Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Acts Chapter 28
Metaphysically Interpreting Acts 28:1-10
28:1And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita. 28:2And the barbarians showed us no common kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 28:3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 28:4And when the barbarians saw the venomous creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live. 28:5Howbeit he shook off the creature into the fire, and took no harm. 28:6But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss came to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
28:7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and entertained us three days courteously. 28:8And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him. 28:9And when this was done, the rest also that had diseases in the island came, and were cured: 28:10who also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed.
November 7, 1900: Acts 28:1-10
Our special interest in this lesson centers about the healing power displayed by Paul. The inhabitants of the island supposed of course that the poison of the viper that fastened upon Paul's hand would soon produce the usual results, and their surprise was great, when he was not in the least harmed. They concluded that he was a god. This conclusion is almost identical with that of modern Christians. They tell us that it was a miraculous intervention of God. The text says that the people on the island were "barbarians," which means that they were unenlightened, ignorant. Are there "barbarians" in the church today? Instead of inquiring into the state of mind and body, which would cause a follower of Jesus to have power to heal himself and others, they rest in easy ignorance and say; "miraculous," “one of the gods."
Jesus told his followers, (all who believed as he taught) that they should "take up serpents," and that they should "heal the sick." These were part of the “signs" that were to follow true believers. The inference is that those who do not display the "signs" are not true believers. Paul was an example of one who believed, and his constant communion with Jesus in dreams, visions and open audience, is evidence of his fulfillment of the promises.
The question that comes naturally to every Christian is, Why are the majority of the "signs" ignored by the church, and what is the nature of that mysterious impartation of superhuman power by Jesus to his followers? The time is at hand when the church must answer these questions. Its members are asking them and going outside for their answers. There is trouble ahead, unless the church fathers wake up and get wise. The "barbarian" age has passed, ignorance is no longer an excuse, and those who have been entrusted with the transcendent powers of Christ must put them into action, or lose their prestige as religious teachers.
There is no miracle connected with this ability in man to overcome negative conditions. We all possess powers that we know not of, and we will always remain in ignorance of them, until we are willing to learn the law by which they are brought into expression. The Devil is an assumed name; his real cognomen is "Ignorant Personality." This worthy invents names for things he does not understand and good people fall into his trap. He invented "miraculous" and said it designated what God did by special intervention, and what man could not understand. This is a great lie. God never performed a miracle. God does all his works according to law. The universe would be a chaos of contending elements if God should depart from the uniform law in its control. Then whatever has been done by any man at any time can be done now. The law is the same with Jesus, with Paul, with John Smith. "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
- UNITY magazine
Metaphysically Interpreting Acts 28:11-16
28:11And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers. 28:12And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. 28:13And from thence we made a circuit, and arrived at Rhegium: and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli; 28:14where we found brethren, and were entreated to tarry with them seven days: and so we came to Rome. 28:15And from thence the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
28:16And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him.
November 7, 1897: Acts 28:1-16
The "certain island”, Melita (Acts 27:26), is a certain region of thought that is insular – peculiar – by itself; it is mortal mind isolated from the Spiritual. In particular, it is external mortal thought.
The true Christian, who continually abides in the "secret place of the Most High," in conscious at-one-ment with the Father, need never be touched by these Maltese thoughts: for he has a constant sense of the Divine Presence and protection; “there shall no evil befall him, neither shall any plague come nigh his dwelling." But when he steps aside from the path of his high trust, "appealing unto Caesar," claiming his Roman citizenship, on his way to Rome, he encounters these "barbarian” thoughts, as a consequent experience.
In this lesson Paul represents a large class of Christians, who trust God, but not implicitly; for they appeal to the world in most of the affairs of life, look to public opinion for justification and protection; so that one may scarcely discern between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not." "Appealing unto Caesar," they go to Caesar," and get stranded on the sand-bars of "Melita." Only those not fully Christ-minded get stranded here.
