The patience and meekness with which he submitted to a long and unjust imprisonment drew the attention of the public, and forced the conviction upon many minds that where there was such a willingness to suffer, there must be an unwavering faith in the doctrines advocated. His cheerfulness under affliction and imprisonment was so unlike the spirit of the unfortunate and afflicted of the world, that they could but see that a power higher than any earthly influence was ever abiding with him. His courage and faith were a continual sermon. And by his example, other Christians were nerved to greater energy. They felt that they would not be losers in becoming the advocates of truth and pushing forward the work from which Paul was temporarily withdrawn. In these ways were the apostle’s bonds influential, so that when to all appearance he could do the least, when his power and usefulness seemed cut off, then it was that he was gathering sheaves for Christ, in fields from which he seemed wholly excluded. {LP 292.3}


Skildringer fra Paulus liv kapitel 27. 292.     Fra side 292 i den engelske udgave.tilbage

Kejserens hof

Den tålmodighed og sagtmodighed som han underkastede sig med i en lang og uretfærdig fængsling, drog offentlighedens opmærksomhed, og tvang mange til overbevisning at der var villighed til at lide, at der måtte være en urokkelig tro på den lære der blev forsvaret. Hans glæde under pinsler og fængsling var så ulig ånden hos den verdslige forpinte og ulykkelige, at de kun kunne se en højere kraft end nogen jordisk indflydelse nogensinde kunne være hos ham. Hans mod og tro var en stadig prædiken. Og ved sig eksempel, fik andre kristne mere energi. De følte at de ikke ville miste retten som sandhedens forsvarer og fremføre det arbejde som Paulus imidlertid var blevet trukket ud af. På disse måder havde apostlens lænker indflydelse, så over for alle kunne han gøre det mindste, skønt hans kraft og nyttighed virkede afskårne, så var det at han samlede neg for Kristus, på marker som han tilsyneladende var helt udelukkede fra.

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