Sketches From The Life of Paul
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 25: Arrival at Rome.
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Since they themselves desired it, Paul bade
them set a day when he could present to them
the truths of the gospel. At the time appointed,
many came together, "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." He related his own experience, and
presented arguments from the Old-Testament
scriptures with simplicity, sincerity, and power.
Upon some minds, at least, his words made an
impression which would never be effaced. All
who were honestly seeking for truth were
convinced, as Paul spoke of what he knew, and
testified of what he had seen.
He showed that religion does not consist in
rites and ceremonies, creeds and theories. If it
did, the natural man could understand it by
investigation, as he understands worldly things.
Paul taught that religion is a practical, saving
energy, a principle wholly from God, a personal
experience of God's renewing power upon the soul.
He showed how Moses had pointed Israel
forward to Christ as that Prophet whom they were
to hear; how all the prophets had testified of him
as God's great remedy for sin, the guiltless One
who was to bear the sins of the guilty. He did
not find fault with their observance of forms and
ceremonies, but showed that while they
maintained the ritual service with great exactness,
they were rejecting Him who was the antitype of
all that system. [p. 277]
He declared that in his unconverted state he
had known Christ after the flesh, not by personal
acquaintance, but by the conceptions which he,
in common with others, cherished concerning his
character and work. He had rejected Jesus of
Nazareth as an impostor because he did not
fulfill these expectations. But since Paul's conversion,
his views of Christ and his mission were far
more spiritual and exalted than the Jewish
conception of the long-promised Messiah. He
asserted that he did not present to them Christ after
the flesh. Herod had seen Christ in the days of
his humanity; Annas had seen him; Pilate and
the chief priests and rulers had seen him; the
Roman soldiers had seen him. But these had not
seen him with an eye of faith, and discerned him
spiritually as the glorified Redeemer. To apprehend
Christ by faith, to have a spiritual knowledge
of him, was more to be desired than a
personal acquaintance with him as he appeared on
earth. The communion with Christ which Paul
now enjoyed, was more intimate and more enduring
than a mere earthly and human companionship.
Some of Paul's hearers eagerly received the
truth, but others stubbornly refused to be
convinced. The testimony of the Scriptures was
presented before them by one who was their
equal in learning and their superior in mental
power, and who had the special illumination of
the Holy Spirit. They could not refute his
arguments, but refused to accept his conclusions.
The prophecies which the rabbis themselves applied
to Christ were a great annoyance to these opposing
Jews; for the apostle showed that the
fulfillment of these very prophecies required them
to accept of Christ. His humble entry into [p. 278] Jerusalem, his rejection by his own people, the
treachery of Judas, the paltry sum paid for his
betrayal, his death as a malefactor, even the
bitter, stupefying draughts offered him in his
dying agony, the lots cast upon his garments, his
victory over death and the grave by the
resurrection on the third day, his final exaltation
on the right hand of God,—all these were in direct
fulfillment of the words of the prophets. But the
more conclusive the arguments presented, the
more determined were the Jews in their opposition.
Frenzied with malice, they reiterated their
assertions that Jesus of Nazareth was a deceiver.
Further argument was useless. Paul closed
with a solemn address, in which he applied to
them the words of Isaiah, before quoted by
Christ himself: "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."
Paul's words had not been in vain. Some
fully accepted Jesus as the world's Redeemer,
and, despite the opposition of their former
brethren, became earnest advocates of the truth.
The people of God living near the close of time
should learn a lesson from this experience of
Paul's. We should not be disheartened because
those who have no love for truth refuse to be
convinced by the clearest evidence. We need
not flatter ourselves that the formal and
world-loving churches of this age are more ready to [p. 279] receive the teachings of God's word than were
those of ages past. Paul's worst enemies were
among the Jews, who made the highest claims
to godliness. It was to this class that Christ
said, "Ye know not the Scriptures, neither the
power of God." The most bitter opposers of
truth to-day are found among those who profess
to be its defenders.
God has made his people the depositaries of
his law. They must uphold the claims of that
down-trodden law against the opposition of
ministers of the gospel, against men of learning,
position, and authority. The evidence of its
binding claims cannot be overthrown; yet its
enemies will come again and again to the battle,
urging the same arguments, every time refuted,
and as often renewed.
Paul was led and taught by the Holy Spirit;
but, notwithstanding this, those who were not
thus taught were filled with jealousy and malice
when they saw him advocating truths which
they had not sanctioned. They were determined
that he should move no faster than they. Had
they, like the noble Bereans, searched the Scriptures
with a humble, teachable spirit, they would
have learned the truth as Paul preached it; but
they studied only to find something to sustain
themselves and condemn him.
The truth always involves a cross. Those who
will not believe, oppose and deride those who do
believe. The fact that its presentation creates a
storm of opposition, is no evidence against the
truth. The prophets and apostles imperiled their
lives because they would conscientiously obey
God. And our Saviour declares that "all that will
live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
This is the Christian's legacy.
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