought that of +learned men, the greater part of whom were unfortunately Pagans; to +whose ideas of religion he willingly listened, until he became +convinced that Paganism was a better religion than Christianity, which +he accordingly renounced; and from that time, became a devout and +sincere worshipper of the gods of Rome and Athens. On the death of +Constantius, A.D. 361, Julian became Emperor of Rome, and he proved a +just and wise ruler. As it was his great wish entirely to destroy the +Christian religion, Julian gave great encouragement to its enemies the +Jews; allowing them the free exercise of their religion, and treating +them with the greatest kindness. This emboldened the Jews to destroy +the churches of the Christians, and commit other acts of violence +against them--an example followed by their brethren in Egypt, who +destroyed the finest churches in Alexandria. Julian issued a law +establishing Paganism as the religion of his empire; but he did not +put to death those who held contrary opinions. + +He hated the Christians, and would not allow them to have any power in +the State; he forbade them to teach any sort of science in the public +schools; he fined and banished their clergy; and also fined all who +refused to offer sacrifices to the Pagan deities. But nothing he could +do had any effect upon the Christians, who held firm to the true +faith. + +The Emperor then determined to rebuild the temple, and settle a +powerful colony of Jews in Judæa; where they would be always ready to +join in any measure against the Christians. The destruction and +desolation of the temple having been foretold by Jesus Christ, Julian +thought, that by rebuilding it, and re-establishing in it the ancient +worship, he should shake the faith of mankind as to the truth of +Christianity. + +Great preparations were made for the work; but when the workmen began +to clear out the foundations, they were hindered by balls of fire +which broke out, scorching and burning the unfortunate people. Some +writers doubt the truth of this account; but though we cannot be quite +sure, there is great reason to believe that it really did happen. We +may well believe that the Almighty worked this miracle, to prove the +truth of prophecy; and to show that the Christians were now his chosen +people, instead of the Jews, who had filled up the measure of their +iniquities by crucifying the Saviour of mankind. At any rate, Julian +gave up the attempt to rebuild the temple. Julian was killed in battle +A.D. 363, and was succeeded by Christian Emperors. Christianity was +then re-established as the national religion, although both Pagans and +Jews were allowed to practise their own forms of worship in peace, +until the close of the fourth century, when the Emperor Theodosius put +an end to Paganism in the Roman Empire: sacrifices to the heathen +deities were absolutely forbidden; and all the heathen temples were +destroyed, or shut up. + + + + +Chapter IV.--FIFTH AND SIXTH CENTURIES. + + +By the close of the fourth century, the Roman Empire was very +considerably weakened and diminished, by the attacks of barbarian +tribes on all sides. + +On the death of the Emperor Theodosius, A.D. 395, all that remained of +the once Roman Empire was finally divided between his two young sons: +Arcadius becoming Emperor of the East, with Constantinople for his +capital; Honorius Emperor of the West, with the ancient capital of +Rome. + +The Jews of the Eastern Empire, emboldened by the mild treatment they +had experienced, now insulted the Christians. Whilst celebrating the +Feast of Purim, in remembrance of their deliverance from the wicked +plots of Haman, instead of hanging a figure of Haman on a gibbet, and +burning it, according to custom; the Jews, in mockery of the +Christians, nailed the figure to a cross, and burnt that. This, of +course, greatly displeased and shocked the Christians; and the +magistrates caused the houses, as well as the synagogues of the Jews, +to be burnt. Laws were now made, forbidding the Jews to insult the +established religion; and also forbidding the Christians to destroy +the synagogues of the Jews: but these unhappy people were still +subject to great cruelty and injustice from the zeal of the +Christians, and the Emperor was obliged to make fresh laws, for their +protection from those, who would have done well to copy the _example_ +of Him, Whose followers they professed to be. + +During the early part of the fifth century, the Jews in the West, +enjoyed the free exercise of their religion under the Emperor +Honorius: the office of Patriarch was, however, abolished by law; and +this was a great grief to the Jews, who from this time were under the +direction of chiefs of the synagogues, whom they called Primates. The +fifth century was remarkable for the still further curtailment of the +Roman dominions, especially in the West. Britain was lost. Rome itself +was plundered, and a Visigothic Empire established in Spain. The Jews +of the Eastern Empire were much worse off during the fifth century +than their brethren in the Western. A great number of Jews had settled +at Alexandria, in the north of Egypt: they were very clever in their +various trades, and therefore prospered and grew powerful; but they +were not at all disposed to obey any rulers or magistrates. As early +as A.D. 415, they had become much less strict in their observance of +the forms and ceremonies enjoined by their religion; and instead of +attending the services of the synagogue on Saturday, their Sabbath, +they fell into a habit of going to witness the public amusements which +took place on that day. On these occasions, there were frequent +quarrels between the Jews and the Christians, and blood was often +shed. Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, who had an extreme hatred of the +Jews, threatened them with the severest punishments; but as the +governor of the city was their friend, they paid no attention to the +bishop, and even laid a plot, and attacked the Christians during the +night, killing many of them. Cyril, without waiting for a legal +sentence against these murderers, encouraged the Christians to attack +and destroy the synagogues. After doing this, the people entered the +houses of all Jews, whether innocent or guilty, and robbed them of +their goods, which were given up for the use of the Christian Church. +The Jews were thus forced to quit the city, and Alexandria lost a +useful and rich colony. The governor Orestes was much displeased at +the Jews having been driven out of the city; and fresh disturbances +arose in consequence, between him and Cyril. + +Towards the middle of the fifth century, a man appeared in the island +of Candia, pretending that he was a second Moses. There were a great +many rich Jews in the island, and this impostor persuaded them that he +was sent by the Almighty to deliver His people from worse than +Egyptian bondage; and that the sea would be divided before them, to +give them a safe passage to their own land. This man passed through +every town and village in Candia, and persuaded the Jews to meet him +at a particular spot on the sea-shore, on a certain day which he +named. Multitudes did so, taking with them as much of their wealth as +they could carry. The impostor then led the assembled multitude to the +top of a rock, and ordered them to throw themselves into the sea. Men, +women, and children, with a faith worthy of a better cause, at once +jumped into the sea, where most of them were, of course, drowned: some +were rescued from their fate by Christian fishermen. The survivors, +convinced too late of the falsehood of their pretended deliverer, now +attempted to seize him, but he managed to escape. Many of the Jews, +ashamed of having believed in such an impostor, are said to have +become Christians. What the object of this man was it is hard to see: +it certainly does not seem that he was any friend to the Jews, whom he +misled to their destruction. + +During the fifth century, the Jewish work, called "The Talmud of +Babylon," was probably compiled: like "The Talmud of Jerusalem," it +contained the Misna of Judah, with other remarks and explanations. It +is supposed that another work, called "The Masora," was also written +at this time. The Masora fixed the true reading of the Hebrew words, +and numbered the chapters and verses, and even the words and letters, +of the Old Testament Scriptures. The object was, to prevent the Hebrew +Scriptures from being in any way altered, and so corrupted; and +therefore the Jews called the Masora "the hedge of the Law." + +Towards the close of the fifth century, a tribe of Goths, called +Heruli, led by their king Odoacer, put an end to the Western Empire, +A.D. 476. Romulus Augustulus, the Emperor, was deposed; but his life +was spared, and a pension was granted him by Odoacer, who established +a kingdom of his own in Italy. He protected the Jews, who had +establishments for trade and commerce at Rome, Naples, Milan, and +Genoa: laws were made to defend them from the attacks of the +Christians; but, nevertheless, they were often robbed and ill-used by +the populace. + +A few years later, A.D. 493, the kingdom of the Heruli was overthrown +by the Ostrogoths; but this change in the masters of the country does +not appear to have made any difference in the treatment of the Jews. + +During the sixth century, the Jews in Persia were cruelly persecuted +by the kings, who wanted to force them to follow the idolatrous +religion of the country. Nor were the Jews on the western side of the +Euphrates better off, for the Emperor Justinian, who began to reign at +Constantinople A.D. 527, oppressed them most severely; and by degrees +deprived them of all the privileges they had enjoyed. He took upon +himself to settle all matters connected with religion: he would not +allow the Jews to keep the Passover at the time they wished; nor to +educate their children in their own faith; and he forbade the +magistrates to receive evidence against a Christian from any Jew. +Justinian also forbade the Jews of Carthage to worship God in their +own way; and commanded that their synagogues should be turned into +places of worship for the Christians. All these harsh measures +inclined the Jews to revolt, and a man called Julian, taking advantage +of this disposition, pretended to be the Messiah, whose coming the +Jews still expected. Many of these unhappy people joined Julian in +Palestine, confidently hoping for deliverance from their bondage: he +immediately led them to attack the Christians, who, not being +prepared, were defeated with great slaughter. + +But the triumph of the Jews was of short duration, for Justinian sent +troops, which routed the rebels entirely; Julian was taken prisoner, +and immediately put to death. + +Some years afterwards, the Jews of Cæsarea rebelled against the +government of Justinian, and notwithstanding the hatred which existed +between them and the Samaritans, the two people joined together to +fight against the Christians: the governor of Cæsarea, and great +numbers of the Christians, were massacred; and many of their churches +were destroyed. + +This rebellion was quickly put down by the troops of Justinian; many, +who had taken part in it, were beheaded, and the rich were deprived of +all their property. + +When Belisarius, the famous general of Justinian, besieged the city of +Naples, the Jews defended it most obstinately; and the length of the +siege caused the death of very many of the assailants. Belisarius at +length took the city: he tried to protect the Jews from the fury of +his own soldiers, but his efforts were unsuccessful, and men, women, +and children were murdered. The Jews were now so terrified, that they +kept quiet for the remainder of the sixth century. + +The seventh century was a time of great suffering for the Jews in +general. Those of Antioch brought their first miseries upon +themselves, by attacking the Christians A.D. 602: the Christians +defended themselves bravely, but were overpowered: many were burnt in +their houses; others, with their bishop, were treated with every +insult, and then put to death. This rebellion was at last crushed, and +the Jews were most severely punished for their cruelty. + +Cyprus gives us a pleasanter picture: in spite of Adrian's edict +of banishment, the Jews had again become numerous and powerful in +that island; and Leontius, the Christian bishop, fearing such an +insurrection as had taken place at Antioch, treated the Jews kindly, +and tried by gentle means to convert them. We are told that, under his +wise management, numbers really did become Christians. + +In Rome, too, the bishops or pontiffs, who, under the title of Pope, +began to have great power and authority over all Christians, would not +allow the Jews to be persecuted. + +But Heraclius, the Greek Emperor, hated the Hebrew race; and, not +satisfied with persecuting them himself, stirred up other sovereigns +to do the same. The Greek Empire, of which Heraclius was now Emperor, +was that division of the Roman Empire which has been called hitherto +the Eastern Empire, having Constantinople for its capital. There was +now no _Roman_ Empire; many of the countries that had formerly been +parts of it had become separate kingdoms, under monarchs of their own. +The two principal kingdoms were Spain, and Gaul, which we call +France. Neither Spain nor Gaul was, however, one kingdom, but each was +divided amongst several kings or rulers. + + + + +Chapter V.--RISE OF MAHOMETANISM. + + +The Jews settled in Spain had become rich by trading, and were very +flourishing, until Heraclius, who had been at war with that country, +made peace, on condition that all the Jews who would not consent to be +baptized, should be destroyed or driven out of Spain. Many to save +their lives and property submitted to the outward rite of baptism; +others, more conscientious, stood firm, and were cruelly tortured. +Some escaped into Gaul, but met with cruel treatment there: and during +the remainder of the seventh century, the unhappy Jews, both in Spain +and Gaul, were oppressed and ill-used by Christian kings, priests, and +people. + +The most remarkable event in the seventh century was, the rise of +the Mahometan religion; so called from its founder, a man named +Mahomet--an Arabian, the son of a prince of one of the chief wandering +tribes who inhabited the country. The religion of these Arabians was a +mixture of the superstitious belief of neighbouring people; they also +believed themselves to be descended from the patriarch Abraham, and +observed circumcision, with other rites and ceremonies belonging to +the Jewish religion. They believed in one Supreme Being; and also in +three goddesses of equal power and wisdom, to be worshipped as well: +they likewise worshipped idols. + +At Mecca, the capital of Arabia, there was a small temple, called the +C[=a][=a]bba, in which there was a stone, said to have fallen _white_ +from heaven, in the time when man was innocent, and to have gradually +lost its pure colour as man became sinful; it was now quite black. +This stone was held in such veneration, that people from all parts of +Arabia came to the C[=a][=a]bba, to worship, bringing gifts; and thus +Mecca grew to be a rich and flourishing city. + +Mahomet was left an orphan when he was quite young, and in order to +provide for him, his relations placed him in the service of a woman, +who was in the habit of going backwards and forwards to Syria, +trading; that is, selling the spices and other things which grew in +Arabia, to the Syrians; and bringing back such things as she could +sell to her countrymen. Mahomet now accompanied her on her journeys; +looking after the camels, and doing any other services required. +Syria was at this time a Roman province. Mahomet, being a clever, +intelligent lad, of an observing turn of mind, soon saw how much +difference there was between the laws, manners, and customs of the +polished Syrians, and those of his own uncivilized countrymen; and he +greatly regretted not being able to read or write. The mixture of Jews +and Christians which he found in Syria, turned his thoughts towards +religious matters, and made him think that it would be a good thing to +work a reformation in the corrupt and idolatrous religion of his own +country. His ambition made him wish to distinguish himself as the +founder of a new religion; but his poverty and dependent position +seemed to render this impossible. + +In the course of time, however, Mahomet made himself so useful to his +mistress Cadigha, and gained such favour with her, that she married +him, and thus gave him the riches and consideration necessary for +carrying out his schemes. His first step was to remedy the defects of +his education; the next to gain favour with the people: he gave much +in charity; led a solitary life; and occasionally retired into the +desert, where he pretended to receive instructions from the angel +Gabriel. His wife assisted him by every means in her power; and in a +short time the whole city of Mecca talked of nothing but Mahomet, who +then began to lecture publicly. He taught that mankind should +acknowledge one God (without division of persons, as in Christianity); +he declared that the love of this Being was equal to His power, and +that all His laws tended to make His creatures happy. Mahomet also +taught, that as mankind sinned, God had from time to time sent +prophets upon earth to reprove them, and bring them back to His +service; and that the chief of these prophets were, Abraham, Moses, +Jesus Christ, and Mahomet; the last being the greatest of all "There +is one God, and Mahomet is His Prophet," was their confession of +faith. Prayers were to be offered to God seven times a day; and the +pilgrimages to Mecca, as well as circumcision and ablutions, were +recommended as outward signs of belief, in the doctrines of what +Mahomet declared to be a new Revelation, delivered to him by the angel +Gabriel. The