1-2. But mortal thought is kind-hearted; it has a law of ethics of its own: "shows no little kindness" to the unfortunate: its charity is of the material type, that would shield "everyone" from "the present rain and the present cold." It deals only in externals and personalities, or "present" appearances. It knows nothing of Spiritual things, of Divine Love, which is true charity, that sees deeper than externalities or personalities, that heals the stream by healing the fountain, thus bringing harmony to the mind and its expression.
3-4. Very few indeed find this "secret place," where "no evil comes nigh"; but those who have not found it, are liable to be stung by the "viper" of external carnal thought, to have manifestations of error; and thus the Maltese "barbarians regard them as sinners, "murderers", suffering for their sins: their idea of "justice" ("whom justice suffersth not to live").
5. But even such Christians do trust God; and they often find him, "a very present help in time of need." "Many are the afflictions of the righteous" (afflictions come to those not in the "secret place"), "but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." They have power to "shake off the beast, and feel no harm." This is their healing power: demonstration.
6. As mortal thought reasons only from external appearances, it first condemns you as a sinner ("murderer"), when you are attacked by disease; but when, through the power of Christ, you "shake off" the manifestation, and find immediate relief, he changes his mind, and calls you a supernatural being, and men flock to you for healing, as they did to Francis Schlatter.
7. When by your friendliness you win the friendliness and favor of this thought, you will have opportunities for exercising your gift of healing, which you should not withhold. Give them the best you have, and they will "honor you with many honors," and "lade you with things necessary." Don't withhold your Divine gifts, because you think they are not "ready for them." The transition from sickness to health will make them your bountiful friends.
11. "After three months", in the fullness of time, having by demonstration made helping friends of external mortal thought, you enter another "ship of Alexander", still" going to Caesar." A "ship", or a chariot, because it carries you along, is your reasoning: and a "ship of Alexandria" (Egyptian) is mortal-mind reasoning, which cannot carry you to Jerusalem, the Spiritual, but carries you to Rome, the worldly. To resort to human expedients for protection or healing is sailing in "a ship of Alexandria"; as in insuring against accidents, instead of realizing your absolute safety from accidents in the "secret place" of Being. Alas! How many sail in this mortal-mind ship "whose sign is the Twin Brothers," Good and Evil. These Twin Brothers, Realities (to mortal mind), are the controlling "sign" at the very prow of the ship of human reasoning. Such reasoning carries one farther and farther from Jerusalem, and nearer and nearer to Rome.
12-14. And so the favoring "south wind" of events carries you oh to Rome. You rejoice to find that the Roman thought, unlike the Maltese, is not entirely destitute of the spiritual idea. Many Spiritual thoughts reach your mind from new environment. They are leavening thoughts, which you had sent forth from your Jerusalem center, and which now come forth responsive from the worldly thought to bless and cheer you.
15. For these messengers of good you "thank God and take courage".
16. These helpful thoughts make lighter your bondage, for you "dwell by yourself"; your consciousness is undisturbed, except by a constant reminder of mortality, chained to “a soldier that kept him." This is the continual embarrassment to your Spiritual consciousness, while you remain in the Roman thought. This Paul shows in his letter to these very Romans. "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
– UNITY magazine
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1921: Acts 28:1-16
Paul and his companions lost all of their temporal belongings in the shipwreck. What did they have left? Apparently nothing. They were among barbarians on a barren island, and it was rainy and cold. But God was with them; and through his power, they entertained and provided with the things necessary to the completion of their journey.
What should this teach us? That we should have a larger appreciation of the power of Spirit to put us into touch with the things we need.
In the last chapter of Mark, Jesus says to his followers: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation." He then enumerated signs which accompany those who believe. How many of these signs did Paul fulfill in this lesson? Two. “They shall take up serpents,” and they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
What do we understand these points to represent in individual consciousness? Taking up serpents represents lifting up sense consciousness without being hurt by its reaction. Laying hands on the sick represents pouring out the power of the healing Spirit.
