第135章

Caesar's Household.

The gospel has ever achieved its greatest success among the humbler classes.

"Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called." 1 Corinthians 1:26.It could not be expected that Paul, a poor and friendless prisoner, would be able to gain the attention of the wealthy and titled classes of Roman citizens.To them vice presented all its glittering allurements and held them willing captives.But from among the toilworn, want-stricken victims of their oppression, even from among the poor slaves, many gladly listened to the words of Paul and in the faith of Christ found a hope and peace that cheered them under the hardships of their lot.

Yet while the apostle's work began with the humble and the lowly, its influence extended until it reached the very palace of the emperor.

Rome was at this time the metropolis of the world.The haughty Caesars were giving laws to nearly every nation upon the earth.King and courtier were either ignorant of the humble Nazarene or regarded Him with hatred and derision.And yet in less than two years the gospel found its way from the prisoner's lowly home into the imperial halls.Paul is in bonds as an evildoer; but "the word of God is not bound." 2 Timothy 2:9.

In former years the apostle had publicly proclaimed the faith of Christ with winning power, and by signs and miracles he had given unmistakable evidence of its divine character.With noble firmness he had risen up before the sages of Greece and by his knowledge and eloquence had put to silence the arguments of proud philosophy.With undaunted courage he had stood before kings and governors, and reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, until the haughty rulers trembled as if already beholding the terrors of the day of God.

No such opportunities were now granted the apostle, confined as he was to his own dwelling, and able to proclaim the truth to those only who sought him there.He had not, like Moses and Aaron, a divine command to go before the profligate king and in the name of the great I AM rebuke his cruelty and oppression.Yet it was at this very time, when its chief advocate was apparently cut off from public labor, that a great victory was won for the gospel; for from the very household of the king, members were added to the church.

Nowhere could there exist an atmosphere more uncongenial to Christianity than in the Roman court.Nero seemed to have obliterated from his soul the last trace of the divine, and even of the human, and to bear the impress of Satan.His attendants and courtiers were in general of the same character as himself--fierce, debased, and corrupt.To all appearance it would be impossible for Christianity to gain a foothold in the court and palace of Nero.

Yet in this case, as in so many others, was proved the truth of Paul's assertion that the weapons of his warfare were "mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,"2 Corinthians 10:4.Even in Nero's household, trophies of the cross were won.From the vile attendants of a viler king were gained converts who became sons of God.These were not Christians secretly, but openly.They were not ashamed of their faith.

And by what means was an entrance achieved and a firm footing gained for Christianity where even its admission seemed impossible? In his epistle to the Philippians, Paul ascribed to his own imprisonment his success in winning converts to the faith from Nero's household.Fearful lest it might be thought that his afflictions had impeded the progress of the gospel, he assured them: "I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel."Philippians 1:12.

When the Christian churches first learned that Paul was to visit Rome, they looked forward to a signal triumph of the gospel in that city.Paul had borne the truth to many lands; he had proclaimed it in great cities.Might not this champion of the faith succeed in winning souls to Christ even in the metropolis of the world? But their hopes were crushed by the tidings that Paul had gone to Rome as a prisoner.They had confidently hoped to see the gospel, once established at this great center, extend rapidly to all nations and become a prevailing power in the earth.How great their disappointment! Human expectations had failed, but not the purpose of God.

Not by Paul's sermon's, but by his bonds, was the attention of the court attracted to Christianity.It was as a captive that he broke from so many souls the bonds that held them in the slavery of sin.Nor was this all.He declared: "Many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." Philippians 1:14.

Paul's patience and cheerfulness during his long and unjust imprisonment, his courage and faith, were a continual sermon.His spirit, so unlike the spirit of the world, bore witness that a power higher than that of earth was abiding with him.And by his example, Christians were impelled to greater energy as advocates of the cause from the public labors of which Paul had been withdrawn.In these ways were the apostle's bonds influential, so that when his power and usefulness seemed cut off, and to all appearance he could do the least, then it was that he gathered sheaves for Christ in fields from which he seemed wholly excluded.