THE KING’S BUSINESS
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or philosophers. While “some mocked,” others showed more sense; they said, “We will hear you concerning this yet again.” They were not .fully convinced, but they were aroused and anxious to hear more. Possibly some of them wished to put off a decision and used this method of escap ing from their convictions, just as Felix did at a later day (Acts 24:25). If they were honest in saying this and really did hear again, they were convinced in time. If it was simply an excuse to soothe their conscience and postpone a decision, they were not in much better case than those who mocked. When one is convinced, the • thing to do is not to “hear again,” but to decide at once. Paul’s testimony to them was closed and so he left them. It is evident from the freedom of Paul’s action that he was not brought to the Areopagus for trial, but to be heard as reghr/Is his views. Some were satisfied of the truth of what Paul said and threw in their lot with him and believed his teach ings. Among them was Dionysius, a very prominent man, an Areopagite, i.e., one of the judges of the court held on the Areopagus. The duties of the Areopagites were to see that the laws were observed and executed by the properly constituted authorities, to bring officials to trial for their acts while in office, to raise objections to all resolutions of the council and the general assembly, to protest the worship of the gods, and to supervise the religious opinions of the people, and the moral con duct of the cities, and the education of the youth. Their powers at times were great; they were the leading, men of the city. There was also a prominent woman among the converts of this meeting. What became of these two converts in later life we do not know. There are various traditions - about them, but the traditions are of no historical value. The fact that a philoso pher or a judge is converted may not mean as much for a community as the conversion of ah ordinary or even an illiterate man.
Saturday, March 3 . Acts 18 : 1 - 3 . •
Aquila and his wife Priscilla afterward became very important members of the church of Christ (see v. 26; Rom. 16:3, 4; 1 Cor. 16:19; 2 Tim. 4:19). It was appar- ently an insignificant matter that brought Paul into contact with them, viz., the fact that “he was of the same trade.” God uses things just like this for the promotion of His Kingdom. It would be well if we would make more of them for the same purpose. Are you a merchant? Make a point of getting hold of merchants for Christ. Are you a blacksmith? Cultivate the blacksmiths with a view to leading them to Christ. Are you a doctor? Use that fact to get hold of doctors and lead them to Christ. Whatever your trade or occupa tion, use .it as a stepping stone to reach others of the same occupation. An unrighteous edict - had driven Aquila and Priscilla out of Rome.- It doubtless seemed to them a bitter thing to be driven out of the city where their business was, but God turned it to their good; in fact, to no lesser good than their eternal salvation (cf. Ps. 76:10 ).- So the things in our lives that seem the hardest are oftentimes those which work out for our highest welfare (cf. Rom. 8:28). At this first mention of Aquila and Priscilla, Aquila is naturally put before Priscilla, his wife, but later we shall note Paul mentions Priscilla before Aquila, as his helpers (Rom. 16:3, 4; 2 Tim. 4:19). Very likely she outstripped her husband in Christian attainments, though it may be she is 'mentioned first simply as a matter of courtesy. In 1 Cor. 16:19. Aquila is again mentioned first. Though Paul was called to be an Apostle and was greatly honored of God as an Apostle, nevertheless, he did not think it beneath his dignity to do manual labor. There are men today who think it very wrong, a lack of faith,” to do manual labor for their own support, or the sup port of their family, because God has “called” them to preach. If there ever was a man about whose call to preach there
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