Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/840

 her.” And  the  spirit  left  her. Then her  masters,  seeing  that  the hope of  their  gain  was  gone,  seized  Paul  and  Silas,  and  brought them into  the  market-place  before  the  magistrates,  saying:  “These men, being  Jews,  disturb  our  city.”

Then the  people  rose  against  them,  their  garments  were  torn off, and  the  magistrates  commanded  them  to  be  beaten  with  rods, and then  to  be  thrown  into  prison. At midnight  Paul  and  Silas were praying  and  praising  God,  and  suddenly  there  was  a great earthquake, so  that  the  walls  of  the  prison  were  shaken  to  their foundations. Immediately the  doors  flew  open,  and  the  bonds  of the  prisoners  were  rent  asunder.

The keeper  of  the  prison,  awaking  in  terror  from  his  sleep, and seeing  the  doors  open,  drew  his  sword  to  kill  himself,  because he thought  that  the  prisoners  had  fled. But Paul  cried  out  to him:  “Do  thyself  no  harm,  for  we  are  all  here!”  Upon  this  the jailer, calling  for  a light,  went  in  trembling,  and  fell  down  at  the feet of  Paul  and  Silas. Then he  brought  them  out,  and  said  to them:  “Masters,  what  must  I do  that  I may  be  saved?”  They answered: “Believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved!” That same  hour  he  took  them  and  washed  their  wounds,  and  he and  all  his  household  were  baptized.

Next morning  the  magistrates  sent  orders  to  the  jailer  to release  Paul  and  Silas,  but  when  they  learnt  that  the  two  apostles were Roman  citizens,  they  came  themselves  to  ask  pardon  for having ill-treated  them.

After this,  Paul  and  his  companion  visited  many  cities  of Macedonia.

From there  Paul  went  to  Athens  (Fig.  96,  p.792),  the  most celebrated city  of  Greece. Seeing that  city  wholly  given  up  to idolatry,  his  heart  was  stirred  within  him;  he  disputed  publicly in the  synagogues  with  the  Jews,  and  in  the  market-place  every day with  all  who  were  present.

There came  to  Paul  certain  philosophers,  who  conducted  him to the  Areopagus,  saying:  “May  we  know  what  this  new  doctrine