1131. Paul's Perils
Paul's Perils
"In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among the false brethren" (2Co_11:26).
Our key verse sums up for us many of the perils which befell the Apostle Paul. Few men have been nearer death than was he. Few men have been in greater distress than he, few suffered more peril.
1. We will recount some of these perils which hold so prominent a part in Paul's "ministry of suffering."
(1) At Thessalonica the Jews, moved with envy, took unto themselves certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company and set all the city in an uproar. Then it was that the brethren sent Paul away by night. We can almost see him, as quietly and stealthily he slips from the grasp of his persecutors.
(2) At Berea the persecutors from Thessalonica came down and stirred up the multitudes. The persecution waxed so hot that the brethren sent Paul away by strategy.
(3) At Corinth the usual persecutions were upon Paul. They opposed him and blasphemed him, but he shook his raiment and said unto them, "Your blood be upon your heads" and he departed thence.
(4) At Ephesus the people raised a great turmoil, crying out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." The whole city was filled with confusion, and with difficulty did the town clerk appease the people. Then Paul, as the uproar ceased, called unto him his disciples and embraced them and departed for Macedonia.
(5) At Jerusalem forty men made a vow that they would neither eat nor drink until they had put Paul to death. This plot was revealed through Paul's sister's son, and the chief captain took Paul by night and hurried him to Caesarea.
Thus, from one conspiracy against him, unto another, Paul passed on his way. Yet, none of these perils moved him. Through it all God stood with him.
2. The record gives us the story of how God made up to Paul, in the hour of his perils.
(1) In Act_18:9-10 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."
(2) In Act_23:11 we read, "And 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.
(3) In Act_27:23-24, we read, "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 Caesar, and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee."
Thus, through every peril there was an eye that saw, a hand that led, and a heart that loved, and God brought Paul safely through. So also will He bring us through.
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned." God is just as much with us in a lion's den, or, in the prison's cell as He is when we sleep quietly on our bed in the security of our home.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR