Page:Life and voyages of the Apostle Paul.pdf/9

Rh David also said, ‘Thou art my Son, this day I have begotten thee.’ He also foretold, that he should return from the chambers of the dust, and no more be subject to corruption: I will give him, said he, the sure mercies of David. And again, ‘Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.’ Now this prophecy must relate to the Messiah; for David himself, after he had swayed the sceptre of Israel a certain time, fell asleep, was deposited in the chambers of the grave, and his flesh saw corruption: but the great Son of David, whom the Almighty raised from the dead, never saw corruption.

“Be it therefore known unto you, men and brethren, that through this Saviour is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. It is by his merits we are justified from all things, which were impossible by the law of Moses. Be careful, therefore, lest what was foretold by the prophets come upon you. ‘Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish: for I work a work in your day, a work which you shall in nowise believe, though a man declare it unto you.’”

This spirited address of the apostle carried with it its own weight, and obtained, from the converted Jews, a request that it should again be delivered the ensuing Sabbath; when almost the whole city flocked to hear the apostle; at which the Jews were filled with envy, and contradicted Paul, uttering many blasphemous expressions against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. But their opposition could not daunt the apostles, who boldly declared, that our blessed Saviour had charged them to preach the gospel first to the Jews, but as they so obstinately rejected it, they were now to address themselves to the Gentiles; who hearing this, rejoiced exceedingly, magnifying the words of the Almighty, and many of them embraced the doctrines of the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas being driven from Antioch, retreated to Iconium, the metropolis of Lycania, a province of Lesser Asia, where they made many converts, both Jews and proselytes. But though they had gained a considerable part of the city to the faith, yet many continued in their infidelity: the old leaven of Jewish malice began again to ferment, and the unbelieving Jews, having stirred up many Gentiles against the apostles, at last prevailed on the multitude to stone them. But the apostles, having timely notice of their design, fled from the city, and travelled to Lystra, where they preached the gospel to the inhabitants, and those who dwelt in the adjacent country.

Among the converts at Lystra was a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb, and never had walked. Paul,