book, in which all the doctrines and precepts taught by +Mahomet were recorded, is called "The Koran." The Koran contains many +precepts worthy of Christianity; and many doctrines in which there is +much truth, mixed, however, with a great deal of falsehood and error, +whilst the indulgence of man's evil passions is allowed. Such a +religion accorded well with the disposition of the Arabians; the +disciples of Mahomet increased greatly, and amongst them were the +richest and most respectable citizens of Mecca. + +Very shortly, Mahomet began to spread his religion by conquest; and in +a few years he had subdued to his empire and religion, all Arabia; +thus establishing the "Saracen Empire," which afterwards extended +itself over much of Asia, Africa, and even Europe. + +The Arabian followers of Mahomet took the name of "Saracens," to +induce a belief that they were descended from Abraham and his wife +Sara; whereas they were the descendants of Ishmael, the son of Abraham +and the bond-maid Hagar. + +After the destruction of Jerusalem, many of the Jews settled in +Arabia; and by the beginning of the seventh century, they possessed +several towns and fortifications, and had armies commanded by +princes of their own. Their number and influence made Mahomet wish +for their help in his undertaking, and he treated them at first with +great attention: he had adopted many of their opinions and customs, +and he ordered his followers to turn towards Jerusalem when they +prayed. He thus succeeded in gaining favour with the Children of +Israel, who seeing what wonderful victories he gained, and misled by +their own obstinate ideas as to the character of the promised +Messiah, began actually to think that in this conqueror, they beheld +the long-expected Messiah. Many of the Jews, therefore, embraced the +Mahometan religion, which all, who were conquered by Mahomet, were +forced to adopt. The Jews were soon afterwards offended by his +eating the flesh of camels, a meat forbidden by the Mosaical Law; +and they had speedily other reasons for changing their opinions +concerning the pretended prophet; they then became his determined +enemies. Mahomet returned their hatred; and in the Koran, to which +he was continually adding chapters, as supposed to be delivered to +him from time to time by the angel Gabriel, he reproaches the Jews +with betraying and murdering the prophets sent by God, amongst whom +he numbers Jesus Christ. He also declares, that for these things, +and for breaking the laws of God and neglecting the Sabbaths, and +above all for having refused to acknowledge his authority to +establish a new Revelation, the Jews were justly accursed of God. +Not contented with such declarations, the impostor cruelly +persecuted the unhappy Jews; their property was taken from them, +many were driven into exile, and thousands were slaughtered. But in +spite of all sufferings, the Jews remained faithful to their +religion. + +After the death of Mahomet, A.D. 632, the miserable remnant of the +once flourishing people of Israel was forced to remove into Syria; as +the impostor's dying command was, that none but followers of what he +called "the true religion," should be allowed to dwell in his native +land of Arabia. + +One of the Caliphs, or princes, who succeeded to the power of +Mahomet, carried on war to force all nations to become Mahometans +or Mussulmans: he subdued Mesopotamia, Persia, and Syria: the +Jews rejoiced in the downfall of Persia, where they had met with +persecution. At the head of an army of Saracens, this Caliph +(Abubeker) attacked Jerusalem: the Christians gallantly defended it +for four months, and were then obliged to surrender the city to the +Saracens; who built a mosque, or Mussulman place of worship, on the +very spot where the magnificent temple of Solomon had formerly +stood. + +The first Caliphs allowed the Jews the free exercise of their own +religion, and even permitted the Princes of the Captivity to exercise +considerable authority. During the eighth and ninth centuries the Jews +had their share in the troubles and calamities caused by civil wars +among the Caliphs. Besides this, their treatment varied much under the +rule of the different Saracen princes, who succeeded each other more +or less quickly: by some they were allowed to live in peace, and +worship God in their own way; by others they were persecuted. One of +the Caliphs forbade their riding on horses, and only permitted them to +have mules, and make use of iron stirrups: the Jews were also deprived +of every office or employment in the State, and they were obliged to +wear a cord round the waist, to point them out to the ridicule and +abuse of the people. + +In Christian countries, during the seventh and eighth centuries, we +find the Jews exposed to equal, and even greater persecutions. The +members of the Christian Church were at this time divided into two +great parties, one of which objected to having any images of saints +in the churches: the Jews, being accused of encouraging these +disputes, were commanded by the Greek Emperor to give up their +religion, on pain of the severest punishment. To save their lives, +many of the Hebrews were baptized, but without any intention of +really becoming Christians. This being suspected, afforded an +excuse for still further persecutions of these unhappy people; but +subsequent Emperors showed them favour, and allowed them to practise +all the rites and ceremonies of their religion. + + + + +Chapter VI.--TENTH AND ELEVENTH CENTURIES. + + +The Jews in Spain brought trouble upon themselves by listening to +one of their own countrymen, who declared himself to be the expected +Messiah, and persuaded the multitude to follow him to Palestine, +where he promised to establish his kingdom. Many perished on this +expedition; and those who did return to Spain had cause to repent +bitterly of their foolish credulity, for during their absence the +Government had seized upon all their lands and property. + +When Gaul was taken from the Romans by the barbarians, various tribes +of Germans, calling themselves Franks, established their empire in the +country. Charles the Great, or "Charlemagne," as he is always called, +became sovereign of the Empire of the Franks (or France, as we may now +term it), A.D. 772. The Saracens at this time were very troublesome in +making frequent attacks upon the country; and the Jews were suspected +of encouraging and aiding the Infidels, out of hatred to the +Christians. Charlemagne, after defeating the Saracens at Toulouse, in +the south of France, determined utterly to destroy the Jews, who were +accused of causing all this bloodshed. He was, however, persuaded only +to put to death some of those supposed to be the most guilty. The +others were condemned to pay an annual fine; and were, moreover, +obliged to assemble three times a year, at the gate of some Christian +church appointed by the bishop, to receive a box on the ear! which we +may well believe to have been no slight blow. + +At other times, the Jews were treated with gentleness and moderation. +Louis le Débonnaire became king on the death of his father, +Charlemagne, early in the ninth century, A.D. 814. His favourite +physician was a Jew; and for his sake Louis granted great privileges +to the Jews. These marks of favour made them haughty and insolent; +but when the bishops complained of their behaviour, the king would +not listen to any proposition for their punishment. The favour and +protection thus granted by the monarch, produced a great effect among +his subjects; and those about the Court declared openly, that the +descendants of Abraham ought to be treated with the greatest respect. +Some even went so far as to observe the Jewish Sabbaths, and to +attend the synagogues; preferring to hear the discourses of the +learned rabbis, rather than the sermons of the Christian priests and +monks, who were at this time extremely ignorant. During the reign of +the next king, Charles the Bold, the Jews met with little favour; and +in some places they were constantly insulted with impunity by the +populace. In one part of Languedoc, it was the custom to pelt the +Jews with stones, from Palm Sunday--that is, the Sunday before Good +Friday--until the Tuesday after Easter Day. + +During the tenth century, when there was much ignorance in all +Christian countries, the Saracens were great promoters of learning; +and under their protection the Jews were also able to apply themselves +to study, and many famous men appeared amongst them at this time; but, +unhappily, disputes between themselves soon brought them into fresh +difficulties. + +We now come to the eleventh century, during which, if not before, +colonies of Jews settled in England; for when William, Duke of +Normandy, conquered the country, A.D. 1066, a considerable number of +them were already established in the kingdom. William also brought +with him, from Rouen, another colony of Jews, and gave them places to +live in, from whence they could carry on trade with other nations. In +return, they were to pay the king certain sums of money. + +The Jews also appear to have been in favour with William Rufus, who +encouraged disputes between the learned rabbis and the Christian +bishops, declaring that he himself was quite ready to follow the +religion of whichever party had the best of the argument or dispute. +The Jews, always an industrious and money-making people, are said to +have become so rich and powerful in England during William the +Second's reign, that they not only held public meetings for the +purpose of converting the upper and more learned classes, but also +endeavoured by bribes to induce the poor and ignorant to renounce +Christianity, and enrol themselves amongst the Jews. + +What has been said of the condition of the Jews in England, applies +also to all other European countries, where the Jews were richer, more +fond of learning, and more polished--that is, more civil and gentle in +their manners--than any other people. They were the only bankers; all +trade with foreign nations was carried on by them alone; and even the +gold and silver ornaments and vessels used in Christian churches, were +mostly made by these determined enemies of Christianity. + +During the eleventh century, of which we have been speaking, the Jews +in Egypt were for a short time persecuted by a Saracen prince, who +wished to establish a new religion in the place of Mahometanism, or +Islamism, as the religion established by Mahomet was called. As +neither Jews nor Christians would assist him, he persecuted both; +obliging the former to wear some outward mark to distinguish them, and +point them out as objects for hatred and insult. He commanded their +synagogues to be closed, and tried to force them to follow the new +religion, of which he wanted to be the head. After a time, however, he +allowed them to return to the practice of their own rites and +ceremonies. Towards the middle of the eleventh century, an Eastern +Caliph determined to get rid of the Jews altogether. He shut up their +academies or schools; banished the teachers; and killed the Prince of +the Captivity, with all his family. This cruel persecution drove many +of the Jews into the deserts of Arabia; but most of them took refuge +in the western countries; and by the end of the eleventh century, they +had become numerous and powerful in different towns of Germany. Some +of the Jews, driven out of the East, passed through Africa into Spain, +and there joined their brethren, who, having helped the Saracens to +conquer Spain, were now greatly favoured by the Caliphs, and were a +wealthy and flourishing people. Hatred of the Christians was a bond of +union between the Jews and the Mahometans; but when one of the rabbis +tried to convert the Saracens of Grenada to the Jewish religion, the +king was so enraged, that he caused the rabbi to be seized and put to +death at once. This was followed by a terrible persecution of the +Hebrew race. + +The Jews, however, suffered still greater miseries in those parts of +Spain which were under the rule of Christian princes. One of these, +called Ferdinand, having declared war against the Saracens, resolved, +in the first place, to destroy all the Jews in his dominions, +expecting by such an act of cruelty to obtain the favour and blessing +of God! but the clergy of his kingdom objected to the execution of +such a scheme; and the Pope himself wrote, and blamed Ferdinand for +such unchristianlike zeal, so that the design was given up. + +Alphonso, the successor of Ferdinand, found himself in such +difficulties, owing to the increasing power of the Saracens, that he +showed favour to the Jews, in order to get them to help him with men +and money in his wars against the Infidels. He even allowed them to +act as judges over Christians; but the Pope did not at all approve of +this, and reproached the king for having, as he expressed it, "put the +synagogue of Satan above the Church of Christ." Alphonso, however, did +not take away the indulgences, which he had granted only to further +his own interest. + +The close of this eleventh century was remarkable for the first of the +Crusades, or wars undertaken by Christian nations, in order to take +Palestine, or the Holy Land, out of the hands of the Saracens. In many +parts of Spain, great numbers of Jews were massacred by those about to +join the Crusade, under the mistaken idea that they should bring the +blessing of God upon their intended expedition, by destroying the +descendants of those who had crucified the Saviour of mankind. In +Germany, the Crusaders, who marched through the country, murdered all +the Jews who refused to become Christians. An immense number thus +perished, many of whom were burnt in their houses; for the unhappy +Jews barricaded their dwellings, and then threw their families, their +property, and themselves into the flames, thus disappointing the +avarice of their enemies, who coveted their riches. Even mothers, on +the approach of the merciless Crusaders, killed their children with +their own hands, telling them it was far better for them to go at once +into Abraham's bosom, than to fall into the hands of the Christians. +Some of the Jews, less brave and conscientious than their brethren, +saved their lives by pretending to adopt the Christian religion, which +they must naturally have hated more than ever, since those who +professed to be guided by its precepts, had acted with a degree of +cruelty and inhumanity, worthy only of the most ignorant savages. The +same dreadful scenes took place in Palestine, for when the Crusaders +arrived in that country, they, actuated by very mistaken notions of +the spirit of Christianity, inhumanly murdered all the Jews they could +lay hands upon; and men, women, and children alike perished by +hundreds. + +During this dreadful time, it is pleasant to know that some of the +Christian bishops and clergy did try to protect the Jews; and they +received into their houses such fugitives as could manage to escape +from the fury of their enemies. + +Thus ended the eleventh century. + + + + +Chapter VII.--TWELFTH CENTURY. + + +Our history has now brought us to the twelfth century; that is, to the +space of 100 years, from A.D. 1100 to A.D. 1200. The twelfth century +began as the eleventh had ended; for the Crusaders continued to +persecute the Jews in Germany and other countries, as well as in +Palestine. + +The cry of the Christians was, "Let us destroy the descendants of +those who crucified Jesus Christ, so that the name of Israel be no +more remembered"--a cry as much at variance with prophecy, as with the +spirit of Christianity; for the Holy Scriptures had plainly declared, +that the once chosen people of God, though scattered throughout all +lands, and severely punished for their unbelief, should _never be +destroyed_. + +Among the Christian bishops who interfered in favour of the Jews, was +one called St. Bernard, who thought that it was the duty of Christians +to _convert_ rather than destroy them; and that kindness was more +likely to do this than persecution. St. Bernard brought Innocent the +Second, who was then Pope, to agree with him, and to befriend the +Hebrew race. + +On one occasion, when this Pope entered with much pomp and show into +Paris, the Jews, approaching him with great respect, gave him a +volume, or roll, containing the Law. The Pope received it, and said, +"I reverence the Law given by God to Moses, but I condemn your +explanation of it, because you still expect the Coming of the promised +Messiah, instead of believing, as the Catholic Church does, that Jesus +Christ was indeed the Messiah our Saviour; and that He now liveth and +reigneth in Heaven, with God the Father, and God the Holy Ghost." + +The next Pope was also favourable to the Jews, and forbade the people +to insult them on any occasion whatever. Under such circumstances, the +Jews became a rich and flourishing people in Rome, and in all the +other cities of Italy. + +Towards the close of the twelfth century, a Jewish rabbi, named +Joseph, was prime minister to a Christian king of Spain, and had a +coach of state, and guards to attend upon him; but having cause to be +displeased with the wicked conduct of one of his countrymen, this man, +whose name was Gonzales, contrived by his falsehoods to set the king +against Joseph, who was in consequence turned out of his office in +disgrace. Gonzales, who, though a Jew himself, was no friend to his +brethren, now, under pretence of enriching the king, persuaded him to +allow him to do as he pleased with eight of the principal Jews. The +king consented; Gonzales caused these eight men to be put to death, +and seized all their property. He then asked the king to give up to +him twenty more; but the monarch refused, thinking it more honourable +to demand some of their riches for his own use, than to deprive them +of life as well as property: the unhappy Jews gladly consented to give +the king large sums of