What do the barbarians represent in man’s consciousness? Barbarians are the unillumined thoughts of man. They judge by mortal law, because they do not understand the spiritual law.
What relation does the natural law bear to Divine Law? The relation of ignorance to understanding. When man understands Divine Law and his relation to it, it dawns upon him that he is the manifester of Divine Law, and is give dominion over “everything that creepeth upon the ground.”
How does the serpent (sensation) sting man? Man, in his ignorance, indulges in the pleasures of sensation without having a definite and constructive object in view.
Are there any miracles in the exercise of Divine Law? No. The only true laws are those or the Spirit, of which the manmade laws are imitations, usually very poor ones.
When the barbarians – our ignorant thoughts – behold man exercising fits God-given powers, what do they conclude? In their lack of understanding of the Divine Law, these ignorant thoughts attempt to exalt the man to a superior realm; they call him a god.
Was Paul any more of a god than the father of Publius and others on the island, whom Paul healed? No. Paul was a man, but his understanding had been quickened by the Holy Spirit, and he was exercising his innate powers of the Christ Mind.
March 26, 1950: Acts 28:14-15
What is signified by Paul's desiring to go to Rome? The word of Truth (Paul) seeks to enlarge its ministry of Truth by spiritualizing all the thoughts of strength, might, and power heretofore under the domination of the sense mind, (symbolized by Rome).
What is the basis for gratitude on our part? The fact that we are capable of unwavering faith in God and that we have the assurance that all others who have a similar faith are our brothers and that we may have fellowship with them on this basis. "The brethren . . . came to meet us . . . whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
Metaphysically Interpreting Acts 28:17-22
28:17And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans: 28:18who, when they had examined me, desired to set me at liberty, because there was no cause of death in me.28:19But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had aught whereof to accuse my nation. 28:20For this cause therefore did I entreat you to see and to speak with me: for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. 28:21And they said unto him, We neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee. 28:22But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.
Metaphysically Interpreting Acts 28:23-31
28:23And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening. 28:24And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 28:25And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers, 28:26saying,
Go thou unto this people, and say,
By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand;
And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:28:27For this people's heart is waxed gross,
And their ears are dull of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed;
Lest, haply they should perceive with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And should turn again,
And I should heal them.28:28Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear.28:29And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much disputing among themselves.
28:30And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him, 28:31preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.
November 14, 1909: Acts 28:11-24
Looking upon Paul in the light of symbology, and his history as an allegory, we see some points emphasized to the detriment of the central figure. He was not perfect; he would not truly represent the experiences of Truth in the fallible human consciousness, if he had been. This allegory does not represent Truth in its highest, but a statement of Truth as it works its way through a mind unused to its presence. Jesus Christ was the whole Truth demonstrated, but that Truth had to be sown as seed in the minds of men, where it went through all the changes of the "grain of corn" dropped into the ground. The soil was rocky at that age of the human family. Peter was bigoted and a liar; Thomas was a materialist and a doubter; Judas was a thief and a traitor; all the disciples, even to the beloved John, quarreled among themselves as to who should be first in the new kingdom, which their materialistic minds conceived as about to be set up by Jesus; and Paul, the chief apostle, was a persecutor of women and children and a man-slayer, having been the ringleader and abettor of those who stoned Stephen to death. Paul was by nature a fighter. He belonged to that class of irrepressibles that, when fired by an idea, cannot be hushed up. He just would talk about the subject that possessed his mind. He talked incessantly, argued and expostulated, an intellectual debater. In this day he would be called a wordy crank. Consider, for instance, his preaching at Troas, which he kept up all night. The people were overcome with sleep. One young man, Eutychus, fell out a third story window at midnight and was taken up dead. But Paul was not to be switched off by a little thing like that, so he promptly restored the young man to life, and went on preaching to him until daylight.
