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PAUL'S IMPRISONMENT AT CESAREA.

by night to Antipatris. And the horsemen took Paul on to Cesarea, and presented him before the governor.

60. PAUL'S IMPRISONMENT AT CESAREA.

FELIX treated him kindly, and did not yield to the Jews, who laid many and grievous complaints against him. He allowed him to have more liberty than other prisoners, and would have even released him if Paul would have given him a present of money. Therefore he often sent for him, and conversed with him. On one occasion, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was the daughter of king Herod Agrippa, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled (for his conscience condemned him); and he said to Paul, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a more convenient season I will call for thee." a But truly those who are the servants of sin, never have a convenient season rightly to hear the truth.

After two years, Festus came in the place of Felix. He also had not sufficient love of the truth to take Paul's part against his accusers. And Paul, apprehending that Festus would at length yield to the Jews, appealed to the judgment of the emperor. Upon which Festus said, "Since thou hast appealed unto Cesar, unto Cesar shalt thou go."

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PAUL'S IMPRISONMENT AT CESAREA.

Upon a visit which king Agrippa paid to Festus, Paul had another opportunity of giving a solemn and public testimony concerning Christ, and the grace which he had experienced. Having therefore obtained help of God, (thus he concluded his address,) "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 that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles."

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, " Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad." But 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. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest." Then Agrippa said unto Paul, "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." b There are many who seem not to want much,and yet are not Christians; and thus all is wanting. Oh that it may not be the case with you who read this!

b Acts xxvi. 22-29.

61. PAUL'S VOYAGE TO ROME.

SHORTLY after this, Paul was delivered to a Roman centurion, and entered into a ship, in company with Aristarchus and Luke, to go to Rome. They wished to stop at the island of Crete, to winter there; but a great storm carried the ship away from the land, and brought all the ship's company into great distress. Every thing that could possibly be spared was cast into the sea in order to lighten the vessel, even the tackling of the ship. And an angel of the Lord appeared to Paul in the night, and said to him, "Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee." At last, after they had been driven up and down fourteen days, they saw land near, but they did not know what it was. Before they could reach it, the ship struck on a rock. The ship's company were obliged to save themselves by swimming; and of those who could not swim, some came on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass that they all escaped safe to land; a being two hundred and seventy-six in number.

The land which they reached was an island called Melita, (now Malta.) They were kindly treated by the inhabitants, who immediately kindled a fire for them that they might dry themselves. Paul having 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 Acts xxvii.

THE DIFFUSION OF THE GOSPEL.

And when the people saw the venomous beast, they said among themselves, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live." But he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Then the people changed their minds respecting him, and said that he was a god.

They spent the winter in the island, and Paul had many opportunities there of healing the sick. After three months they continued their voyage in another ship, and came at last safely to Rome. There Paul preached to the Jews, and excited great reasonings among them. Some believed the things that were spoken, and some believed not. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all who came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching all things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. b

62.

THE DIFFUSION OF THE GOSPEL BY THE

APOSTLES.

PAUL expressed the hope, in several of the letters which he wrote from Rome, that he should be again set at liberty. And it is related, in Church History, that he came to Rome a second time, and there, for his confession of Christ, was slain with the sword. During this second imprisonment, he wrote his Second Epistle to Timothy. Previously to this, he had, partly on his journeys, and partly during his first imprisonment at Rome,

b Acts xxviii.

written a number of letters to the different Christian churches with which he had become acquainted during his apostolic travels. These letters we have in the New Testament. Before his death, also, the first three Gospels were written, which form the beginning of the New Testament. Matthew wrote for the Jewish Christians in Palestine ; Mark, probably, for the Romans; Luke for a Greek Christian of rank, named Theophilus. John wrote his Gospel and the Book of Revelation at a later period, after the prophecy of Jesus of the destruction of Jerusalem (seventy years after the birth of Christ) had been fulfilled. We have also in the New Testament epistles from Peter, James, and Jude. Respecting John, we know that he died at a very advanced age. Of the rest of the apostles we have no particular accounts. This much only is certain, that they fulfilled the command of Jesus, to go forth into all the world and preach the gospel. Within the space of five and twenty years, the gospel of Christ was preached in almost all the countries then known. And as they fulfilled his command, so He fulfilled his promise, and is daily fulfilling it still. Yes, all his disciples find it to be true, that HE IS WITH THEM, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD.

END OF BIBLE STORIES (NEW TESTAMENT.)

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY: INSTITUTED 1799.

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