money, in order to preserve their lives. +Shortly afterwards, Gonzales, having displeased the king, was shut up +in prison, and then the Jews again enjoyed that peace and quiet so +favourable to the pursuit of learning, of which they were very fond. +Among the learned men who distinguished themselves at this time, the +chief was Moses Maimonides, or the son of Maimon. This man claimed to +be descended from king David: his knowledge and learning were so +wonderfully great, and so far superior to that of any other rabbi, +that his countrymen called him "The Eagle of Doctors," (the eagle +being the king of his kind,) and declared, that no one before had ever +come so near in wisdom to their great founder and lawgiver, whose name +he bore. + +But the very wisdom and learning for which they praised him, soon +raised the jealousy of the Jews against Maimonides; and this feeling +was increased by his showing very little respect for the Talmud, and +by his teaching some extraordinary doctrines, learnt from a Mahometan +of Arabia, under whom he had studied. Thus Maimonides offended a great +part of the Jewish people; and at Montpelier, a town in the South of +France, the chief of the synagogue persuaded certain learned men to +preach against Maimonides, and defend the Talmud: he also caused the +works of Maimonides to be burnt, and excommunicated all who should +dare to read them. + +The learned men amongst the Jews were now divided into two parties: +one _for_ and one _against_ Maimonides; and disputes were in +consequence carried on for many years. At this time, learning was not +entirely confined to _men_ amongst the Hebrew race; for several +learned Jewish _women_ made themselves remarkable in the twelfth +century. One of these women was so skilful in explaining the Law and +the Talmud, that many went to hear her lectures upon these subjects: +she spake to the people from behind a latticed window, so that, whilst +her voice was heard, she herself could not be seen by those outside. + +From Jewish historians we learn, that during this twelfth century many +of their nation were raised, at different times, to high offices in +the courts of princes; and that others became celebrated as generals. +Several learned Jews also renounced their religion and became +Christians, and then wrote books in favour of Christianity. One of +these Jews turned Mahometan, and wrote a book, accusing his Jewish +brethren of having altered the Law given to Moses by God. This greatly +pleased the followers of Mahomet, who forbade any person to quote or +translate any part of the Pentateuch, as used by either Jews or +Christians. + +In France, towards the end of this century, the Jews suffered greatly +under Philip Augustus, or Philip the Second, who began to reign A.D. +1180. Some Jews were accused of having murdered a Christian youth; +king Philip eagerly seized upon such an excuse, and, under pretence of +piety and zeal for the glory of God, banished all the Hebrew race from +his dominions; allowing them only to keep the money for which they +could sell their furniture, the king taking for his own use all the +rest of their property. It is even said that these poor creatures were +robbed of what money they had been allowed to keep, and reduced to +such a state of want and misery, that many died in consequence. The +industry and skill of the Jews, however, made their loss felt in every +country from which they were expelled; and no doubt that was the case +now, for shortly afterwards Philip recalled them, excusing himself to +such of his subjects as disapproved of the measure, by saying, that he +allowed the Jews to return in order to get from them money to pay the +expenses of the Crusades. + +So wickedly were the Jews treated at this time, that if one became a +Christian, all his property was taken from him--a measure not likely +to encourage conversions. + +Something must now be said of the treatment of the Jews in England +during the twelfth century. Henry the Second, who began to reign A.D. +1154, has been blamed by monkish writers for allowing them to live in +peace; but the scene was soon changed. + +The great wealth of the Jews caused them often to be applied to by +those who wished to borrow money; but they were hated by all +Christians, and grievously oppressed and ill-treated in most Christian +countries. When Richard the First succeeded his father, A.D. 1189, the +Jews hoped, by giving him large sums of money, to secure his favour +and protection; and great numbers of them came up to London from the +most distant parts of England, just before the king's coronation. The +common people in those days were very ignorant and superstitious, and +fancied that the Jews were magicians or conjurors, who could bewitch +the king, and so do him harm; and Richard, therefore, forbade any Jew +to be present in Westminster Abbey at his coronation. + +Some of them, however, hoping to forward their own interests, ventured +into the abbey, loaded with valuable presents for the monarch; but as +they knelt before him, the king spurned them with his foot, and the +courtiers followed his example. A great outcry was immediately raised +outside the abbey; and at the same time a report was spread, that +Richard had given an order for the general massacre of the Jews. An +order so agreeable to the people, who hated the race of Israel, was +instantly acted upon; and under this false impression, hundreds of +Jews perished miserably: houses were broken open, and all the +inhabitants murdered; or if they resisted the entrance of their foes, +their houses were set on fire. Many of these wretched Jews put their +own wives and children to death, to prevent their falling into the +merciless hands of the Christians. The day after the coronation, a +proclamation was published to stop these shocking acts; but the fury +of the people was not so easily checked, and the persecution continued +in some degree for several months. Nor was it confined to London, for +in other parts of England similar outrages were committed upon the +unfortunate Jews. + +When Richard the First went to Palestine to take part in the Third +Crusade, the Jews suffered a still worse persecution; for although +they had furnished the king with large sums of money for the expenses +of this war, their enemies were not satisfied. + +It has been said, that in those times the Jews best understood how to +get rich by trade; one way in which they made money was, by lending it +at high interest. If, for instance, any person wanted a large sum of +money at once, in order to buy an estate, or carry out any great +object, he would borrow it of the Jews; engaging, in return, to pay a +certain sum every year, or every month, as _interest_ on the money +lent, until he could repay the whole sum. + +The Jews who lent money asked very high interest for it; and were +often guilty of great injustice and harshness to those who had +borrowed it: all this added considerably to the hatred felt towards +the Hebrew race on account of their religion. + + + + +Chapter VIII.--IMPOSTORS IN THE TWELFTH CENTURY. + + +When Richard the First was making preparations for the Holy War, (as +the Crusade was called,) his Christian subjects felt very angry that +they, who looked upon themselves as the favourites of Heaven, should +be obliged to deprive their families even of needful things, in order +to fit themselves or others out to join in this war, whilst the +enemies of Christ were left in peaceable enjoyment of their riches; +and they persuaded themselves that it would be a meritorious act, +acceptable to God, to destroy all the descendants of those who had +crucified the Saviour, and then take their wealth to pay the expenses +of the Crusade. Before his departure for the Holy Land, the King gave +an order that the Jews were not to be disturbed in any way; but no +sooner had he left England, than the fury of the people broke out +afresh, and very many of the unhappy Israelites were destroyed in +different places, and their property seized; whilst the magistrates, +whose duty it was to keep order and protect _all_ the king's subjects, +made little or no attempt to stop these acts of cruelty and violence. + +At York, the most dreadful scenes took place. The Jews of that city +were great money-lenders, or _usurers_, as they were called in +reproach; and as they lived in a sumptuous manner, indulging +themselves in every luxury, the people envied them for their riches, +and hated them more and more; and hearing what had been done in other +parts of England, they prepared to attack their victims. Upon this, +the chief persons among the Israelites prevailed upon the governor of +York to allow their countrymen to take refuge in the castle, as its +walls were strong enough to protect those within them. Very soon, +however, the Jews, seeing that the governor frequently went out of the +castle into the city, suspected that he was plotting with their +enemies for their destruction; and therefore, one day, when he had +gone out as usual, they shut the gates, and refused to let him in +again. The governor, very indignant, complained to the sheriff and to +the heads of the Christian party, who, as they were the chief debtors +to the Jews, were most anxious to destroy them. The sheriff +immediately ordered the governor to attack the castle; but he soon +repented of having given such a hasty order, and many of the principal +citizens refused to join in its execution. It was, however, too late +to check the populace, who were bent upon murder and robbery. The +attack was made, the assailants encouraging each other by the cry, +"Destroy the enemies of Jesus." The Jews offered to give large sums of +money, on condition that their lives should be spared; but this offer +was refused. When they saw that they could defend themselves no +longer, one of their most esteemed rabbis proposed that they should +kill themselves, saying, that it was better to die courageously for +the Law than to fall into the hands of the Christians. Accordingly, +these poor creatures killed their wives and children, set fire to the +castle, and then slew themselves. In this way 500 perished. A few, who +gave themselves up in hopes of meeting with mercy, were murdered, and +all the houses belonging to the Jews were plundered. + +Richard was very angry when he heard of such disobedience to his +orders, and ordered the Bishop of Ely, as Chief Justice of England, to +punish the guilty most severely. The chief offenders, however, had +left York before the bishop entered that city; and he contented +himself with depriving the sheriff and governor of their offices, and +laying a fine upon some of the richest citizens. + +Although so much has been said about the Jews in the twelfth century, +there is still something more to be added, because during this period +there were more impostors pretending to be the Messiah, than during +any other similar period of time. The first of these impostors +appeared in France A.D. 1137, and committed so many crimes, that the +Government caused several synagogues to be destroyed, and at length +the man himself was put to death, with a large number of his +followers. The next year a false Messiah appeared in Persia, and +collected a formidable army. The king of the country bribed him with a +large sum of money to disband his followers, and then treacherously +caused him to be beheaded, forcing the Jews to return to him the +money, which he had given as a bribe to the unfortunate man. + +Spain had also her impostor, who appeared in A.D. 1157, and was +supported by one of the most learned rabbis of Cordova, who had just +written a book to prove that the Messiah must shortly come--a work +which had probably put it into the head of this man to assume the +character. The greater part of the educated and sensible Jews looked +upon this impostor as a madman; but the people in general believed in +him, and suffered severely for their folly. + +Ten years afterwards, a person appeared in the kingdom of Fez, in +Africa, and declared that in the course of a year the promised Messiah +would come. The conduct of this impostor greatly displeased the +Mahometans, to whom the kingdom belonged, and brought persecution upon +all the Jews scattered throughout the country. + +In the same year in which a false Messiah appeared in Fez, another Jew +of Arabia took the title of Messiah. He pretended to work miracles, +and gained many followers. He was at length seized, and taken before +the ruler of the country, who asked him, what had led him to try and +impose upon his countrymen? He boldly answered, that he had not done +so, for that he was indeed a prophet sent by God. Being then asked +what miracle he could work to prove that he was really sent by God, he +said, "Cut off my head, and I will come back again to life." The king +took him at his word, and ordered him to be beheaded, promising to +believe in him if he came to life again. His followers actually +continued for some time to expect his re-appearance; but at last they +were obliged to give up all hope: they were heavily fined, as a +punishment for listening to this impostor. + +We have now spoken of eight pretended Messiahs; but there is still one +more, the most famous of them all: this was a Jew, named David Alroi, +or El David, who, with about 1,000 of his countrymen, dwelt in a city +subject to the King of Persia, to whom they paid tribute. In 1199 El +David took the title of Messiah; and, being a learned and clever man, +he deceived the multitude by his pretended miracles, and persuaded +them to take up arms in his cause. The King of Persia, alarmed by the +success of the rebels, commanded El David to go to Court, promising +to acknowledge him as the Messiah, if he would give some miraculous +proof of being so. Contrary to all expectation, the impostor appeared +before the king, persisting in his claim to be the true Messiah. He +was then put into prison, in order to see whether he could work a +miracle to set himself free. Somehow or other, he did manage to +escape, and those who were sent in search of him were unable to find +him; but, through the treachery of his son-in-law, who took a large +bribe to betray him, he was given up to the king, and put to death, +with a great number of those who had been deceived by him. + +Thus remarkably was fulfilled our Saviour's prophecy, that "false +Christs and false prophets should arise and deceive many." It may seem +strange to us that the Jews, after refusing to acknowledge Jesus +Christ, Who had given so many proofs of His Divine power, should +afterwards have been so ready to follow any impostor who chose to +style himself the Messiah, without being able to do one single thing +to support such a claim. + +The reason of this appears to be, that the Jews, in spite of all +prophecy, still set their minds upon a Messiah, who could at once +establish a kingdom upon earth; and they were, in consequence, always +ready to take up arms, hoping that the time for establishing such a +kingdom was now come. + +Jesus, by His conduct, put an end to all hopes of the kind in Him; and +therefore He was despised and rejected. The impostors who took His +name promised to deliver the Jews from all their enemies, and restore +them to their country; and therefore they were believed and followed. + +The cruel treatment experienced by the Jews in England during the +reign of Richard the First, led many of those who still possessed any +property, to leave the country; so that when John became king, A.D. +1199, the absence of so many rich people and the falling off of trade +were much felt in the kingdom; and, in the early part of the +thirteenth century, the king used every means in his power to bring +them back. He solemnly promised, that if they would give him a large +sum of money, they should enjoy all their former privileges: he +allowed them to possess lands, build synagogues, and even choose a +High Priest. Great numbers of Jews then returned to England, where +they were soon more cruelly plundered than they had been before. It +was the old story; they were odious to the people on account of their +religion, and still more so, perhaps, for the enormous usury which +they exacted for money lent. Thus there was a continual cry for their +banishment, or rather for their destruction; but the king found it +more for his own interest to keep them in the country, where he could +upon all occasions make them purchase his protection by paying a heavy +fine; and the Jews, seeing that so long as they gave money to the king +they might exact what interest they pleased for money lent to his +subjects, acted accordingly, and became more and more oppressive to +all who were so unfortunate as to be their debtors. + +In the beginning of the thirteenth century, A.D. 1210, John wished to +raise a large sum of money: as usual, he fell upon the Jews. The money +not being readily paid, the king, in spite of the privileges which +these unfortunate people had so dearly purchased, ordered men and +women to be put into prison until he received the enormous sum which +he now demanded. A Jew of Bristol was called upon to furnish such an +immense sum, that he refused, declaring that the payment of it would +reduce him to beggary. Upon this refusal, the king cruelly ordered +that one of the poor man's teeth should be taken out every day until +he did pay. This wretched Jew lost seven teeth, and then agreed to +give the sum demanded by the king. + + + + +Chapter IX.