Truth is first conceived by man in the heart, of which Jerusalem is the symbol, but because of intellectual dominance it drifts to the head, of which Rome is the symbol. The orthodox church is dominated by the intellect, and its center is still at Rome. If it were truly spiritual, Jerusalem would be its head. Paul being taken to Rome in chains is a fitting symbol of Truth captured by the intellect and confined to the bonds which it has placed upon itself.
Paul called the Jews together at Rome and explained to them that he had, so far as he knew, done nothing against the religion of the fathers, "yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans." We often justify ourselves in this way when environments seem to hold us. We argue that we have been true to the science, yet we are bound hand and foot; why is this? We forget that we have appealed to Caesar in the beginning, and that the law which we then invoked is still working. But in spite of bonds, we go on declaring the Truth. The conservative element rebels against any expansion of the doctrine which it has accepted, and without investigation puts the customary hearsay stamp of counterfeit upon it; " this sect we know is everywhere spoken against".
Truth advances by degrees. ''Some believed and some disbelieved." Do not be discouraged if your work is slowly accepted. Go right on, as did Paul, teaching and preaching the Lord Jesus Christ, and the harvest will eventually come. The indomitable persistence of a single mind daily sending out its concentrated force, is said by occultists to be the most potent power in the world. If your philosophy is based upon Truth do not fear but what it will demonstrate, if you persist in affirming it, and refuse to dilute it for the sake of popular demand. Because people disbelieve is no sign that your statements are error. Every new statement of Truth has been hooted by the masses. What is accepted as true today in nearly every avenue of science and religion was ridiculed when it was set forth. When Jesus declared himself the Messiah, the Jews laughed at him in scorn. If Jesus in our day should tramp from town to town, and associate with the class that he did in Palestine, how many would believe in him? The church that owes its origin to his words would he the most sarcastic in its sneers, and the people that bow in adoration before the ideal pictures which art has produced, would laugh in his humble face. " Judge not according to appearances."
- UNITY magazine
SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 1915: Acts 28:11-24
Paul was not perfect; he would not truly represent the experiences of Truth in the fallible human consciousness, if he had been. His life does not represent Truth in its highest, but a statement of Truth as it works its way through a mind unused to its presence. Jesus Christ was the whole Truth demonstrated, but that Truth had to be sown as seed in the minds of men, where it went through all the changes of the "grain of corn" dropped into the ground. The soil was rocky at that age of the human family. Peter was bigoted and a liar; Thomas was a materialist and a doubter, Judas was a thief and a traitor; all the disciples, even to the beloved John, quarreled among themselves as to who should be first in the new kingdom, which their materialistic minds conceived as about to be set up by Jesus; and Paul, the chief apostle, was a persecutor of women and children and a man-slayer, having been the ringleader and abettor of those who stoned Stephen to death. Paul was by nature a fighter. He belonged to that class of irrepressibles that, when fired by an idea, cannot be hushed up. He just would talk about the subject that possessed his mind. He talked incessantly, argued and expostulated – an intellectual debater. In this day he would be called a wordy crank. Consider, for instance, his preaching at Troas, which he kept up all night. The people were overcome with sleep. One young man, Eutychus, fell out a third story window at midnight and was taken up dead. But Paul was not to be switched off "by a little thing like that so he promptly restored the young man to life, and went on preaching to him until daylight.
Truth is first conceived by man in the heart, of which Jerusalem is the symbol, but because of intellectual dominance, it drifts to the head, of which Rome is the symbol. The orthodox church is dominated by the intellect and its center is still at Rome. If it were truly spirit, Jerusalem would be its head. Paul being taken to Rome in chains is a fitting symbol of Truth captured by the intellect and confined to the bonds which it has placed upon itself. Paul called the Jews together at Rome and explained to them that he had, so far as he knew, done nothing against the religion of the fathers, "yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans." We often justify ourselves in this way, when environments seem to hold us. We argue that we have been true to the science, yet we are bound hand and foot; why is this? We forget that we have appealed to Caesar in the beginning, and that the law, which we then invoked, is still working. But in spite of bonds, we go on declaring the Truth. The conservative element rebels against any expansion of the doctrine, which it has accepted, and without investigation puts the customary hearsay stamp of counterfeit upon it: "This sect we know is everywhere spoken against."
