第72章

The apostle's efforts were not confined to public speaking; there were many who could not have been reached in that way.He spent much time in house-to-house labor, thus availing himself of the familiar intercourse of the home circle.He visited the sick and the sorrowing, comforted the afflicted, and lifted up the oppressed.And in all that he said and did he magnified the name of Jesus.Thus he labored, "in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling."1 Corinthians 2:3.He trembled lest his teaching should reveal the impress of the human rather than the divine.

"We speak wisdom among them that are perfect," Paul afterward declared; "yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." 1 Corinthians 2:6-13.

Paul realized that his sufficiency was not in himself, but in the presence of the Holy Spirit, whose gracious influence filled his heart, bringing every thought into subjection to Christ.He spoke of himself as "always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." 2 Corinthians 4:10.In the apostle's teachings Christ was the central figure."I live," he declared, "yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Galatians 2:20.Self was hidden;Christ was revealed and exalted.

Paul was an eloquent speaker.Before his conversion he had often sought to impress his hearers by flights of oratory.But now he set all this aside.Instead of indulging in poetic descriptions and fanciful representations, which might please the senses and feed the imagination, but which would not touch the daily experience, Paul sought by the use of simple language to bring home to the heart the truths that are of vital importance.

Fanciful representations of truth may cause an ecstasy of feeling, but all too often truths presented in this way do not supply the food necessary to strengthen and fortify the believer for the battles of life.The immediate needs, the present trials, of struggling souls--these must be met with sound, practical instruction in the fundamental principles of Christianity.

Paul's efforts in Corinth were not without fruit.Many turned from the worship of idols to serve the living God, and a large church was enrolled under the banner of Christ.Some were rescued from among the most dissipated of the Gentiles and became monuments of the mercy of God and the efficacy of the blood of Christ to cleanse from sin.

The increased success that Paul had in presenting Christ, roused the unbelieving Jews to more determined opposition.They rose in a body and "made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat" of Gallio, who was then proconsul of Achaia.They expected that the authorities, as on former occasions, would side with them; and with loud, angry voices they uttered their complaints against the apostle, saying, "This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law."The Jewish religion was under the protection of the Roman power, and the accusers of Paul thought that if they could fasten upon him the charge of violating the laws of their religion, he would probably be delivered to them for trial and sentence.They hoped thus to compass his death.But Gallio was a man of integrity, and he refused to become the dupe of the jealous, intriguing Jews.Disgusted with their bigotry and self-righteousness, he would take no notice of the charge.As Paul prepared to speak in self-defense, Gallio told him that it was not necessary.Then turning to the angry accusers, he said, "If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, Oye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 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.And he drave them from the judgment seat."Both Jews and Greeks had waited eagerly for Gallio's decision; and his immediate dismissal of the case, as one that had no bearing upon the public interest, was the signal for the Jews to retire, baffled and angry.The proconsul's decided course opened the eyes of the clamorous crowd who had been abetting the Jews.For the first time during Paul's labors in Europe, the mob turned to his side; under the very eye of the proconsul, and without interference from him, they violently beset the most prominent accusers of the apostle."All the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat.And Gallio cared for none of those things." Thus Christianity obtained a signal victory.

"Paul after this tarried there yet a good while." If the apostle had at this time been compelled to leave Corinth, the converts to the faith of Jesus would have been placed in a perilous position.The Jews would have endeavored to follow up the advantage gained, even to the extermination of Christianity in that region.