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THE KING’S BUSINESS
marvellous the unscrupulous methods to which even religious people who oppose the truth will oftentimes resort to carry out their schemes of hindering the preach ing of the full* gospel, and it is equally marvellous the kind of people they will call upon to help them in their resistance to what in their hearts they know to be the truth pf God. v. 6 . "And when they found them not, they drew (dragged) Jason, and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, cry ing, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” There was much truth in this charge that was brought against Paul and Silas, for no other men did as much to turn the world upside down as this man Paul. Whaf was intended as an accusation was really a com- .mendation. There is great need today of preachers who turn things upside down, for things in society and politics and com merce, and sometimes in the church, are wrong side up, and the man who turns them upside down will thus get them right, side up. But the man who does find things wrong side up and turn them upside down and thus get them right side up, will always get in trouble for doing it. v. 7. "Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying, that there is another king, one Jesus.” Part of the charge brought against Paul was true and part was false. Paul did not do contrary to the decrees, of Caesar, he was very scrupulous in uphold ing the authority of the powers that be (Rom. 13:1-4), but he did say that there was “another king, one Jesus.” He not only said it, but it needs to be said again and again to those who see no king but some king of this earth. Some day all must recognize the kingship of this King, Jesus (Ps. 2:8-12). But while Paul doubt less did say that there was another King, even Jesus, he did not seek to turn any man from his duty to Caesar (cf. Acts 25:8).. The man who recognizes in his life the kingship of Jesus is the one who
pel which he preached came to them not in “word only; but also in power, and in the. Holy Ghost, and in much assurance” (1 Thess. 1:5). In that epistle he gives us a very charming picture of these con verts in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 1:6-10), But even under Paul’s preaching there were many >who did not tjelieve. It is not God’s purpose in this present dispensation, by the preaching of the gospel to save every body, hut to gather out a people for His name (ch. 15:14) : and the gospel has not failed, even though the majority are not saved; for the purpose of the preaching of the gospel is' the gathering out of those who will accept it. The church is a called out body. A well instructed preacher of the gospel, is not endeavoring to establish the kingdom of God universally among men; that belongs to a future dispensa tion ; he is simply seeking to bring some into an intelligent saving faith, knowing that many will harden their hearts and will not believe. Those who did believe threw in their lot with Paul and Silas; true converts always seek the society of other Christians. v. 5. "But the Jews which believed not, ( omit, which believed not) ('add, being) moved with envy (jealousy), took unto them certain lewd (vile) fellows of the baser sort (rabble,) and gathered (gather ing) a company (crowd), and ('omit, and) set all ('omit, all) the city on an uproar, and assaulted (assaulting) the house of Jason, and (they) sought to bring them out (forth) to the people.” The gospel caused division as well as union in Thessa lonica: union of believers, division between believers and the world. The gospel when preached fully and boldly in the power of the Spirit always causes division between those who accept the truth and those who reject the truth. Paul’s success aroused the envy of the Jews: every successful preacher must expect to be envied by some of the smaller men. The envious Jews were utterly unscrupulous , in their methods, they were willing to seek help from any kind o£ people, no matter how vile. It is
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