--THIRTEENTH CENTURY IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE. + + +Henry the Third became King of England on the death of John, A.D. +1216: he was quite a child when his father died; but those who +governed for him, set the Jews who were in prison at liberty; and +ordered that they should be protected against the violence of the +Crusaders. Still, during the whole of Henry's long reign, which +extended far into the latter half of the thirteenth century, the Jews +were subject to great oppression and ill-usage in England. + +As a privilege and favour to the citizens of Newcastle, the king +commanded that no Jew should be allowed to dwell in their city. + +The Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishops of Lincoln and Norwich, +took a sure way of driving the Jews out of their dioceses; for they +forbade all Christians to sell them any provisions whatever. + +The Prior of Dunstable, on the other hand, gave the Jews leave to +reside in those places over which he had any control, on condition of +their paying him every year two silver spoons. + +The Jews were at this time accused of committing all sorts of dreadful +crimes; how far these accusations were true or false, we do not know. +They were human creatures, and the cruel treatment they met with, +might well lead them into the commission of many wrong acts, which +would, of course, be exaggerated by the hatred of their enemies; who +believed them guilty, upon the slightest suspicion, and compelled +them, in consequence, to pay heavy fines. + +In the middle of the century, when Henry the Third demanded fresh +supplies of money for the purposes of war, the Jews, irritated by such +repeated oppression, wished to leave England, and seek some more +hospitable country, in which they might dwell: the king refused to +allow them to leave the country, and forced them to pay the tax +demanded. The next year, the king again applied to them, declaring +that in spite of the taxes he had already levied, he continued to be +greatly in want of money, and must raise it from any quarter, and by +any means. + +The unfortunate Jews truly declared that they could not pay the taxes +now demanded of them; upon which Henry the Third actually sold them +and their possessions to his brother, to raise the sum required! It +was now expected that the Jews would be completely robbed of +everything they possessed, in order to repay the prince the money for +which he had bought them; but he, being convinced that they really +could not have furnished the sum required, had compassion upon them, +and left them in peace. + +To such a height had hatred of the Jews risen in this reign, that when +(about 1264) the barons took up arms to force the king to agree to +their demands, they could think of no better way of gaining the favour +and help of the people, than by killing the Jews; and 700 were +accordingly massacred. The pretence for this massacre was, that one of +the Jews had tried to force a Christian to pay an enormous and unfair +interest for a loan of money: supposing this to have been true, the +crime of one man should not have caused the death of hundreds. At the +same time, houses were plundered, and the magnificent synagogue, built +in the beginning of Henry the Third's reign, was burnt to the ground: +it was afterwards rebuilt; but in 1270, the king most unjustly took it +from the Jews, and gave it to a body of friars, who lived near it, +and complained that their devotions were disturbed by the howling of +the Jews during their worship. + +The fact was, that the chapel belonging to the friars was small and +dark, and they coveted the fine large synagogue close by their +dwelling; and as no ideas of justice ever interfered with the +treatment of the Jews, they begged the king to give them this +synagogue, and furnished him with an excuse for doing so. + +On the death of Henry the Third, A.D. 1272, his son Edward the First +became King of England, and very soon afterwards a law was made, which +promised to improve the condition of the Jews; as it fixed a yearly +tax to be paid by them, instead of leaving them liable to be called +upon for contributions on every occasion, at the will of their +enemies. This law also permitted them to possess houses and lands +wherever they pleased. But, on the other hand, it was forbidden for +any Christian to lodge in the house of a Jew; and every one of the +Hebrew race above seven years of age, was obliged to wear a +distinguishing mark upon his upper garment: this mark was a figure of +two ropes joined together. + +In the latter part of his reign, Edward changed his conduct towards +the Jews, and they were treated with much injustice and even cruelty. +The oppression suffered by these unhappy people, had not unnaturally +raised up in them a spirit of retaliation; it made them think, that +it was justifiable to use every possible means, right or wrong, to +repay themselves for all the money unjustly taken from them by +the Christians: their attempts to do this, increased the hatred +entertained for them. They were accused of coining false money, and +of cheating in every possible way. A great outcry being raised +against them, they were, in all parts of the kingdom, thrown into +prison, and many of them were executed, whilst their houses, lands, +and goods, were sold for the use of Government. But to show the +people that these measures were not taken merely for the sake of the +plunder, the king ordered, that half the money produced by this sale +should be put by, and given to such Jews as would renounce their +religion and become Christians. Very few, however, could be brought, +for the sake of worldly advantages, to embrace the religion of their +persecutors; nor can we be surprised, that the very unchristianlike +conduct of the followers of the blessed Jesus, should have increased +the hatred and contempt felt by the Jews for the Christian religion. + +Towards the end of the thirteenth century, about A.D. 1290, Edward the +First, who had already banished the children of Israel from those +parts of France which were under his dominion, now commanded them all +to leave England, and never to come back on pain of death. He took +whatever property they had, only allowing them to keep enough money to +pay the expenses of removal into foreign countries; and of this +miserable sum many of them were robbed by the seamen at Dover and +other ports, whilst some hundreds of the poor wretches were even +thrown into the sea and drowned: for this crime, however, many of the +guilty seamen were punished by death. + +The clergy in England were so delighted to get rid of the Jews, that +they willingly gave the king very considerable sums of money to make +up for the loss of a people, from whom former monarchs had always +obtained help in time of need. + +After this banishment of the Jews by Edward the First, they never +appeared in any considerable numbers in England, until the seventeenth +century. + +In France we have seen the Jews banished by Philip the Second, and +then recalled by the same monarch at the end of the twelfth century +(p. 408). They immediately returned to all their former ways of making +money by usury, so that early in the thirteenth century they had again +become rich, and purchased lands of the lords who had large estates; +but on certain conditions, which made them in some degree the property +of the liege lord, of whom they held their lands. This "feudal +tenure," as it was called, was common over Europe in those times; and +all, whether Jews or Christians, who thus held lands under a liege +lord, were called his "vassals," and were bound to do him certain +services, whenever called upon to do so. + +For some time Philip allowed, or at least did not try to put a stop +to, the usurious practices of the Jews, because they gave him large +sums of money in return for letting them alone; but at last the +complaints of his subjects forced him to make some laws to check the +evil. Philip the Second died A.D. 1223; Louis the Eighth, who +succeeded him, reigned only three years: but when Louis the Ninth, +surnamed Saint Louis, became king, A.D. 1226, he immediately made a +law, forbidding any of his subjects to borrow money of a Jew. The +condition of the Jews in France at this time was miserable enough; +their property was at the mercy of those lords, in whose territories +they had fixed their residence; without his leave, they could not +change their place of abode, and if they ventured to do so, their +liege lord had a right to follow them, and seize upon them as runaway, +slaves! If one lord sold land to another, the Jews living on such +land, also became the property of the purchaser: sometimes even, they +were sold apart from the land, the price asked for them varying +according to the talent and industry of each individual. But there was +something worse still; if one of these Jews did become a Christian, +the whole of his property was forfeited to his liege lord. So that +these unhappy people were at the same time oppressed and persecuted +for being Jews, or for becoming Christians; and this, by persons +calling themselves Christians, who should have rejoiced at every +conversion, and done all in their power to make them more frequent. +Louis the Ninth, although called St. Louis on account of his +remarkable piety and devotion, not only approved of these cruel and +unjust laws, but added others; forbidding Christians to have any +intercourse with the Jews, who were, in short, treated with the +greatest harshness and injustice. + +But the most terrible persecution of this unhappy race, took place in +A.D. 1238, when they were accused of having, in mockery of the +Christians, crucified some children on Good Friday: on this +supposition, multitudes of the Jews were put to death with the most +cruel tortures, until the Pope, Gregory the Ninth, interfered to save +them from further slaughter. During the imprisonment of Louis the +Ninth in the Holy Land, whither he had gone upon a Crusade, he ordered +the Jews to be driven out of his dominions; but when Philip the Third +(the Bold) became king, in A.D. 1270, he recalled the Jews, because he +stood in need of their money. In other parts of France, which were +governed by Dukes or Princes of their own, subject more or less to the +king, the Jews met with much the same kind of treatment; but in some +provinces they did become magistrates, and possessed Christian slaves. +Philip the Fourth (the Fair), who succeeded his father as king, A.D. +1285, followed the example of Edward the First, who was then King of +England, and banished the Jews altogether from France; seizing all +their wealth, with the exception of a small sum to pay the expenses of +their journey: many died of fatigue and want by the way, and the rest +sought refuge in Germany. Some avoided banishment by being baptized: +most of these returned afterwards to Judaism; but the conversion of +some of them, at least, was sincere. Amongst those who became true +Christians, was one Nicolas de Lyra, who spent the remainder of his +life in explaining the Scriptures; and even wrote a book to prove from +Scripture, that the Jews were wrong in not acknowledging Jesus Christ +to be indeed the promised Messiah. + + + + +Chapter X.--THIRTEENTH CENTURY CONCLUDED. + + +In Spain during the thirteenth century, the Jews suffered as much as +they did in England and in France. At this time there were two +Christian kingdoms in Spain: namely, the kingdom of Castile and the +kingdom of Arragon; the southern part of Spain formed the kingdom of +the Moors, who were Mahometans. The Bishop of Toledo, vexed at the +increased numbers and riches of the Israelites in Spain, excited the +populace against them, and putting himself at the head of the +rioters, entered and plundered synagogues and houses; the Crusaders +completed the work so unworthily begun by a Christian bishop, and, +according to Jewish writers, this was one of the most severe and +bloody persecutions ever endured by their unhappy countrymen: great +numbers quitted the country at this time. The Spanish nobles tried to +put a stop to the horrible cruelties practised towards the Jews; but +Ferdinand the Third, who became King of Castile, A.D. 1226, rather +encouraged the persecution, in order to make himself popular with the +lower orders, who detested the Jews. + +In the kingdom of Arragon, towards the middle of the century, great +efforts were made for the conversion of the Jews. One of the clergy, +named Raymond, contrived to keep in check the violence of the people, +who had a great respect for him; and at the same time he persuaded the +king, James the First, who was a zealous Christian, that the best way +to convert the Jews was by treating them with kindness, and trying to +convince them of their errors. To carry out his views, Raymond caused +many of the friars to learn the Hebrew and Arabic languages, and to +study the Scriptures carefully, so as to be able to reason with the +Jews, and point out to them how all the prophecies in the Old +Testament were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. All his attempts to +convert the Jews were, however, unsuccessful, although they highly +esteemed Raymond himself for his moderation and humanity. + +The King of Arragon mean time, so far from sharing the prejudices +against the Jews, applied to them for instruction in many matters of +learning and science: the great and learned men amongst the Spaniards +also encouraged and admired them; but the people, and the ignorant and +ill-educated among the clergy, hated and despised them, and would +gladly have destroyed them altogether. + +In the middle of the century, Alphonso the Tenth, who was then King of +Castile, encouraged all learned men, whatever might be their religious +opinions; and the favour shown in consequence to the Jews, excited the +jealousy of the people, who formed fresh plots for their destruction. +The dead body of a man was thrown into the house of a Jew, who was +then accused of having murdered the man: this accusation roused the +fury of the populace, who put numbers of the Jews to death. The +massacre threatened to become general, but the authorities interfered, +and declaring that the Jew was innocent of the crime laid to his +charge, order was at length restored. + +During those times, when the Israelites enjoyed the favour of the +kings in Spain, many learned men flourished, and educated pupils, who +afterwards became celebrated amongst their countrymen. + +The Spanish Jews were again disturbed by an impostor called Zechariah, +who pretended that by studying the prophecies, he had discovered the +exact day on which the Messiah would appear; and declared that the +Jewish people would then be gathered together by the Lord, Who would +subdue their enemies and resettle them in their ancient kingdom. The +Jews, always too easily deceived, prepared for this grand event by +prayer and fasting; and on the appointed day they crowded to the +synagogues clothed in white robes. Besides having the mortification of +a bitter disappointment, they thus brought upon themselves the insult +and ridicule of their enemies. + +In Germany, during the thirteenth century, the Jews suffered much, in +consequence of their being constantly accused of committing crimes +more or less heinous. At one time they were charged with encouraging +the Persians and Tartars to attack the country and destroy the +Christians; at another time, with preventing the baptism of those +amongst them who wished to become Christians; and they were +repeatedly accused of murdering Christian children at the time of the +Passover. What truth there was in any of these accusations, we do not +know, but each was made by the people a pretext for robbery and +murder; nor could the authorities save the wretched Jews from the +fury of their Christian enemies. On one occasion, when the people of +Munich were murdering all the Jews they could find, the town +officers, unable to stop the tumult, advised the wretched victims to +take refuge in their synagogue, a strong stone building, till the +fury of their persecutors should cool down: but in spite of the +efforts made by the Duke of Bavaria and his officers, they were all +burnt, or otherwise killed in the synagogue. Notwithstanding all +these persecutions, many learned rabbis flourished in Germany during +this century; and towards its close violent disputes arose amongst +the Jews themselves, as to the doctrines which were to be believed +and taught. The consequence was, that the Jews were divided into two +parties or sects, the Rabbinists and the Caraites: these two sects +hated each other, since the Caraites taught that the Talmud, regarded +by the Rabbinists with the greatest veneration, was not to be +depended upon in any way whatever. + +Towards the end of the century, when Germany was disturbed by the wars +between Albert of Austria and another prince, who both wished to be +Emperor of Germany, a peasant pretended that he was sent by God to +destroy all the Jews. This man went about the country declaring his +errand, and exciting the people to execute the Will of God. The +multitude rose at once, and killed great numbers of the Jews; whilst +many of these unhappy people destroyed themselves and their families, +to escape from their enemies. Albert would gladly have put a stop to +this barbarous persecution; but he was afraid that if he did so, many +of his followers, who believed that the peasant really had a divine +commission, would abandon him, and take the side of the rival prince. +The riot was at last stopped, and a heavy fine laid upon the town of +Nuremburg, where it had begun: half the town was already burnt down, +by the Jews setting fire to their own houses. + +It has been already said, that the Roman Pontiffs, or Popes, often +interfered to stop the persecution of the Jews, and to check the +mistaken zeal of those who wanted to _force_ them to become +Christians. In 1247, Innocent the Fourth wrote a letter in defence of +the Jews, declaring that they were not guilty of the crimes laid to +their charge; and he also said, that their condition under Christian +princes, was far more miserable and wretched than that of their +fathers had been under Pharaoh. + +There were a great many Jews in the kingdom of Naples, and they had +much wealth: as they had done the king some important service, he +treated them with great indulgence. But after his death, attempts were +made to convert them, instead