"And now, Lord, behold their threatenings; and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus."

It is not necessary to detail particularly the further progress of the apostles. Opposition grew more violent, and the consequences of their undertaking were sufficiently seen. They nevertheless continued to teach the Gospel both publicly and privately; and the number of converts was so greatly multiplied within a few months, that it became necessary to appoint officers for the management of their temporal

concerns.

At length persecution in Jerusalem drove the converts into the various cities of Asia, to which they conveyed their new faith: confining themselves at first to their own countrymen ;

• Acts,, iv. 29.

but afterwards induced by the hostility with which they were opposed, to address Jews and Gentiles indiscriminately.

And this change of plan supplies incidental occasion for a remarkable feature of internal evidence in the different tone of address which is used by the same persons, now described as appealing to heathen nations. We possess two circumstantial records of their first discourse to such assemblies, which bear the strongest marks of the qualities most important to their credit, honesty, and common sense. Those who had fabricated a history, would be likely to tell it always in the same tone. The language of the Apostles varied with their circumstances. To the Jews, as we saw, they appealed to things acknowledged by themselves and their countrymen in common, and laboured mainly to establish the point, that the crucified Jesus was the expected Messiah. But between the heathen and themselves there were no books to which they could refer as to the Jewish Scriptures, held in mutual reverence; and before they proceeded to

the more immediate object, the divinity of Jesus, it was necessary to lay down as a foundation the existence and the unity of God, and his concern with the actions of mankind. So at Lystra', where a miraculous cure had drawn the attention of the multitudes, and induced them to offer such honours to Paul and Barnabas as they had been used to pay to the deities of their polytheism: the apostles seize on this as the groundwork of their address, and say: we claim no such adoration; "we also are men of like passions with you; and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities, unto the living God, which made heaven and earth and all things that are therein. Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."

If we treat the apostles as impostors, we must account for this honesty and moderation;

7 Acts, xiv. 8, &c.

if as enthusiasts, for their prudent forbear

ance.

The behaviour of Paul at Athens is no less characteristic. He is said to have gone thither without any previous purpose of seeking proselytes; but as he was waiting for two companions whom he had appointed to join him there, "his spirit was stirred up within him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry." I may seem to assume the fact of his sincerity and earnestness; but surely this is a most accurate description of the feeling of a man conscious that he was in possession of an important truth, which all around him were in want of; and too anxious for the welfare of his fellowcreatures to pass by any opportunity of enlightening them. "Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.” "Then certain of the philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics en

8 Acts, xiii. 16, &c.

countered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? Other some, he seemeth to be à setter forth of strange gods; because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him to Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine is, whereof thou speakest? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears."

There could not be a more exact picture of the Athenian agora and its frequenters, accustomed to perpetual discussions and agitating endless questions, with an utter indifference as to their truth and falsehood. Some entirely rejecting what they heard, "what will this babbler say?" Others struck with something imperfectly comprehended, and thinking it of sufficient consequence to be referred to the council of Areopagus.

We are next presented with the address of Paul to this assembly, opening with an ingenious allusion to the altar inscribed, "To the unknown God;" and undertaking to set forth the