Truth advances by degrees. "Some believed and some disbelieved." Do not be discouraged if your work is slowly accepted; go right on, as did Paul, teaching and preaching the Lord Jesus Christ, and the harvest will eventually come. The indomitable persistence of a single mind daily sending out its concentrated force, is said by occultists to be the most potent power in the world. If your philosophy is based upon Truth, do not fear but what it will demonstrate, if you persist in affirming it, and refuse to dilute it for the sake of popular demand. Because people disbelieve is no sign that your statements are error. Every new statement of Truth has been hooted by the masses. What is accepted as true today in nearly every avenue of science and religion was ridiculed when it was first set forth. When Jesus declared himself the Messiah, the Jews laughed at him in scorn. If Jesus in our day should tramp from town to town, and associate with the class that he did in Palestine, how many would believe in him? The church that owes its origin to his words would be the most sarcastic in its sneers, and the people that bow in adoration before the ideal pictures, which art has produced, would laugh in his humble face.
– UNITY magazine
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1925: Acts 28:16-24
In the first part of this lesson Paul is in Rome constantly under a Roman guard. What does this condition of Paul's represent metaphysically? Paul represents the illumined intellect, which. when set upon by its enemies, appeals to the mortal law for protection. The verdict of the Roman governor was that Paul was not guilty of any wrong. but that, because he had appealed to Caesar, he had to be tried by Caesar.
What lesson does this experience of Paul's teach to those who are working under the law of the Spirit? Those who work in Spirit should trust Spirit for deliverance from all persecutions.
When Paul found himself under bondage to mortal law, why did he call together, for a conference, "those that were the chief of the Jews"? When one who is teaching and preaching the divine law comes under bondage to the mortal law, he realizes that his only hope of help is from those who believe in the power of Spirit (represented by the Jews).
Should one who has received spiritual illumination ever cease to speak the word of Truth even though, like Paul, he is imprisoned and bound with a chain, day and night, to a Roman guard? Those who are following the Lord Jesus in the regeneration should preach and teach the coming of the new race and the new kingdom in the earth. A prison has again and again proved to be a good place for one had a message from Spirit and needed relief from the burdens of the outer life. John Bunyan is a fine illustration of this. He wrote his imperishable "Pilgrim's Progress" in the Bedford county prison, England.
Do intellectual persons, when quickened by Spirit, always use good judgment in presenting Truth? No. Paul, who was by nature a fighter, is a good example of an intellectual giant. He belonged to that class of irrepressibles that, when fired by an idea, cannot be hushed. He talked incessantly; he argued and expostulated; he was a debater.
Does man change his mind from material to spiritual consciousness under exact law, or is the change what is sometimes called miraculous? Thoughts and words are mathematically related in the realm of mind. Because of its superior power, a spiritual idea introduced into consciousness will gradually change the whole thought structure and eventually transform even the brain cells. The word "Truth", as we use it, covers the entire spiritual law, as taught by Jesus Christ. Truth is first conceived by man in the heart (of which Jerusalem is the symbol), but, because of intellectual dominance, it comes under the dominion of the head (of which Rome is the symbol). Paul's being taken to Rome in chains is a fitting symbol of Truth captured by the religious intellect and held by the bonds which it has placed upon itself.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1933: Acts 28:11-22
In our lesson today, what does Paul represent? He represents the experiences of Truth in the fallible human consciousness.
From the viewpoint of Truth, what is the general outlook, when this power first begins its redeeming work? When Truth sets out from spiritual consciousness (Jerusalem) and descends into soul and body consciousness, it is faced with many difficulties. Usually the soul is in a chaotic state and the body is diseased, all of which hinders spiritual progress. The claims of the senses, the cold mental conception of life, and the limitations of mortal law must all be tactfully approached and held in check, before the mind can glimpse the unlimited possibilities of the free life in Christ.