of allowing them still to enjoy the free +exercise of their religion. The Jews, fearing a persecution, offered +to become Christians, provided they were allowed to marry into the +richest and noblest families in the kingdom--a condition that they +felt certain would be refused; but to their surprise and sorrow, +permission was granted, and thus they were obliged to profess +Christianity; but those who were not able to make advantageous +marriages, soon returned to the practice of their own religion. + +It is said, that a monk, who wished the Jews to be punished for +pretending to be Christians, hid a cross in a heap of earth, and then +accused one of these poor creatures of having done it: the people, +enraged at such an act, rose at once and massacred a great number of +the Jews, and more would have been put to death if the nobles had not +interposed, and even given shelter in their own houses to some of the +most wealthy, who were always the peculiar objects of popular fury. In +the East, the number and the power of the Jews were much lessened +during the thirteenth century. The Caliph of Bagdad, who was a zealous +Mahometan, and very fond of money, was vexed to see a people growing +rich by their own industry, whilst they were always ready to receive +any one who declared himself to be the Messiah: and he therefore began +a persecution, by which he hoped to compel all Jews, either to become +Mahometans or to leave his dominions. Some departed; others, to avoid +exile, pretended to become followers of Mahomet. In some parts of the +East the Jews suffered greatly from the invasions of the Tartars; but +towards the end of the century they enjoyed peace for a short time, +under a prince, whose chief minister and favourite was a Jewish +physician, who obtained many privileges and indulgences for his +countrymen. But on the death of this prince, his Mahometan subjects, +enraged at the favour he had shown to the Jews for the sake of his +minister, accused the latter of having poisoned his master: he was +condemned without any proof, and vast numbers of his countrymen were +at the same time murdered. + +Palestine was greatly distressed by the wars between the Christians +and the Saracens. The Jews had still some synagogues in their native +land; and even amidst their troubles, several learned rabbis appeared +amongst them, the most remarkable of whom was styled the "Father of +Wisdom"; he had been born in Spain, but went to live in Judæa, where +he built a synagogue. Several learned rabbis of the Caraite sect +flourished in different parts of the East during the thirteenth +century. + +The fourteenth century does not seem to have brought any comfort to +the wretched Hebrews. The same avarice or love of money which made +Philip the Fourth drive them out of France, made Louis the Tenth, who +became king A.D. 1314, bring them back again; because he wanted some +of their money to enable him to reduce the Flemings to subjection. +The Flemings were the inhabitants of Flanders, a country in that part +of Europe which we now call Belgium. The conditions upon which the +Jews were allowed to return to France were, that they should pay a +heavy tax to the king; and that their stay in the country should be +limited to a period of twelve years. During this time they might make +money by trade and labour: they might buy land for synagogues and +burying-places, and they might purchase any books they pleased with +the exception of the Talmud: but they were forbidden to converse +publicly or privately with any Christian; and they were obliged, as +before, to wear a mark upon their upper garment. + +Philip the Fifth became King of France in A.D. 1316, and during +his reign the Jews suffered much from a body of men called "The +Shepherds." They really were shepherds and labourers, who left their +usual occupations to go, as they said, to the relief of the Holy +Land. Their leaders were two priests, who, by pretending to work +miracles, got many of the lowest classes of the people to join the +band. Having thus strengthened themselves by the addition of a +considerable body of desperate ruffians, the Shepherds plundered +the southern provinces of France, and by breaking open the prisons, +added still further to their own numbers, by receiving the liberated +criminals as brethren. They committed the most unheard-of barbarities, +especially upon the Jews, who fled before this savage band, and took +refuge in considerable numbers, in a strong castle, near Toulouse; and +here defended themselves bravely, but in vain. When no hope of safety +remained, they put themselves or each other to death. Many of the +Shepherds were taken and executed. + + + + +Chapter XI.--END OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY. + + +About ten years after the affair of the Shepherds, the Jews in France +were accused of having been bribed by the Saracen king of Granada to +poison all the wells and rivers in the country. There was no proof of +this but the declaration of a leper, who said, that a rich Jew had +given him money to poison some wells; but this was enough for the +populace, who, without waiting for inquiry or trial, rose at once, and +put numbers of the suspected race to a cruel death. + +The king, Philip the Sixth, shamefully took advantage of this popular +outcry, and imprisoned the wealthy Jews in Paris until they told him +where their treasures were hid; he then seized the greatest part for +his own use, and banished the whole race from his dominions. The Jews, +thus expelled from France, took refuge in the northern part of Italy, +then called Lombardy, and there first established "banks," and the +system called "banking"; by which merchants, in lands far distant from +each other, could receive the price of goods exchanged, without the +risk of sending money: and by this means, the Jews from this time were +often able to save their riches from the avarice and violence of their +enemies. But the system of banking was not useful to the Jews alone: +it was of the greatest service to trade in general, as well as to +individuals, and has continued so up to the present time, when every +considerable town in almost all European countries has its bank or +banks. The great skill and cleverness of the Jews in all matters +connected with money, made the monarchs of various kingdoms willing to +let them remain in their dominions; for though they would gladly have +been rid of the Jews themselves, they were anxious to keep their +wealth in the country. + +After John the Second became King of France, A.D. 1351, the Jews tried +to obtain leave to return to France; but the permission was not +granted until 1356, when, John having been taken prisoner by the +English, the money of the Jews was needed to raise the sum demanded +for his ransom. The children of Israel were, therefore, re-admitted +into France for twenty years, on condition that they should at once +pay a considerable sum, and that each Jew should pay annually a fixed +tax. They would have been wiser to have remained out of the kingdom; +for during the reign of Charles the Sixth, which began in 1380, they +were often fined, scourged, and many of them executed, on pretence of +their having committed various crimes. The wicked absurdity of many of +these accusations is proved by the fact, that when Charles the Sixth +became mad, the Jews were accused of having deprived him of his +senses! + +Towards the end of the fourteenth century, the people of France again +became clamorous for the banishment of the Jews; and supported by +certain noblemen who owed those unhappy creatures money, they broke +into their houses, murdered the inhabitants, and seized all the +property they could find. Some of the persecuted race took refuge in +one of the prisons: their wives attempted to follow them, with their +children in their arms, but the mob forced the little ones away from +their mothers, and carried them off to be baptized. The government, +too weak to venture on punishing the perpetrators of these crimes, +replaced the Jews who survived in their houses; and ordered that all +persons who had taken any of their property should give it back to +them--an order which was, of course, only laughed at. In A.D. 1394, an +Act was passed, banishing the Jews from France for ever; but as the +town of Metz, in that part of the country called Lorraine, was then a +free city, under the protection of the Emperor of Germany, the Jews +continued to reside there in peace; and after Lorraine became a part +of the kingdom of France, the French monarchs did not molest the Jews +in Metz. But though, until the seventeenth century, Metz was the only +city in France where the Jews were _allowed_ to reside, a few were +always to be found in different parts of the kingdom. Mary de Medicis, +the wife of Henry the Fourth, who became king A.D. 1589, sent for a +Jewish physician to Paris, where he was allowed free exercise of his +religion for himself and his family. + +The Jews, who were driven out of France in 1394, went mostly into +Germany, where, however, they could not have much hope of peace, as +their brethren in that country had suffered much from the beginning of +the fourteenth century. About the middle of the century, a number of +ignorant and superstitious Christians, imagining that the Almighty had +ordered them to scourge themselves and kill the Jews, formed +themselves into a company, called "Flagellants," for the purpose of +carrying out what they conceived to be the Divine commission. They +proceeded to whip themselves in the most cruel manner, and then began +their work of destruction. After many of the Jews had been murdered, +the Flagellants came to some agreement with their unhappy victims; but +this was rendered useless by the conduct of a Jew of Frankfort, who, +not being satisfied with the agreement made, set fire to one of the +public buildings, which was burnt down, with all the valuable papers +it contained: the flames spread to the cathedral, and burnt that also +to ashes. For this crime, not only the guilty Jew, but all his +innocent brethren also, were put to death; with the exception of a +few, who managed to escape, and took refuge in Bohemia. + +The year after the affair of the Flagellants, the Jews in Germany were +accused of poisoning wells and springs, and a fresh massacre took +place all over the country. + +At Metz, the Jews not only defended themselves, which they were +perfectly right to do, but in revenge put to death, in a barbarous +manner, 200 unarmed Christians, who were in no way answerable for the +attack upon them. + +The enraged populace punished this real crime, by killing many +thousands of the Jews, and setting fire to their houses. The flames +spread, and did much damage in the town. This persecution extended +over the whole of Germany; some of the princes and nobles tried to +save and help the miserable victims, but with little success. + +The Jews who had fled into Bohemia suffered equally at Prague; during +the Feast of the Passover, they were burnt in their synagogues whilst +engaged in their devotions. + +Soon afterwards another persecution was raised, on the old charge of +poisoning springs and rivers; and this persecution extended through +Germany and into Italy, Provence, and other parts. The Emperor of +Germany himself, convinced of their innocence of this pretended crime, +endeavoured to convince his Council that it was impossible for the +Jews to have committed it; but such was the feeling against the Hebrew +race, that in order to save them from worse calamities, the Emperor +was forced, at the close of the fourteenth century, to command these +unhappy creatures either to be baptized, or to leave the country. The +Jewish historians tell us, that very few did give up their religion; +or, as they expressed it, "forsake the glory of their God." + +In Spain, the Jews suffered dreadfully at the beginning of the +fourteenth century from the Shepherds, who, after finishing their work +of destruction in France, carried fire and sword into Spain; marking +out the race of Israel as their especial victims: and a pestilence +that broke out in the army of the Shepherds increased their fury +against these devoted people, whom they accused of having caused it by +poisoning the rivers. This story was readily believed, or at least +accepted, by those who ought to have known better; and great numbers +of Jews were actually imprisoned on this charge: after a long +confinement, the judges declared them to be innocent. The king, +unwilling to allow that he had imprisoned them unjustly, pretended +that he had only kept them in prison in order to convert them; but he +caused a large number who refused to be baptized, to be put to death. + +Alphonso the Eleventh, king of Castile, was the friend and protector +of the Jews, and had one of that nation for his principal minister and +adviser. But this displeased his turbulent and rebellious subjects, +who accused a Jewish boy of having in some way insulted the Sacrament: +they became so violent upon the subject, that the king was obliged to +summon a Council, to decide whether the Israelites should be put to +death, or banished. Banishment was decided upon; and they were +commanded to leave the country within three months' time: but mean +time it was discovered that a _Christian_, and not a _Jewish_ lad, had +committed the offence complained of; and the king recalled the +sentence of banishment, to the great disappointment and indignation of +the enemies of the Jews, who declared, that the witnesses who had +proved the Christian lad to be guilty, had been bribed to do so. + +The same kind of treatment was experienced by the Israelites in other +parts of Spain during the fourteenth century; but during that period +the Popes in general treated them with humanity. Troubles and disputes +unconnected with the Jews had caused the Popes for a time to leave +Rome, and take up their residence at Avignon, in the south of France. +Clement the Fifth, then Pope, did all in his power to save the Jews +from the violence of the Shepherds, and all their other enemies: he +also provided for them the means of instruction, by ordering that +Hebrew should be taught in all the Christian universities, or places +of education for young men; so that there might be some, able to show +the Jews from their own Scriptures, how all ancient prophecies pointed +out Jesus Christ as the true Messiah. Again, when the Jews were +persecuted on pretence of their having poisoned the rivers, Pope +Clement the Sixth exerted himself on their behalf; many of them found +a safe asylum in Avignon, and the Pope left nothing undone to relieve +their misery, and soften the fury of their persecutors. In Italy, the +Jews seem to have been pretty well treated during the fourteenth +century, and in Poland they met with favour and indulgence: by their +industry they gained wealth and power, and became a prosperous and +flourishing people, as they have ever since continued to be in that +country. Poland produced many learned Jews; and Jewish children from +all parts were sent there to study the Talmud, and to learn and +practise all the peculiar rites and ceremonies of their religion. + +We have now come to the close of the fourteenth century. The dreadful +sufferings endured by the Jews up to this time, and during future +years, must remind us how surely all the prophecies contained in +Scripture will be fulfilled. The prophets had foretold, that in +consequence of their sins they would suffer unheard-of miseries: +history shows us the accomplishment of this prediction. + +Then again, it is wonderful that with such persecutions, they should +not have been utterly destroyed; but, no, the Lord had said by His +prophets, that they should be scattered throughout all lands, but not +destroyed. The whole history of the Jews proves the truth of the +Bible; and it should remind us, that Scripture equally warns us, that +if we sin we shall also suffer; and that nothing will be acceptable to +God, but a true, loving, and faithful devotion of ourselves to the +service of Jesus Christ, Whom we acknowledge to be the Son of God, the +promised Messiah. + + + + +Chapter XII.