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streams from Calvary shining in our faces； we may go forth to reveal this
light to those in darkness。
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Chapter 21
In the Regions Beyond
The time had come for the gospel to be proclaimed beyond the confines of
Asia Minor。 The way was preparing for Paul and his fellow workers to cross
over into Europe。 At Troas； on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea； 〃a
vision appeared to Paul in the night： There stood a man of Macedonia； and
prayed him； saying； Come over into Macedonia； and help us。〃
The call was imperative； admitting of no delay。 〃After he had seen the
vision；〃 declares Luke； who accompanied Paul and Silas and Timothy on the
journey across to Europe； 〃immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia；
assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel
unto them。 Therefore loosing from Troas； we came with a straight course to
Samothracia； and the next day to Neapolis； and from thence to Philippi；
which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia； and a colony。〃
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〃On the Sabbath；〃 Luke continues； 〃we went out of the city by a riverside；
where prayer was wont to be made； and we sat down； and spake unto the women
which resorted thither。 And a certain woman named Lydia； a seller of purple；
of the city of Thyatira； which worshiped God； heard us： whose heart the Lord
opened。〃 Lydia received the truth gladly。 She and her household were
converted and baptized； and she entreated the apostles to make her house
their home。
As the messengers of the cross went about their work of teaching； a woman
possessed of a spirit of divination followed them； crying； 〃These men are
the servants of the most high God； which show unto us the way of salvation。
And this did she many days。〃
This woman was a special agent of Satan and had brought to her masters much
gain by soothsaying。 Her influence had helped to strengthen idolatry。 Satan
knew that his kingdom was being invaded； and he resorted to this means of
opposing the work of God； hoping to mingle his sophistry with the truths
taught by those who were proclaiming the gospel message。 The words of
recommendation uttered by this woman were an injury to the cause of truth；
distracting the minds of the people from the teachings of the apostles and
bringing disrepute upon the gospel； and by them many were led to believe
that the men who spoke with the Spirit and power of God were actuated by the
same spirit as this emissary of Satan。
For some time the apostles endured this opposition； then under the
inspiration of the Holy Ghost Paul commanded the evil spirit to leave the
woman。 Her immediate silence
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testified that the apostles were the servants of God and that the demon had
acknowledged them to be such and had obeyed their command。
Dispossessed of the evil spirit and restored to her right mind； the woman
chose to become a follower of Christ。 Then her masters were alarmed for
their craft。 They saw that all hope of receiving money from her divinations
and soothsayings was at an end and that their source of income would soon be
entirely cut off if the apostles were allowed to continue the work of the
gospel。
Many others in the city were interested in gaining money through satanic
delusions； and these； fearing the influence of a power that could so
effectually stop their work； raised a mighty cry against the servants of
God。 They brought the apostles before the magistrates with the charge：
〃These men； being Jews； do exceedingly trouble our city； and teach customs；
which are not lawful for us to receive； neither to observe； being Romans。〃
Stirred by a frenzy of excitement； the multitude rose against the disciples。
A mob spirit prevailed and was sanctioned by the authorities； who tore the
outer garments from the apostles and commanded that they should be scourged。
〃And when they had laid many stripes upon them； they cast them into prison；
charging the jailer to keep them safely： who； having received such a charge；
thrust them into the inner prison； and made their feet fast in the stocks。〃
The apostles suffered extreme torture because of the painful position in
which they were left； but they did not murmur。 Instead； in the utter
darkness and desolation of the
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dungeon； they encouraged each other by words of prayer and sang praises to
God because they were found worthy to suffer shame for His sake。 Their
hearts were cheered by a deep and earnest love for the cause of their
Redeemer。 Paul thought of the persecution he had been instrumental in
bringing upon the disciples of Christ； and he rejoiced that his eyes had
been opened to see； and his heart to feel； the power of the glorious truths
which once he despised。
With astonishment the other prisoners heard the sound of prayer and singing
issuing from the inner prison。 They had been accustomed to hear shrieks and
moans； cursing and swearing； breaking the silence of the night； but never
before had they heard words of prayer and praise ascending from that gloomy
cell。 Guards and prisoners marveled and asked themselves who these men could
be； who； cold； hungry； and tortured； could yet rejoice。
Meanwhile the magistrates returned to their homes； congratulating themselves
that by prompt and decisive measures they had quelled a tumult。 But on the
way they heard further particulars concerning the character and work of the
men they had sentenced to scourging and imprisonment。 They saw the woman who
had been freed from satanic influence and were struck by the change in her
countenance and demeanor。 In the past she had caused the city much trouble；
now she was quiet and peaceable。 As they realized that in all probability
they had visited upon two innocent men the rigorous penalty of the Roman law
they were indignant with themselves and decided that in the morning they
would command that the apostles be privately released and
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escorted from the city； beyond the danger of violence from the mob。
But while men were cruel and vindictive； or criminally negligent of the
solemn responsibilities devolving upon them； God had not forgotten to be
gracious to His servants。 All heaven was interested in the men who were
suffering for Christ's sake； and angels were sent to visit the prison。 At
their tread the earth trembled。 The heavily bolted prison doors were thrown
open； the chains and fetters fell from the hands and feet of the prisoners；
and a bright light flooded the prison。
The keeper of the jail had heard with amazement the prayers and songs of the
imprisoned apostles。 When they were led in； he had seen their swollen and
bleeding wounds； and had himself caused their feet to be fastened in the
stocks。 He had expected to hear from them bitter groans and imprecations；
but he heard instead songs of joy and praise。 With these sounds in his ears
the jailer had fallen into a sleep from which he was awakened by the
earthquake and the shaking of the prison walls。
Starting up in alarm； he saw with dismay that all the prison doors were
open； and the fear flashed upon him that the prisoners had escaped。 He
remembered with what explicit charge Paul and Silas had been entrusted to
his care the night before； and he was certain that death would be the
penalty of his apparent unfaithfulness。 In the bitterness of his spirit he
felt that it was better for him to die by his own hand than to submit to a
disgraceful execution。 Drawing his sword； he was about to kill himself； when
Paul's
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voice was heard in the words of cheer； 〃Do thyself no harm： for we are all
here。〃 Every man was in his place； restrained by the power of God exerted
through one fellow prisoner。
The severity with which the jailer had treated the apostles had not aroused
their resentment。 Paul and Silas had the spirit of Christ； not the spirit of
revenge。 Their hearts； filled with the love of the Saviour； had no room for
malice against their persecutors。
The jailer dropped his sword and； calling for lights； hastened into the
inner dungeon。 He would see what manner of men these were who repaid with
kindness the cruelty with which they had been treated。 Reaching the place
where the apostles were； and casting himself before them； he asked their
forgiveness。 Then； bringing them out into the open court； he inquired；
〃Sirs； what must I do to be saved？〃
The jailer had trembled as he beheld the wrath of God manifested in the
earthquake； when he thought that the prisoners had escaped he had been ready
to die by his own hand； but now all these things seemed of little
consequence compared with the new； strange dread that agitated his mind； and
his desire to possess the tranquillity and cheerfulness shown by the
apostles under suffering and abuse。 He saw in their countenances the light
of heaven； he knew that God had interposed in a miraculous manner to save
their lives； and with peculiar force the words of the spirit…possessed woman
came to his mind： 〃Thes