Does Truth ever become entangled in the meshes of the limited laws of sense? Yes. In today’s lesson Pau1, after many trying experiences, was delivered in Rome a prisoner.
Metaphysically, what does Rome represent? Rome represents the head, in contrast with Jerusalem, which represents the heart. The head is the seat of the dominating personal will. When the will, guided by sense, binds Truth in the realm of personal understanding, the activity of Spirit seems inhibited.
Is there a way out of such a situation? Yes, Paul (Truth) called together the "chief of the Jews" (highest religious thoughts in the realm of the intellect) and laid the whole matter before them.
What was the result of this action? While sense consciousness refers all judgment to the realm of the intellect, it lacks the power to penetrate this realm. Therefore, Paul found that no charge was registered against him, and he was free to preach the Truth to all with whom he came in contact.
November 22, 1936: Acts 28:16-24
Should one be ruled by thought or by feeling, by the head or by the heart? One should not be ruled wholly by either of these forces. One should combine sound reasoning power with genuine feeling, remaining master of both, instead of allowing oneself to be controlled by either.
Does intellectual power mean freedom or bondage? He who is ruled by intellect alone is not entirely free, for freedom is one of the issues of life that spring from the heart. Nevertheless a certain measure of freedom is inherent in intellectual power.
Why do many persons appear to be limited in reasoning power? Since reason develops in proportion to understanding and cannot exceed it, and since understanding is a rare spiritual quality, many persons appear to be limited in reasoning power.
What power dispels sin? The saving power of the Christ alone is adequate to this work.
June 14, 1903: Acts 28:30-31
Truth advances by degrees. "Some believed and some disbelieved." Do not be discouraged if your work is slowly accepted. Go right on, as did Paul, teaching and preaching the Lord Jesus Christ, and the harvest will eventually come. The indomitable persistence of a single mind daily sending out its concentrated force, is said by occultists to be the most potent power in the world. If your philosophy is based upon Truth, do not fear but what it will demonstrate, if you persist in affirming it, and refuse to dilute it for the sake of popular demand. Because people disbelieve is no sign that your statements are error. Every new statement of Truth has been hooted by the masses. What is accepted as true today in nearly every avenue of science and religion was ridiculed when it was first set forth. When Jesus declared himself the Messiah, the Jews laughed at him in scorn. He did not meet with a hundredth part of the credence that Dowie of Chicago has, who declares himself to be reincarnated Elijah. If Jesus in our day should tramp from town to town, and associate with the class that he did in Palestine, how many would believe in him? The church that owes its origin to his words would be the most sarcastic in its sneers, and the people that bow in adoration before the ideal pictures which art has produced, would laugh in his humble face. "Judge not according to appearances.”
– UNITY magazine
December 17, 1933: Acts 28:30-31
Is the work of Truth enduring? Yes. It continues unceasingly to actuate the mind and consciousness of man. The whole earth will yet come under its dominion, as man lifts himself up by its help into the glorious freedom of an heir of God.
December 5, 1948: Acts 28:30-31
Can we ever be in a position where it is impossible for us to make our influence for good felt? No. Influence is an intangible quality, as invisible as energy, but composed of the same substance. It can be exerted anywhere, even silently and in the absence of the one who is influenced. Paul was a prisoner in chains, but he continued his work of making Truth known throughout his imprisonment. His work and influence grew instead of diminishing through the years.
March" 26, 1950: Acts 28:30-31
Can the intellect exert freeing power? It can free us from the darkness of ignorance and bigotry. This truth is symbolized by Paul's being allowed to live in his own hired dwelling in Rome and to preach the gospel there without let or hindrance.
What is signified by Paul's "preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ" to "all that went in unto him"? The word of Truth continues unceasingly its work of redeeming and spiritualizing all the thoughts that come under its influence. The whole earth will yet come under the dominion of the Truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, as man lifts himself up by its help into the glorious freedom that is his as a son and heir of God.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 11-06-2013