--THE JEWS AND THE INQUISITION. + + +During the fifteenth century there were no Jews in England or France. +Of course, there may have been a few scattered here and there; but +there was no body of Jews in either country during this period. + +In Germany, their condition continued much the same. The slightest +pretence sufficed to raise a persecution; and a pretence was afforded, +at the close of the century, by an impostor, named David, who declared +that the Messiah would positively appear in the year 1500. He +afterwards declared, that the Messiah had delayed His coming on +account of the sins of the people; and he caused the credulous Jews to +appoint a solemn fast, in order to obtain pardon and hasten the +appearance of the Deliverer. The Jews of course suffered; and David +was imprisoned, and died shortly afterwards. + +In the beginning of this century, great efforts were made for the +conversion of the Jews in the Spanish kingdom of Arragon. The Pope was +zealous in the work; and one of their own race, named Jerome, who had +himself embraced Christianity, undertook to convince his countrymen +even by passages from the Talmud, that Jesus Christ must certainly be +the Messiah. Although the Jews treated the Pope with great respect, +they were by no means disposed to listen to Jerome, with whom they +were very angry; first, for deserting the faith of his people; and, +secondly, for drawing them into disputes, which might bring +persecution upon them. It is said, however, that 4,000 Jews were then +converted, and that a few years later, through the zeal of one of the +clergy, a still larger number were baptized; but the greater part, +having only submitted to baptism out of fear, continued to observe in +secret all the rites and ceremonies of the Hebrews. + +In 1479 a great change took place in the condition of the Jews in +Spain, for Ferdinand, King of Arragon, married Isabella, the Queen of +Castile; so that from this time the two kingdoms became _one_, called +the Kingdom of Spain. Ferdinand and Isabella were very anxious that +all the inhabitants of Spain should be Christians. In 1492 the Moors +were driven out of Granada, and their country became also a part of +the Kingdom of Spain; but many of the Moors, rather than leave their +beloved Granada, pretended to become Christians. Having driven the +Moors out of Spain, Ferdinand thought it would be desirable to get rid +of the Jews also; and he commanded them either to be baptized or to +quit Spain altogether. In order to prevent Jews or Mahometans who had +been baptized, from ever returning to the practices of their former +faith, Ferdinand and Isabella were persuaded to establish the Court of +the Inquisition in Spain. The Inquisition was a Court of Inquiry, the +members of which were charged by the Pope to examine all persons +accused, or suspected of holding any opinions in religious matters, +not agreeing entirely with the doctrines taught by the Church of Rome. +They had power to torture the accused, in order to force them to +confessions, and to put to death all who continued to hold any +opinions condemned by the Pope. So much was this dreadful tribunal +feared by the people, that none ventured to withhold their nearest and +dearest relations from the officers of the Inquisition, whose duty it +was to arrest all persons, upon whom rested the slightest suspicion of +what was called heresy. The unfortunate creatures thus dragged from +their homes, were kept for a long time in the dungeons of the +Inquisition, until they accused themselves and declared the cause of +their imprisonment; for they were not told of what crimes they were +accused, nor were their accusers ever brought face to face with them +to witness against them, as justice would have demanded. Seldom did +any, who were once consigned to the dungeons of the Inquisition, +return to their families; and so well was this known that, when they +were taken away by the officers, their friends and relations looked +upon them as dead: nor did they dare to make any effort to save them, +lest they should themselves be looked upon as accomplices in some +unknown crime. + +When no shadow of proof could be brought against the wretched +prisoners, they were discharged, with the loss of great part of their +property, after suffering the most cruel tortures during a tedious and +dreadful imprisonment. Many of those whom the Inquisitors (or Judges +in this Court) chose to consider guilty, were secretly put to a cruel +death, in the dungeons of the Inquisition. Sometimes a number of these +so-called "heretics" were executed publicly, by being all burnt +together with great pomp and ceremony, so as to make quite a show of +their execution! + +This terrible show was called an "Auto-da-Fé," meaning a sacrifice +offered up by faithful Christians to prove their devotion to God! It +is dreadful to think of all the cruel and wicked things which have +been done under pretence of religion, when true religion should fill +our hearts with love to God, and love to man for His sake, and make us +strive to subdue all our own evil passions and tempers. + +Sad too, to remember, that this cruel tribunal, under whose authority +the most barbarous and wicked acts were committed through a long +series of years, was established by Christian bishops, under the idea +that they could thus please a God of love and mercy! + +It is necessary to mention the circumstances which led to the +establishment of a tribunal, so opposed to the spirit of Christianity. + +The Popes, from being originally the Bishops of Rome, had gradually +claimed and obtained influence and power over the Church in all +Christian kingdoms; and they required that every member of these +churches, should believe exactly whatever they and their Council +declared to be right and true. The different orders of monks, who were +established in every Christian country, supported the Pope's claims, +and did all in their power to increase the power and authority of the +Roman Pontiffs. Not content with spiritual power, the Popes, little by +little, claimed the right to interfere in temporal affairs; so that, +by degrees, the Pope claimed and exercised a kind of sovereign power +over all Christian kings, and required them to obey him in temporal as +well as spiritual matters. Such was the influence of the priests over +an ignorant and superstitious people, that their kings would not have +dared to deny the superior authority of the Pope, had they wished to +do so; for the people were taught to believe, that the Roman Pontiff +had power to draw down upon individuals and nations who had displeased +him, the severest judgments, or visible signs of the displeasure of +the Almighty God Himself. + +In England, the Pope's power never was so great as it became in Italy +and other European countries. + +But though Christians in general, and the monks in particular, were +ready to profess belief in whatever the Popes declared to be the +truth, there arose from time to time men who, contrary to the Papal +order, dared to search the Scriptures for themselves; and thus +perceived clearly, that the Church of Rome had adopted many doctrines +and practices which were, in fact, quite contrary to those taught by +the Apostles, and given to them by the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who +made such an important discovery, naturally told others of it; and +thus there grew up in the Christian Church, a party who were opposed +to the Pope's authority, both in spiritual and temporal matters. + +This was of course highly displeasing to the sovereign Pontiff; and, +in order to check the spread of feelings and opinions which weakened +the Papal power, the terrible Court of the Inquisition was established +in Italy, by Pope Gregory the Ninth, in the year 1233--that is, +towards the middle of the thirteenth century. It became the constant +endeavour of all future Pontiffs, to persuade the various sovereigns +of Europe, to introduce this iniquitous tribunal into their dominions. + +But, although Gregory the Ninth may be said to have established the +Inquisition as a permanent tribunal, it was not altogether a new +institution; for, at the close of the twelfth century, the same desire +to check the growth of feelings opposed to Papal power, led Innocent +the Third, in the year 1198, to nominate Inquisitorial Courts, to +examine all persons accused of heresy. From this beginning, sprang the +Court of Inquisition, established by Gregory A.D. 1233. + +Innocent the Third is well known in English history, as the Pope to +whom King John gave up his kingdom, to be returned to him as a Papal +fief. He is also remarkable for the encouragement given to the cruel +persecution of the Albigenses in the south of France, and of the +Waldenses in the valleys of Piedmont. + +The Albigenses were a body of men living about Toulouse and Albigeois, +in Languedoc, who distinguished themselves by their opposition to the +doctrines and ceremonies of the Church of Rome. Their name appears to +have been given them, either because a great number of them resided in +the diocese of Albi, or because they were condemned as heretics by a +council held in that town. The Albigenses became so powerful, that +Pope Innocent the Third sent a legate into their country; but, as that +step produced no good effect, he stirred up against them Philip the +Second, King of France, who, being joined by other princes, carried on +a regular crusade against these unfortunate people. They were at first +supported by Raimond, Count of Toulouse; but when the King of France +made war upon them, he deserted them, and made his submission to the +Pope; but, soon afterwards, finding himself plundered by the +Crusaders, he declared war against them. He was, however, defeated and +slain at the siege of Toulouse; and the consequence was, that the city +surrendered to the Crusaders, who also conquered the greater part of +Languedoc and Provence. + +His son, also called Raimond, who succeeded him, published a +declaration against the Albigenses, A.D. 1253; and agreed with the +Pope and the King of France, to set up the Inquisition in his +territories. From this time the Albigenses gradually decreased in +number, until, in the sixteenth century, the remnant had become so +intermingled with the Vaudois, that all are known by the latter name. + +The Waldenses took their name from Peter Waldo, who was a rich +merchant of Lyons, in the latter part of the twelfth century. Waldo, +being extremely anxious for the increase of Christian knowledge and +piety, employed a priest, in the year 1160, to translate from the +Latin into French, the four Gospels and some other parts of Scripture. +When this was done, Waldo found that there was no authority in +Scripture, for many of the doctrines and practices taught by the +Church over which the Pope presided; in fact, that they were quite +contrary to the Word of God. In consequence, he gave up his mercantile +profession, distributed his riches among the poor, and devoted +himself, as a public teacher, to spread a knowledge of Scriptural +truth. His success was great. His followers took their name of +Waldenses from him; and they were also called "The poor men of Lyons." + +The Archbishop of Lyons, and other rulers of the Church in those +parts, opposed Waldo vigorously, but with little effect; for the +simplicity and beauty of his doctrines, and the pious and blameless +lives led by him and his followers, caused a daily increase of their +numbers. Being driven out of Lyons, they spread over Dauphiné, +Provence, and the valleys of Piedmont. + +The merciless persecution carried on against these innocent people, by +Philip the Second and Innocent the Third, failed to destroy them +utterly, although the king is said to have destroyed the country seats +of 300 gentlemen in the attempt. Amongst those who distinguished +themselves most in this barbarous persecution, was Simon de Montfort, +whose son, bearing the same name, retired to England, and became a +favourite of Henry the Third, who created him Earl of Leicester. After +one quarrel and reconciliation with his sovereign, Leicester put +himself at the head of the English barons who rebelled successfully +against Henry the Third; but in the battle of Evesham, when the royal +forces were led by Prince Edward, the Earl was defeated and slain. + +In spite of the united efforts of the Pope, the King of France, and of +the Count Simon de Montfort, the Waldenses continued to exist, and +were in later times known as the Vaudois. + + + + +Chapter XIII.--TREATMENT OF THE JEWS BY FERDINAND. + + +The Monks took such an active part in the persecution of the Jews, +that it may be well to give some account of the "Religious Orders," as +they are called; all of which hated the Hebrew race, and would gladly +have seen it extirpated. + +Very soon after the establishment of the Christian religion, there +were men who wished to devote their hearts and lives to the service of +God, and thought they could better do this by giving up all the +pleasures and business of ordinary life. It became the practice for +such to leave their families and live together in houses, thence +called Religious Houses, under the direction and authority of some +priest. Here they spent their time in devotion, and in doing good to +their fellow creatures: the services in the churches were performed by +them; they undertook the education of the young; books were prepared +by them, for in those days there were no books except such as were +written by hand; and to them the sick and poor applied for relief, +which was never denied. + +Those who became inmates of such houses, were not bound to remain in +them; but as long as they did so, they were bound to obey the orders +of the ruling priest. + +But before long, a change took place: these religious houses took the +name of Monastery, Abbey, Priory, or Convent. Those who entered these +houses, took a solemn oath to remain in them until their death, and to +be in all things obedient to the priests, who, under the appellation +of Abbots or Priors, ruled over these establishments, whilst they +themselves were completely subject to the Pope. As the gifts of money +and lands bestowed upon these religious houses, gave them power and +influence, those who ruled over them became ambitious, and desired to +have a share in the government of kingdoms: in this they gradually +succeeded by persuading kings and princes, that by following their +advice in all things, they would please the Lord God, and ensure his +favour. + +As time went on, the heads of the abbeys, monasteries, priories, and +convents, became more and more powerful, in the various kingdoms where +they were established. The inmates of these various houses belonged to +different classes or "orders"; the chief of which, were the +Benedictines, Dominicans, and Franciscans. + +St. Benedict, the founder of the first religious order in Europe, was +born at Spoleto, in Italy, A.D. 480. At the age of fourteen, he +retired to a cavern, where the fame of his pious austerities brought +him numerous followers. He afterwards founded the monastery of Monte +Casino, near Naples, and thus established the Order of St. Benedict, +or the Benedictines. The oath taken by all who entered this order, +bound them never to marry, nor to quit their convent; to practise the +strictest self-denial in every matter; to speak but little to the +other members of the community; to give up all intercourse with the +world; and to place their minds and bodies at the absolute disposal of +their superior; so as not only to do at once whatever he bid them do, +but to hold no opinions contrary to his. The Pope or Bishop of Rome, +naturally looked with especial favour upon this order of monks; +because being pledged to implicit obedience, they formed a sort of +army, ready to do anything to increase the power of the priesthood and +the Pope. The Benedictine Order was introduced into England by +Dunstan, when he became superior of Glastonbury Abbey, in the tenth +century. + +The founder of the Dominican Order, was a man named Dominic, born at +Calahorra, in Old Castile, A.D. 1170. He was employed by Pope Innocent +the Third to convert the Albigenses; but failing in his endeavours, he +joined in the horrible persecution carried on against them; and for +his zeal in the cause, he was, after his death, A.D. 1221, canonized, +(that is, ordered to be called a saint) by the Pope. + +The founder of the Franciscan Order was born at Assisi, in a part of +Italy called Umbria, A.D. 1182; and was after his death canonized, and +called St. Francis d'Assisi. He was the son of a merchant, and had in +his youth led a wild and dissipated life: but on recovering from a +dangerous illness, he became enthusiastically devout; retired into +solitude; and underwent every species of penance and mortification; so +that his family thought he had gone mad. He gave up all claim to his +father's property, and took a vow of poverty. Being looked upon as a +saint, many joined him, and he drew up rules for them to observe; and +these rules being approved of by Pope Innocent the Third, the order of +Franciscan Friars was established, and its members increased rapidly. +St. Francis d'Assisi was, as well as St. Dominic, a zealous +persecutor of the Albigenses and Waldenses. St. Francis made an +unsuccessful attempt to convert the Sultan, or sovereign of Turkey, +and then returned to Assisi, where he died, A.D. 1226: he was +canonized four years later, by Gregory the Ninth. + +It has been said, that the members of the Dominican and Franciscan +Orders were called friars, instead of monks. The difference between +the two classes was, that the friars rejected the possession of all +worldly wealth, and depended entirely for their subsistence upon what +they could collect from the pious, in their wanderings about the +country. On this account, they were also called "Mendicants," that is, +"beggars." There were four orders of these Mendicant Friars: the +Dominicans, or Black Friars; the Franciscans, or Grey Friars, +sometimes called "Frères Mineurs" (Lesser Friars), or Minorites; the +Augustines, or Mendicants, properly so called; and the Carmelites, who +claimed their origin from the prophet Elijah. + +Before we leave this subject, we must mention that there were also +religious houses, called nunneries and convents, for females: the +inmates were called nuns, and there were various orders of them, +distinguished from each other by some differences in their rules and +discipline. + +But all monks, friars and nuns were bound by their vows never to +marry, nor leave their retirement; and to be in all things obedient to +their superior. + +When the Court of Inquisition was set up in Spain, it was directed to +pay particular attention to the conduct of the Jews, as the clergy had +found out that their change of religion was generally only a pretence; +and therefore the Pope exhorted all Christian princes to bring them to +punishment. + +Great numbers of the Jews, terrified at the fate which awaited them, +gave up the observance of their own rites and ceremonies, and +submitted to any penance or punishment appointed by the clergy: but +many of these unhappy creatures were put to death, even after they +had confessed Jesus Christ to be the Messiah: others were imprisoned +for a long time, and when set at liberty, were obliged to wear two +red crosses on their upper garment, which was considered as an +acknowledgment that they deserved to be burnt. Property was, of +course, seized; and besides their persecution by the Inquisition, the +populace oppressed and ill-used them, so that their condition was as +miserable as possible. The sufferings of the Jews whom Ferdinand +drove out of Spain, were most extraordinary. The greater part +embarked on board ships, some of which, from being too heavily laden, +sunk, and all on board were drowned; some of the ships are said to +have been burnt; some were wrecked on foreign shores, where the +miserable passengers died of want. The master of one ship determined +to murder all his passengers, in order, as he said, to avenge the +death of Christ, whom their ancestors had crucified: the Jews, +aware of his design, reminded this bad man, that one doctrine of +Christianity was, that Christ desired the salvation, and not the +death of sinners; but the master, instead of feeling how little his +conduct was like what a Christian's ought to be, caused the Jews to +be stripped, and landed on the coast of Africa, where he left them. +Some of these poor creatures were destroyed by wild beasts; some died +of hunger; but some were saved by the master of another vessel. Some +of the Jews, on leaving Spain, sailed direct to the city of Fez, in +Africa; but the inhabitants cruelly refused to admit them into the +city, and they, too, died of want. Another party sailed to Genoa, +which was at that time suffering from a scarcity of food, so that +provisions were very dear: the inhabitants, seeing the miserable +condition of the Jews, who had no money to buy food, met them with a +cross in one hand and in the other bread, which they refused to give +to any one who would not first worship the cross. Many who had +hitherto resisted all temptation to conform to Christian worship, +could hold out no longer, and did what was required of them. + +The way in which Ferdinand had treated the Jews, was greatly blamed; +and many nations expressed their astonishment, that the king should +have so little regard to his own interest, as to banish a people, +whose skill in money matters was so useful to the country. This very +skill enabled the Jews to disappoint the avarice of the king; for they +had managed to send the greater part of their wealth safely out of the +country, and consequently Ferdinand got much less money from them than +he had expected. + +Meantime his subjects felt the loss of Moors and Jews, and the nobles +complained that their towns were deserted and ruined. + +Many of the Jews on leaving Spain, went into Portugal, where their +brethren had done good service to the king, by bringing him accounts +of the coasts of the Red Sea; and also by helping his subjects to +discover the way of reaching India, by sailing round the southern +point of Africa. + +But notwithstanding the services of the Jews already in Portugal, the +king only allowed the fugitives from Spain to enter his dominions, on +condition of their paying a sum of gold, with an understanding, that +on a certain day fixed, they must either leave Portugal again, or be +sold as slaves: on his part, the king promised to provide ships to +take them wherever they wished to go. + +When the time came, the king really wished to keep his promise; but +his orders were not obeyed, and the Jews who were about to sail, were +so barbarously used by the seamen, that they chose rather to be sold +as slaves than to put themselves into the power of such ruffians. + +The next king of Portugal had pity on the Jews, and set them free +from slavery; but afterwards, in order to gain favour with Ferdinand +and Isabella, he ordered the Israelites to leave the kingdom on a +certain day, after which, all who remained would be again treated as +slaves. But the king did not like the idea of expelling such a number +of skilful and industrious people, and he determined at least to keep +all the children under fourteen years of age, and have them baptized +and brought up as Christians. When, therefore, the time of departure +drew near, he forbade the Jews to embark from any port except Lisbon; +and when they came to that city, the king's officers seized their +children, and dragged them away from their parents. We may imagine +what a dreadful scene this was! Many, in despair, rather than give +their children up, killed them and then put an end to their own +lives. Besides this, the king contrived to delay their embarkation so +much, that the day fixed passed away before they had sailed, and +consequently they became slaves. In utter despair, these poor +creatures now agreed to become Christians, in order to recover their +liberty, and their children. But such Christianity could only be a +pretence; and their enemies, suspecting this, watched them narrowly. +The least sign of their observing any of the rites and ceremonies of +the Jewish religion, or of their preferring the Law of Moses to the +Gospel, exposed them to the horrible cruelties of the Inquisition. +Shame upon Christians, who could thus treat their fellow creatures! +and instead of trying to win them over by Christian love, could thus +render the very name of Christian more and more hateful to them. + + + + +Chapter XIV.--SEPARATION IN THE CHURCH. + + +The events which have been noticed in Spain and Portugal, extended +well into the sixteenth century, and thus belong to modern history; +for the fifteenth is the last of the ten centuries known in history as +"the Middle Ages," during which, as we have seen, the sufferings of +the Jews were very terrible. It is impossible here to give a +particular account of this persecuted race in all countries, during +the centuries that have since elapsed. + +In the sixteenth century took place that important movement in the +Christian church, spoken of in history as "the Reformation." + +In speaking of the Inquisition, allusion has been made to the feelings +of mistrust and opposition, which had arisen in regard to the Pope, +and the Church of which he claimed to be the head. + +By the beginning of the eleventh century, the Papal power, or power of +the Popes, was far greater than that of any sovereign; and kings were +obliged to acknowledge and submit to it, because in case of any +dispute, their subjects would probably have obeyed the Pope rather +than their own sovereigns. Nor was this extraordinary, since the +people were led by the priests to believe, that they could not +possibly be saved, unless they obeyed the Pope in everything; and that +on the other hand, he could forgive their sins, and ensure their +salvation. Thus was the Pope put almost into the place of God. + +This naturally produced evil consequences, and for more than two +centuries the corruptions of the Church of Rome went on increasing: +the real doctrines and truths of the Gospel were more and more +forgotten, and its precepts disobeyed; so that wickedness seemed +everywhere triumphant. Such a sad state of things led many to think, +that as the Pope and his clergy were not teaching the truth as +contained in the Scripture, some reform was greatly needed. This +feeling once roused, spread rapidly; and in the beginning of the +sixteenth century, it was strengthened and confirmed by the preaching +of a German, called Martin Luther. Luther was born in A.D. 1483, at +Eisleben, in Lower Saxony: wishing to devote himself to a religious +life, he entered a monastery of Augustines. His fondness for learning +caused him to be appointed as a teacher in the new University of +Wittemberg: but his studies soon taught him that the church to which +he belonged, had departed very far from Gospel truth and practice; and +a journey to Rome showed him so much that was wrong in the lives and +conduct of her clergy, as quite to destroy all his reverence for the +Pope. His own mind being thus made up, Luther boldly declared his +convictions; and taught that all who wished to be saved by Jesus +Christ, must make a great change in their religious opinions and +practice; and instead of blindly obeying the Church of Rome, must +strive to worship God as the Apostles and early Christians had done; +for this purpose he urged every individual to read and study the Holy +Scriptures, which the Pope did not permit any member of his Church to +do. People of all ranks listened to Luther's words; and many +determined no longer to submit to the Pope's dictation, but to purify +the Church, by extirpating the errors which had one after another +crept into her doctrines and practice, so as to restore her to her +original condition of a scriptural Church. + +Whole nations now shook off the authority of the Pope, and became +separate branches of the One Catholic or Universal Church established +by the Apostles, and of which Jesus Christ is the true and only head. +In A.D. 1517, when Henry the Eighth was King of England, such a branch +was established in our own country, and called "the Church of +England"; whilst to that branch over which the Pope still rules, we +give the name of "the Church of Rome." + +All the works of man are liable to error, and in this great separation +from the Church of Rome, some mistakes were probably made; nor were +all who advocated the changes actuated by holy and religious motives. +But whatever mistakes may have been made, we find in the teaching of +the Church of England the way of salvation. All of us who have been +baptized into this Church, must ever remember with thankfulness that +we belong to a Church which bids us take the Holy Scripture as our +rule of life. As members of such a Church, let us always strive to act +up to our baptismal vows, carefully studying all the articles of the +Christian faith, that we may hold them fast; and that our faith may be +firm and lively: let us renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil, +constantly striving against sin in every form, so that we may truly +keep the commandments and precepts of God: loving Him with all our +hearts, and our neighbour as ourselves, for His sake. If we are thus +true and worthy members of the Church Militant upon earth, we shall, +through the atonement and mediation of Jesus Christ, be hereafter +received into His Church triumphant in Heaven. + +Before we go on, it will be well to say a few words as to the word +"Protestant," often applied both to Churches and individuals who have +separated from the Church of Rome. To "protest," means to "object to," +to "declare against." "Protestant," therefore, only means one who +objects to anything, or declares against it; and so the word came to +be applied to those, who so objected to the errors and false doctrines +of the Church of Rome (which claimed for itself alone the title of +Catholic), as to separate from it, and establish a reformed branch. In +_this_ sense the Church of England may be called _Protestant_; but we +must never give up our claim of being a true and pure branch of the +Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, of which Jesus Christ is the Head. + +The separation from the Church of Rome was not effected in any country +without great struggles; many battles were fought, and many crimes +committed, under pretence of religion, on both sides. + +Luther died in 1546, having lived to see the doctrines he had taught, +too firmly established ever to be overthrown by the opposition of the +Pope and his supporters, who made great efforts to bring all men back +to the Church of Rome. + +Mary, the daughter of Henry the Eighth, who became Queen of England on +the death of her brother Edward the Sixth, A.D. 1553, tried hard to +make her subjects submit again to the Church of Rome, and many were +burnt to death for refusing to do so. + +Elizabeth, who succeeded her sister Mary in 1558, was zealous for the +doctrines opposed to the Papal teaching; and in her time the Church of +England was firmly established in this country, though many Englishmen +have never joined it, and continue to this day to be Roman Catholics, +as we call those who belong to the Church of Rome, to distinguish them +from those who have renounced her errors; for we all claim to be +Catholics, as members of the Catholic or Universal Church of Christ. +Many, too, in our own times have unhappily forsaken the Church of +their forefathers, and joined that of Rome. Let us watch and pray, +that we fall not into such grievous error. + +The Reformation relieved the Jews from much active persecution, but, +on the other hand, Luther declared, that no Christian might even +employ a Jewish physician; for as the whole race lay under the curse +of God, they ought not to cure those who were the children of God: +the Jews naturally detested Luther, by whose advice many Christian +princes in Germany, refused to receive them into their dominions. The +chief persecution against the Israelites in Europe during this +century, arose from their being falsely accused of causing a fire that +did great damage in Bohemia. In Persia they suffered much from one of +the kings, who was resolved to make them embrace the Mahometan faith. + +The Jews at this time, seem to have enjoyed more peace in Egypt, +Abyssinia, and other parts of Africa, than in any other countries in +the world. They became numerous, wealthy, and powerful at Cairo, and +also in Morocco, from whence one of them was sent as ambassador to the +united provinces of Holland, in the beginning of the seventeenth +century. Although the King of Portugal had banished the Jews from his +European dominions, he allowed them to settle at Goa and other places, +which then belonged to him in the East Indies: but, unfortunately, +after some years, these Jews allowed themselves to be deceived by a +pretended Messiah. The news spread to Portugal where some of the +Israelites, who had become Christians, showed such joy at the +intelligence, as to make it clear that they still clung to their old +faith, and were Christians only in name. The Inquisition, therefore, +interfered, and all Jews living in such parts of the East as were +subject to the King of Portugal, were forced either to become +Christians, or to leave the country. + +The Jews had now been shut out of England for about 350 years; but +when, after the murder of king Charles the First, Cromwell became +ruler under the name of Protector, A.D. 1654, he, seeing the benefit +which Holland had gained by allowing this persecuted race to settle in +that country, was anxious to bring their industry and their riches +back into Great Britain. At his request, the Parliament allowed +Manasses Ben Israel, who was greatly looked up to by the whole Jewish +people, to come to England, to beg permission for his countrymen to +return: but the idea was so displeasing to the people in general, and +was so strongly opposed by some persons of ability and learning, that +Cromwell was unwillingly obliged to dismiss Manasses, without giving +him any positive answer. Some of his countrymen, however, did venture +into England, where they were left in peace, and allowed to reside +together in a certain part of London: but no laws were made for their +protection, though they were ready to pay large sums for any such +marks of favour. + +Unfortunately for Cromwell's project of re-establishing the Jews in +England, a deputation arrived from the Asiatic Jews, for the purpose +of making out that Cromwell was the Messiah. This made the Protector +very angry; and when the object of these Jews became known, it excited +so much indignation throughout the country, that they were obliged to +leave the kingdom in all haste. This incident greatly increased the +feelings of prejudice and dislike, with which the children of Israel +were regarded. When Charles the Second was restored to the English +throne, A.D. 1660, he, being greatly in want of money, sold to the +Jews permission to settle in England, and their numbers increased +greatly in consequence. + +James the Second, who in 1685 succeeded his brother Charles, also +favoured the Jews; and during this seventeenth century, they also +regained a footing in France, from whence they had been finally +banished in 1394, though, as has been said, some Jews were always to +be found in different parts of that kingdom. The first place in which +they were now permitted to reside and carry on trade, was Bordeaux; +they were also allowed to buy estates in France. + + + + +Chapter XV.--SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES. + + +The most curious event connected with the Jews in the seventeenth +century is the history of the impostor, Zabathai Tzevi, who was born +in Syria, of poor Jewish parents; and being gifted with wonderful +talents and great powers of learning, was enabled to take advantage +of the ignorance and credulity of his countrymen. Towards the close +of the century, there was a general idea amongst the Jews, that some +wonderful event was about to take place, and all sorts of strange +tales were told, and believed: amongst others, it was related that a +ship had reached the coast of Scotland, filled with sailors who could +speak nothing but the Hebrew language; that the sails of this ship +were made of the most beautiful silk; and that upon them were +embroidered the words, "The Twelve Tribes of Israel." Tzevi +immediately took advantage of so favourable an opportunity, +proclaimed himself to be the Messiah, and promised the Jews a +glorious kingdom, in which they should enjoy peace and prosperity. +He pretended to work miracles, and reproached some of his followers +with wilful blindness, because they would not own that they had seen +him rise up into the air! The multitude believed in Tzevi, but many +of the better instructed and more intelligent Jews condemned him as +an impostor, and would gladly have put him to death, could they have +done so. After visiting Greece and Alexandria, Tzevi went to Gaza, +where he persuaded a celebrated Jew, named Nathan Levi, to act as his +forerunner. Tzevi and Levi then went to Jerusalem, and actually named +a time when the Jews should recover their kingdom by the conquest of +the Sultan, who then held it in subjection. + +Some of the more sensible among the Jews, saw that such folly could +lead only to their own destruction, and therefore they condemned Tzevi +and his forerunner, to be put to death as impostors; but they went off +to Constantinople: the Jews there had, however, been warned not to +listen to them, and they therefore proceeded to Smyrna. + +Here Tzevi received presents from the Jews of many countries; and +although the Jewish Council at Smyrna condemned him as an impostor, +his party was too numerous and powerful for any active steps to be +taken against him. At length Tzevi having, as he said, received the +command of God to do so, went again to Constantinople, where, by the +Sultan's orders, he was seized and cast into prison; but this event +did not in any way shake the faith of his followers, who firmly +believed that it was not in the Sultan's power to put him to death. + +When he was questioned by the Sultan's ministers, Tzevi declared that +he had only called himself the Messiah, because his nation had forced +him to do so: his life was therefore spared, and although he was kept +in prison, all who chose were allowed to visit him. He remained a +prisoner for some months, visited by the infatuated Jews from all +parts, who still persisted in looking upon him as the Messiah; but as +the Turks made all these Jews pay for the privilege of visiting Tzevi, +they did not interfere with the attentions and honours paid to him. In +the height of his fame he was visited by a learned Jew from Poland, +who wanted to be admitted in some manner to share his honours: this, +Tzevi was by no means inclined to allow, and the two men quarrelled. +In revenge, the Polish Jew told the Sultan that Tzevi was a dangerous +impostor, who was plotting to overthrow the Turkish dominion: upon +this, the Sultan ordered that he should be set up as a mark for his +archers to aim at, and that if he escaped unwounded, it would be a +proof that he was not an impostor. Tzevi naturally had no mind to +submit to such a trial of his truth, and therefore he at once +confessed himself to be an impostor; and when he found that this was +not now enough to save his life, he became a Mahometan, declaring that +he had long wished to do so. This step filled his followers with grief +and horror. + +Tzevi lived for many years at Constantinople, and became a learned and +zealous Mahometan: he still declared himself to be the appointed +deliverer of the Jews, but told them that he should not be able to +prevail with the Almighty to restore them as a nation to the Holy +Land, until they gave up the Law of Moses and followed that of +Mahomet, as he had done. Multitudes did actually, in consequence, go +to Constantinople, and there declare themselves to be followers of the +false prophet Mahomet. By this means, Tzevi hoped to keep his +influence over the Jews, and at the same time remain in favour with +the Turks; but all his impiety and wickedness soon met with just +punishment, for, for some cause or other, he was beheaded by order of +the Sultan. + +During the eighteenth century, the condition of the Jews improved +greatly throughout Europe. No more dreadful persecutions took place; +and though the prejudices of the people often led them to treat the +Jews with contempt and ridicule, and to annoy them in many ways, still +the laws of the different countries in which they lived, did more or +less, protect the Hebrew race from real injuries and violence. In the +middle of the eighteenth century there were nine synagogues in Rome, +and also an academy for the instruction of youth: the Jews in this +city seem to have exercised some authority over their brethren in +other parts of Italy, who consulted them upon all important matters, +and paid great respect to their advice. There are now great numbers of +Jews in Rome, who are all obliged to dwell together in one part of the +city, called the Ghetto. + +The King of Naples, in the eighteenth century, granted such great +privileges to the Jews, as to make the Roman Catholics very uneasy; +but in spite of the remonstrances of the clergy, he persevered in this +course, until the Jews, by their ill conduct, forced him to make a +change. + +In Spain and Portugal during this century, there were a great many +Jews who, according to the permission granted them by the Talmud, +_pretended_ to be Christians, and as such, filled various offices in +the state, and even performed the functions of priests in the Roman +Catholic Church. Outwardly they were zealous Roman Catholics; inwardly +they were Jews: so that it has been said, that whenever a house was +more than usually furnished with crucifixes, images of the Virgin and +of the Saints, relics and lamps, the inhabitants were sure to be +Israelites in heart. By pretending great zeal for the Christian +religion which they detested, these dissemblers generally escaped +detection; though from time to time some of them did fall into the +hands of the Inquisition. + +Jews can now live openly and unmolested in Spain and Portugal: they +claim to be descended from the tribe of Judah, and declare that many +of their ancestors went into those countries, at the time of the +captivity, more than two thousand years ago! For these reasons, the +Spanish and Portuguese Jews think themselves superior to those in +other countries, and will not allow of marriages with them. The +daughter of a Portuguese Jew having married a Jew of Berlin, the +parents of the bride put on mourning for her as if she had been dead, +which she was to them, as they never would see or hear of her again: +they renounced her for ever. + +After the revolution in France towards the end of the eighteenth +century, when the king Louis the Sixteenth was murdered, the Jews were +allowed all the privileges of citizens, on condition of taking an oath +of obedience to the Government of the country. Their numbers then +increased amazingly in France. + +In Germany also, during this century, the Jews gained many privileges +from the Emperors. In short, the children of Israel were now +everywhere protected by the laws, though they were still often robbed +of their property, ridiculed and scoffed at, and employed in the +lowest work. + +At Frankfort, as in Rome, the Jews rich and poor, are all obliged to +live in one quarter of the town: this consists of a long street, with +high walls at the backs of the houses, to separate them from those +parts in which the Christians dwell. + +Zealous Christians have often formed plans for the conversion of the +Jews; not, as formerly, by violence, but in a manner more suitable to +the spirit of the Gospel; that is, by endeavouring to convince them +that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah prophesied of in the Holy +Scriptures, and that they must look for no other, until in the end of +the world He shall come again in glory, to judge both the quick and +the dead. These efforts have met with some little success, but still +there are an immense number of Jews. One of these converts to +Christianity in the middle of the eighteenth century, was a young man +named Moses Marcus, whose parents, rich Jews of London, had him +carefully instructed in Hebrew and Chaldee, and in all the learning of +their people. When he was old enough, he was sent from England to +finish his education at Hamburg, and there became acquainted with some +clergymen of what was called the Reformed Church,--that is, a branch +of the Church which had given up many of the doctrines and practices +of the Church of Rome. With these clergymen, Marcus frequently talked +of the difference between the religion of the Christians and that of +the Jews. By their advice he studied the Scriptures of the New +Testament, and became thereby convinced that Jesus Christ was indeed +the Messiah. Mean time the father of Marcus had been to India, and +when he returned to England he sent for his son, then about twenty +years old. On his arrival, the young man at once told his father of +the change which had taken place in his religious feelings and +opinions. His father received this intelligence with the greatest +displeasure, and spared neither threats nor promises to induce the +young man not to desert the synagogue. But the faith of Marcus had +been strengthened by conversation with clergymen of the Church of +England, and therefore, disregarding all threats and promises, he +persevered, even at the risk of his life, and was baptized: soon +afterwards, he published a work explaining his reasons for becoming a +Christian; pointing out the fulfilment of prophecy in the person of +Jesus Christ; and showing how many absurdities and contradictions were +contained in the Talmud. + + + + +Chapter XVI.--CONCLUSION. + + +Of late years many privileges have been granted to the Jews in +England, and many societies have also been formed, for the purpose of +trying to prove to them from their own Scriptures, that the promised +Messiah, _has_ accomplished His work, and that the Christian religion +should now take the place of the Jewish Dispensation,--that the two +are but in fact, only two parts of one religion,--that the Jewish +Dispensation, the Law, the Covenant of Works, was designed to prepare +mankind for the Coming of the Messiah,--and that, as that event has +taken place, we are now living under the Christian Dispensation, the +Gospel, the Covenant of Grace. Some have believed; but many, alas! +believe not, and still cling to their old faith. + +At the present time, no persecution is carried on against the Hebrew +race, and Jews are to be found in all parts of the world, having free +liberty to observe the rites and ceremonies of their own religion, as +far as they can do so. Their manners and customs, and their mode of +observing the ceremonies of their religion, differ in different +countries; but all agree in denying that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. + +One thing we must remark about the higher class of Jews in the present +day--they are very charitable, not to their own people only, but also +to Christians, helping even to support Christian schools. + +It is said that there is in these days a growing feeling amongst the +Jews, that the Messiah must have come unobserved by them. Let us pray, +that through this feeling, they may be led to see and acknowledge, +that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed that Messiah. Great efforts have been +made, and are still being made, for the conversion of the Jews, but +with little success at present. The time is not yet come for them to +be brought into the fold, and made one flock with the Christians, +under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. + +But the time _will_ come, when by some means or other, the Lord God +Almighty will do this thing, for the Scriptures contain very many +prophecies as to the restoration of the Children of Israel to the +favour of God. The Scripture predictions of future happiness for the +Jews, _will_ as surely be fulfilled, as those _have been_, which +foretold the miseries that have fallen upon the once chosen people of +God. + +The whole history of this remarkable nation, the chosen people of God, +warns us in a most forcible manner of the evil of sin, which made the +Almighty at last cast off the people whom He had so loved, and whose +sins He had so long borne with. Let us learn from this, that sin +persisted in will bring destruction upon any people; though, for the +Lord Jesus Christ's sake, those who repent of it and forsake it, shall +be forgiven. + +The history of the Jews gives also the clearest proofs of the truth of +prophecy. + +To go no further than Moses, let us see how exactly his words have +been accomplished in the sufferings of the Jews. His prophecies, +fulfilled in part when the children of Israel and Judæa were carried +into captivity, also describe most truly the circumstances of the +Jews, since the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, A.D. 72, put a +final end to their existence as a nation. + +Moses says, "And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people from one +end of the earth even to the other." In the sketch which has been +given of the Jews, we have read of them as being found in all parts of +the known world. + +Again, their condition, as described by Moses, "Thou shalt only be +oppressed and spoiled evermore," exactly agrees with all that has +been said of them. We have seen that, in the East as well as in the +West, they have been continually "oppressed" by the cruel laws and +heavy taxes of the rulers of the various countries in which they +sought refuge, as well as by the violence of the people, who have +repeatedly "oppressed" them in every way, robbed them, "and spoiled" +them of all their possessions. Again Moses says, "The Lord will make +thy plagues wonderful, even great plagues, and of long continuance." +No people have ever suffered so much as the Jews: their "plagues," or +calamities, have indeed been wonderfully great, and of "long +continuance," carried on, as we have seen, with little intermission +through 1,700 years. + +Some of the calamities inflicted upon the Jews were especially +foretold; for instance, "Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given +unto another people"; and "Thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine +eyes which thou shalt see." We have read that the children of the +unhappy Jews were cruelly taken from them by force, and "given to +another people," to be educated as Christians. Their despair on this +and other occasions, when they saw that their children were likely to +fall into the hands of their enemies, drove them to madness; and in +their frenzy and despair, they often destroyed their families and +themselves. They were indeed made "mad," by the sight which their eyes +had seen. + +Again Moses tells them, "Thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb +and a by-word among all nations, whither the Lord shall lead thee." +The amazing sufferings of the Jews, and their existence through them; +their obstinate attachment to their own religion; and the manner in +which they have constantly believed in impostors declaring themselves +to be the Messiah,--must ever be an "astonishment" to all who read +their history: and, whether justly or unjustly, their avarice, usury, +and hard-heartedness, _did_ everywhere become a "proverb." Even now, +if any person is peculiarly avaricious and miserly, it is not unusual +to hear his neighbours say of him, "Oh, he is quite a Jew,"--meaning +that he has those bad qualities ascribed to the children of Israel. In +short, the name of Jew has been a "by-word," or term of reproach, +signifying all that is bad; and the treatment of the poor creatures +has been in accordance with such notions. Then again, rulers have +forced them to wear marks on their clothes, and have made their +condition as low and disgraceful as possible: the people have insulted +and abused them, and treated them rather as brutes than as fellow +creatures. Pagans, Mahometans, and, sad to say, Christians also, have +alike persecuted them; making their very name a "proverb" and a +"by-word," in every part of the world whither they have been +scattered. + +That any Jews should be left, after all that this persecuted race has +gone through, must ever appear truly wonderful. They have, as we have +read, been massacred by thousands, and exposed to privations and +sufferings, which might have blotted out their name from the face of +the earth; yet they still exist. Let us once more refer to Moses, for +the reason of this wonderful circumstance. "And yet...when they be +in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will +I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with +them: for I am the Lord their God." + +These words, and these only, explain _why_ their unprecedented +sufferings have, contrary to all human expectation, failed to +"_destroy_" the Jews "_utterly_." + +The prophet Jeremiah also, in regard to the Jews, says, "I am with +thee, saith the Lord, to save thee; though I make a full end of all +the nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full +end of thee." Since the Jews were first scattered amongst all nations, +great changes have taken place amongst the kingdoms of the earth; old +empires have been utterly destroyed, and new ones have risen in their +place; a "full end" has been made to many of the Eastern nations, +amongst whom the Jews were scattered; most, if not all, the nations of +Europe have changed their masters, and become, as it were, new +nations: but amidst all these changes, the race of Israel has ever +remained a distinct people, a nation without a country, "a homeless +race," clinging to the religion, laws, and customs of their +forefathers. + +Many prophecies there are, pointing to great blessings still to come +upon the Jews; and, as has been already said, they _will_ come as +surely as the miseries foretold, have done: _how_ and _when_ these +things will be, it is not for us to know, until the Lord shall perform +his work of mercy, and take His chosen people again into favour. + +Mean time the exact fulfilment of prophecy, as shown by their history, +has ever been regarded as one of the strongest proofs of the truth of +the Christian religion: thus through the dispensation of the Almighty, +the Jews have been made the means of strengthening the faith of others +in those blessed Gospel truths, which unhappily for themselves, they +still refuse to believe. + +It only remains for us to pray for the conversion and salvation of the +Jews; and to ask God to pour out upon us the help of the Holy Spirit, +that we may so truly believe all the articles of the Christian faith, +as to practise the duties which the Gospel sets before us, and act +always as the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose followers and +disciples we became at our baptism. + + +LONDON: PRINTED BY E. J. FRANCIS, TOOK'S COURT, E.C. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of "Granny's Chapters", by Lady Mary Ross + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK "GRANNY'S CHAPTERS" *** + +***** This file should be named 38557-8.txt or 38557-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/5/5/38557/ + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |