The Bible Story, Volume 10: Onward to Glory 0828008043, 9780828008044

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m

VOLUME TEN

By

ARTHUR 1 MAXWELL

I

^

PROPERTY OF

SHERIDAN

S.D.A.

SHERIDAN, ILL No.

THE BIBLE STORY VOLUME X

Onward to Glory {From the Ascension of

Christ to His

Coming Kingdom^)

SCHOOL

S5^v«

BIBLE

STORY

More Than Four Hundred Stories in Ten Volumes Covering the Entire Bible From Genesis to Revelation

^

VOLUME TEN Onward

BY ARTHUR

to

S.

Glory

^

MAXWELL

uthor of Uncle Arlhm's Bedtime Stories, The Children's The Secret of the Cave, etc.

Hour With Uncle Arthur

•

REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION Washington, D.C.

Copyright ?

MCMLVII

b>

Review and Herald Publishing Association All Rights Are Reserved

No

part of the literary or pictorial contents of this

book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

C

Illustrations w-ithout credit lines are by d'Andrea, F. Collins, S. Dunlap. W. Heaslip. W. Hutchinson. H Johnson. M. Lee. D. Loomis. T. K_ Martin, V. Nye.

CONTENTS Part I

—

Stories of the First Christian

Church page

Acts 1:12-12:19 1.

The Flame From Heaven

2.

Men

3. 4.

A

9 14

on Fire Beggar Healed

From

17

Prison to Pulpit

21

26

6.

Sons of Encouragement Man With the Shining Face

7.

Seeds in the

„

35

8.

An Old Book Glows

38

42

10.

Enemy Becomes a Champion The Antelope Lady

11.

Animals

12.

Dungeon Doors Open

5.

9.

—

Part II

Wind

in the

Sky

—

31

47

-—

52 57

Stories of the First Christian Missionaries

Acts 13:1-28:31 65

1.

Saul Becomes Paul

2.

Mistaken for Gods

3.

Big Argument Settled

4.

Singing in

-

69

--

76

-

Jail

The Wound Washer Turning the World Upside Down

85

7.

Seekers After Truth

93

8.

Seven Foolish Boys Bonfire in Ephesus

5. 6.

9.

97 -

13.

The Boy Who Slept in Church Sermon on the Stairs Boy With a Secret Heaven Missed by Inches

14.

Angel

10. 11. 12.

in the

89

100 103

106

HI 114 118

Storm

the astonished disciples saw Jesus ascend into heaven, an angel cried, "Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus shall so come ... as ye have seen him go."

As

.

.

.

THE BIBLE STORY Part III

—

Stories of the First Christian Letters

Romans

Love

page

Paul's

2.

Love

3.

One Loving Family God's Armor

135

5.

Eyes on the Prize

139

6.

Love's Knitting

143

7.

Comfort

8.

Fight the

4.

9.

Part

1:1-Jude 25

1.

125

at Its Best

128

132

for the Sorrowful

145

Good Fight! The Runaway Slave

10.

Keep

11.

God

—

IV

Letters

Up Your Is

149 152

Courage!

157

Love

161

Stories of Christ's Final

Triumph

Re\-elation- 1:1-22:21 1.

The Voice Behind You

167

2.

Conquerors for Christ

171

3. 4.

Someone at the Door The Throne of God

180

5.

Horses of History

184

6.

God Marks His Own

189

7.

Last Message of Love

8.

When

9.

Good Wins

at Last

201

AU

New

205

10.

Jesus

Things

Comes

176

192 \

196

Indexi 1.

Complete

2.

Bible

3.

Great Bible Teachings and Character-building Lessons

219

4.

Books of the Bible

224

List of 409 Stories

Men and Women

211

216

PART

I

Stories of the First Christian

(Acts 1:12-12:19)

Church

'^^

^ fiad^

'^^

#

^.

2"r

-isi

;

PART ONE

STORY

1

The Flame From Heaven

HOW

HAPPY

the angels

glorious ascensi9n day!

I

must have been on that can almost

feel their radi-

ant gladness, can't you?

crowd about

Joyfully they

their

beloved Lord as they

speed heavenward singing David's victory song: "Lift

up your

heads,

O

ye gates;

And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in." "Who is this King of glory?" asks a voice from

the dwell-

ing place of God.

Cry the angels

in unison,

"The Lord strong and mighty. The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in." Jesus

is

indeed a conqueror.

After His life of toil and sacrifice Jesus ascended to heaven where He was joyfully received by the angelic hosts, many of whom had attended Him in His last sufferings.

He

has battled with Satan

THE BIBLE STORY He

and won. God's love

must

Satan's plans

Now He right

hand

He

and

that

all

of

Him "on the on high." But does He, amid all this

takes the place long waiting for

His humble followers on the

No

earth.?

indeed.

watches over them more lovingly than ever, hoping

they will not

He

has proved that

fail.

of the Majesty

glory, forget

Instead

He

has died and risen again.

stronger than the devil's hate,

is

Him.

fail

the angels

tells

John, Thomas, and interested in

all

all

about them

the rest

His earthly

—

—about

so that they too

Peter, James,

become deeply

friends. Eagerly they await

His

call

to fly to their help in times of need.

Meanwhile, down on the

room

in a certain

earth, there

in Jerusalem.

It

with a hundred and twenty people. eleven disciples,

who

have

from the top of the Mount

just

much

is

packed

is

excitement

to

the doors

Among them

are

the

seen Jesus ascend to heaven

of Olives.

The

others are full of

questions.

"Did you

"How

far did

"And

really see

He

Him

go up into the

go before you couldn't

see

about that cloud," asks another.

sky.?" asks one.

Him

any more.?"

"Was

it

a real

cloud or a cloud of angels.?" "Tell us about the two young

body

else.

"Are you

men

in white," urges

sure Jesus sent them.?

would come back someday.?" They remember how He told them

Did they

some-

really say

Jesus

until they should receive

mean.?

10

What

power.?

to wait in Jerusalem

"power from on high." What can

What

for.?

What

will

it

do

to them.?

this

THE FLAME FROM HEAVEN Nobody can answer wait and

see.

But they

these questions.

feel that if Jesus

power from heaven, they must get ready begin to pray, and continue in prayer.

They

will

have to

going to send them

is

to receive

it.

So they

They have some wonderful prayer meetings. I can hear them thanking God for sending Jesus from heaven to live among them and die for them. I can hear them, too, thanking Him for the friendship of Jesus, and for all the lovely times they had together with

And I am

sure

Him. of them

some

tell

God how much they need how they want

courage and strength to witness for Jesus, and to

be brave and good and true.

As they get closer to God they come closer Some begin to ask forgiveness for hasty words or for unkind deeds they have done. eyes as

some

clasp hands, saying,

please forgive

me!" So they

the joy that comes of Jesus:

Day

all

from keeping

course,

one another.

they have said,

There are

"Of

begin to

tears in I

many

forgive you;

know something of commandment

that beautiful

"That ye love one another, after

to

as I

have loved you."

day they stay together, waiting for Jesus

to

keep

His promise, waiting for the power from heaven. Then, just seven weeks after the crucifixion, when the day of Pentecost

Wv

X

!

\x">>

has

come,

fully

something

Suddenly there It rattles

is

very

'

V

wonderful

happens.

a sound of a rushing mighty wind.

the windows, slams the doors, shakes the whole

house.

Then upon of

fire.

Those

every one of

them

there appears a tongue

back of the room

at the

see

it

flaming upon

Peter, James, John,

and the

rest of the

they, in turn, see

flashing

from the humblest

it

apostles;

while

disciple

present.

For a moment

on

fire.

And

so

Only the

Now, with of flame is

filled

this

all is

seems as though the whole house

moment

Until this quiet.

it

is

it is

the

room has been hushed and

voices of people praying have been heard.

rushing mighty wind and these tongues

changed. In one swift

with zeal and

activity.

i

moment everybody

i

All begin talking at once \

about the wonderful love of Jesus.

They

feel

go out and

From go

tell

they have prayed enough;

now

they must'

the world about their risen Lord.

this fire-filled

forth, aflame for

room

ten dozen

God, eager

men and women

to carry the

love to the uttermost parts of the earth..

Ught of His

V

X

—

PART ONE

TO THE

STORY

2

Men on

Fire

great surprise of the disciples,

The

from other lands

faces of strangers

they hear the message of the love of Jesus told

humble and unlearned men. "Are not ing Galileans.?" they ask. us in his It is

who

own

"And how

them by

say.

up

as

these

who are speakwe hear, each of

these

all

is it

light

that

native language.''"

beyond

men from

belief that these

have never been to school, can talk in so

to "Parthians

the foreign

all

Jerusalem seem to understand what they

visitors in

and Medes and Elamites and

northern Palestine,

many

languages

residents of

Meso-

potamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia

and Pamphylia, Egypt and the Cyrene, and

"How

visitors

can

telUng in our

it

from Rome,

.

.

Libya belonging

to

Cretans and Arabians."

be," ask these foreigners, "that

own

we

hear

them

tongues the mighty works of God.?"

"They must be drunk," with new wine."

parts of .

says someone.

"They

are filled

MEN ON This

is

The King them

sent

FIRE too

much

He knows

for Peter.

the true answer.

remembered His old

of glory has

and has

friends

the promised power.

Standing where he can be both seen and heard, he

"Men

and

of Judea

men are not drunk, as

all

who

dwell in Jerusalem,

you suppose, since

.

.

cries:

only the third hour

it is

of the day; but this

is

what was spoken by the prophet

And

it

shall be,

out

in the last days

My

God

these

.

declares, that

I

Joel:

will

pour

and your sons and your daughters prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and

shall

Spirit

upon

all flesh,

men shall dream dreams. "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you youryou crucified and killed by the this Jesus selves know your old

.

—

.

.

.

.

.

hands of lawless men.

"But

God

death, because

"Brethren,

David

raised

Him

was not

it

I

may

up, having loosed the pangs of

possible for

Him

to be held

by

it.

that he both died

and was buried, and

his

tomb

is

us to this day. Being therefore a prophet ... he foresaw

spoke of the resurrection of the Christ.

"This Jesus

God

.

.

.

say to you confidently of the patriarch

raised up,

"Being therefore exalted

and of

.

.

that

at the right

with

and

.

we

all

hand

are witnesses.

of

God, and

having received from the Father the promise of the Holy

He has poured out this which you see and hear." What a sermon! With flashing eye and powerful

fi

Spirit,

Peter

tells

about Jesus— His

life.

voice

His death. His resurrection,

l!

;

THE BIBLE STORY Jtfjlk^

and the wonderful way

He

fulfilled the prophecies of old.

Fearing neither priest nor

^

^^S*

cries,

"Let

God

has

all

nor Pharisee, he

ruler, scribe

the house of Israel therefore

made Him both Lord and

know

assuredly that

Christ, this Jesus

whom

you crucified."

Even

the disciples are

can have happened to him.?

bound

amazed

How

spell-

like this?

Something has happened

come upon him. His Spirit.

What

at Peter's boldness.

can he hold thousands

Peter the coward,

come Peter

Now

to

him.

The power

heart has been set

who

on

fire

God

of

has

by the Holy

thrice denied his Lord, has be-

the fearless, a mighty witness for Jesus.

voices are being raised in the crowd.

"Brethren, what shall

we

do.?" they cry.

"Repent," answers Peter, "and be baptized every one of

you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your

and you is

to

one

shall receive the gift of the

you and to your children, and

Holy

Spirit.

to all that are far

whom the Lord our God calls to Him." On and on he speaks, pleading with young

their hearts to the Lord.

generation!" he

sins

For the promise oflF,

and old

"Save yourselves from

this

every

to give

crooked

cries.

The response is marvelous. Three thousand people accept Jesus. The biggest baptism in history begins and the Christian

—

church

is

born.

!

PART ONE

STORY

A

WITH

the

3

Beggar Healed

coming

God

of the fire of

into their

hearts the disciples discovered that they could not

only preach but heal! Besides being able to talk

make people well from all sorts They had become both preachers and doctors at

in several languages, they could

of diseases. once.

Now,

instead of one person performing miracles, there

were a hundred. The work that Jesus did alone was by many.

No

wonder

Going up

sit

now done

Jerusalem was stirred

Temple one

man being carried

lame to

to the

all

by

day, Peter

and John saw

his friends to the gate

a

where he used

by the hour, asking passers-by for money.

They had sorry for him.

"Look

seen

him

there

many

Now they could really

times before, and had

at us," said Peter, to call the

The beggar

looked, expecting a

felt

help him.

lame man's

gift,

attention.

but the apostles had

something far better for him than money. 10-2

17

"-^ .%ii.

L^^

A BEGGAR HEALED no

"I have

silver

and gold,"

said Peter, "but I give

you

what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, v^^alk." Taking the lame man by the hand, Peter raised him up. Immediately his feet and ankles became strong. "And leaping

up he

stood and walked and entered the temple with them,

walking and leaping and praising God."

You

can imagine what happened next. As the healed

clung to Peter and John in joy and gratitude, ran together unto them

.

.

.

man

"all the people

greatly wondering."

Pushing and

shoving, the crowd pressed forward to see this great sight.

Everybody knew ging

at the

more than

Temple

poor man. They had seen him beg-

this

gate for years

forty years he

—

since

he was a boy. For

had been lame. Yet here he was

walking and leaping about in the most amazing way.

What

a miracle!

As

the people

tunity to

tell

crowded around, Peter saw another oppor-

them about

Jesus.

"Men

of Israel," he cried in a

voice that could be heard above the hubbub,

"why do you won-

why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk.?" Then he went on to tell how it was really Jesus who had done it. "His name, by faith in His name, has made this man der at

this,

or

strong" and given

you

him

"this perfect health in the presence of

all."

Then he

pleaded with the people to repent of their sins and

give their hearts to Jesus.

As he

spoke,

more and more people joined

almost everybody in the Temple was there.

the crowd, until

Many

of the priests

19

Outside the Beautiful Gate of the Temple a poor beggar who had been lame all his life was healed by Peter, who said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."

THE BIBLE STORY came

to listen too,

cially

when

—

and they were anything but pleased espe"You denied the Holy and

they heard Peter say,

Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

and

Author of

killed the

life,

whom God raised from the

This was the very thing the

dead."

had feared! The

priests

dis-

had been

raised

from the dead! This must be stopped at once. They the Temple guard, but Peter went on unafraid.

called

ciples of Jesus

were claiming that

With deep

tenderness he said,

that

you acted in ignorance,

God

foretold

should

He

all

brethren,

your

rulers.

I

know

But what

the prophets, that His Christ

thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn

again, that your sins

may come from

"And now,

as did also

by the mouth of

suffer,

their leader

may

be blotted out, that times of refreshing

and

the presence of the Lord,

send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

that

whom

receive until the time for establishing all that

He may

heaven must

God

spoke by the

mouth of His holy prophets from of old. "You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in .

your posterity shall

God, having bless

raised

all

.

.

the families of the earth be blessed.'

up His

servant, sent

Him

to

you

first,

to

you in turning every one of you from your wickedness."

At

this

moment

the captain of the

Temple

forced his

way

through the crowd and arrested both Peter and John and led

them away

to prison.

But he was too

late.

The

people had

heard the message. As they went to their homes that night

many more

decided that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the

Christ, the Saviour of the world.

PART ONE

STORY From

NEXT

morning

ones

who had

leaders.

4

Prison to Pulpit

there was a big meeting of the Temple Annas and Caiaphas were there, the very

presided at the

trial

of Jesus. Presently

Peter and John were called before them.

"By what power, asked the high

Without a

or by

what name, did you do

this?"

priest.

trace of fear Peter replied,

"By

the

name

of

whom you crucified, whom God Him this man is standing before you

Jesus Christ of Nazareth, raised

from the dead, by

well."

there is salvation in no one else," he added, "for no other name under heaven given among men by

"And there

is

which we must be saved." So Peter told

his story

once more, speaking so boldly that

the priests and rulers were astonished.

stand

As

how

They

couldn't under-

a poor, uneducated fisherman could talk like

for the miracle that

this.

had been wrought, they couldn't say 21

a thing.

Not only was

the

man who had

been healed

known

to

every one of them, but here he was in their midst, standing

near the two apostles, ready to speak up for them

"What

we do with these men?" the when the council room had been

of one another

that a notable sign has been performed through fest to all the inhabitants of

Jerusalem, and

that they

must not preach about

them

But they did not

go.

men had

Jesus

realize the

we

would

Finally they decided that they

need

if

priests

shall

cleared.

them

is

"For mani-

cannot deny tell

men

it."

the apostles

any more, and then

kind of

be.

asked

let

these fisher-

become.

Called back into court, and hearing the decision of the priests

and

rulers, "Peter

them, 'Whether rather than to

of

it is

and John answered and

said unto

God to Hsten to you For we cannot but speak

right in the sight of

God, you must judge.

what we have seen and

heard.'

"

"You had better not!" said the high priest. But the apostles went away with no thought of stopping their work. Later, in their upper room they had a wonderful time together, thanking God for die way He had helped them and praying for strength to witness yet more boldly in the future. 22

FROM PRISON TO PULPIT of them, "behold their threaten-

"Now, Lord," prayed one ings:

and grant unto Thy

Thy word, by

may

speak

and

that signs

servants, that

with

stretching forth

all

boldness they

Thine hand

to heal;

and wonders may be done by the name

of

Thy

holy child Jesus."

The prayer was answered. More power came from heaven. More people were healed. More great sermons were preached. Indeed, "with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the

Lord

Jesus:

and great grace was upon them

all."

"By

the hands of the apostles were

wrought among the

people.

forth the sick into the streets, that at the least the

shadow some It

ple

was

.

.

and

shadow

many

Insomuch

.

laid

signs

and wonders

that they brought

them on beds and couches, might over-

of Peter passing by

of them."

just like the

days

when

Jesus

had been

began flocking into Jerusalem from nearby

there! Peo-

villages, "bring-

ing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean

spirits:

and they were healed every one." This was too very angry.

much

more popular than arrested

for the priests

They could not

and put

and

themselves. So once

in the

rulers.

They became

bear to see these followers of Jesus

common

prison.

more they had them

But these

men

couldn't be imprisoned.

No

sooner were

they in than they were out again.

"The angel

of the

and brought them

Lord by night opened

forth,

temple to the people

all

and

the prison doors,

Go, stand and speak in the

said,

the words of this

life."

So Peter and John went straight from the prison pulpit, as

it

were.

And

there in the

to the

Temple they went on

wit-

nessing for Jesus just as though nothing had happened.

The

best of

it

was

knew nothing

that the priests

They made ready for have them brought." But

apostles' escape.

their trial

the prison to

there were

doors, but

and the

when we had opened

it

sentries

to

no prisoners

there. In a great fluster the officers returned, saying,

the prison securely locked

about the

and "sent

"We found

standing at the

we found no one

inside."

can imagine the feelings of everyone in that council room. "What!" cried all. "The prisoners gone.? Where can

You

they

24

be.?

How

did they escape through locked doors.?"

FROM PRISON TO PULPIT Suddenly a messenger came rushing in with the astounding that the escaped prisoners were actually "standing in the

news

temple, and teaching the people."

"Bring them here!" cried the chief

priest,

and the guard

in search of them.

went

They were soon

back, this time with Peter and several

others.

"We

strictly

charged you not to teach in

this

name,"

said

the high priest hotly, "yet here you have filled Jerusalem with

your teaching and you intend to bring this man's blood on us."

"We made

Just then

Gamaliel stood up.

council and "held in honor by

"Take this

of

Peter,

which

member

of the

must obey God rather than men," said and rulers more angry still.

the priests

care

what you do with

plan or this undertaking

God, you

all

is

of

He was

a

the people." these

men,

men," he warned. it

will fail; but

"If

if it is

will not be able to overthrow them."

These were wise words, and the council heeded them. It was decided to let the aposdes off with a beating. The lashes hurt, but when the beating was over, the apostles

worthy

and

left

the council "rejoicing that they were counted

to suffer

shame

for

His name.

And

daily in the temple,

in every house, they ceased not to teach

Christ."

and preach

Jesus

!

PART ONE

STORY

5

Sons of Encouragement

IT

SEEMS

hard

within a few months of the

to believe, but

crucifixion of Jesus five thousand

as their Saviour

men had

and been baptized

These men, with

their

in

women and

accepted

children,

must have

been quite a sizable part of the population of Jerusalem time.

No

As

wonder the

for the

Lord and

for

new

priests

one heart and

as

many

.

as

.

.

rulers

believers, they

were

soul,

and no one his

full of love for their

said that

any of the things

own, but they had everything

There was not a needy person among them,

in for

were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and

brought the proceeds of what was sold and feet."

at that

were upset

one another. The Bible says that they "were of

which he possessed was

common.

and

Him

His name.

The money was

laid

it

at the aposdes'

then given away to the believers accord-

ing to their need.

One

of those

the apostles

26

was a

who sold a field and brought the money to man called Joseph, a native of Cyprus. He

SONS OF ENCOURAGEMENT gave his

gift

so

gladly,

so

was

that everybody

graciously,

and John and the others were so happy they gave him the nickname Barnabas, which

cheered. Indeed, Peter

about

that

it

of encouragement."

means "son

What

a lovely

name Wouldn't you

like

!

somebody

to call

you that someday.? Maybe Mother or Dad.? You know to all

make

this

happen?

you are asked

to

how

Just try being like Joseph of Cyprus.

do with

Do

a happy, cheerful spirit.

Sons of encouragement (and daughters of encouragement too) are school,

welcome everywhere. They

are

nessmen are always looking for them. Not all the people, however, were the early church as Barnabas was.

Some thought

grudgingly.

Others said

this

Among Sapphira.

wanted

at

in church. Parents, teachers, preachers,

and

were a

at

busi-

so nice about helping

Some brought

their

the apostles were asking too

money much.

money wasn't a good idea at all. man named Ananias and his wife

pooling of the

these

home, and

—

They had heard of Nazareth teachings,

when

the message about the wonderful Teacher

who had

and beUeved

risen

many of the money

they saw

and giving

help the work, they

from the dead. They loved His

He must the

new

be the Messiah of

to the apostles to feed the

felt

how much

a very

good

When

Maybe

to give just then.

After

and

all,

there

was

to feel that

it

poor and

but

it

sold

it.

The

was probably

expected.

they counted

was

really too

it

sev-

much

they should keep some for themselves.

that comfortable couch

Ananias wanted,

that beautiful

new

They

over together and decided to give a part

talked

a nice large part

And

it,

and more than they had money was in their hands

Soon they began

eral times.

God and

to

they got for

price

the

And

do the same.

that they should

So they dedicated a piece of land Bible doesn't say

Israel.

disciples selling their property

it

—

to

God and keep

couldn't they do

had

dress Sapphira

what they

die

rest.

where Peter was receiving the people's

would

praise

set

gifts.

him warmly

her heart on.

Who would know.?

liked with their

Putting the coins in a bag, Ananias

the apostle

set

own

money.?

out for the place

He

felt sure that

for giving so

much.

But when he got there he found he couldn't look Peter in

28

SONS OF ENCOURAGEMENT the eye. Indeed, he

felt a

great urge to put the

moneybag on

the table and run.

Something bothered him. Peter seemed through him, reading

He

his thoughts.

to be looking clear

was.

"Ananias," he said, without a word of thanks for the money he had brought, "why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land.?

While

own? And is

it

after

it

it

remained unsold, did

was

sold,

was

it

it

not remain your

How

not at your disposal?

that you have contrived this deed in your heart?

have not

lied to

men

You

but to God."

So Peter knew what he and

his wife

had planned

in the

own home! How could he have found out? The shock was too much for Ananias. There and then he "fell down and died." Some young men carried out his body

privacy of their

and buried

it.

Meanwhile Sapphira was waiting for him to return. What could be keeping him? she wondered. After a while she began

How

to get worried.

short a distance?

some

special

Of

could he have taken so long to go so

course, the apostles

honor for making

might have given him

so large a donation.

After waiting three hours she thought

and look

Peter was believers

it

was time

to

go

for him.

when

still

standing at the table, receiving

gifts

from

she entered. Before she could say anything he

surprised her by asking, "Tell

me

whether you sold the land

^^

Ajfi^

THE BIBLE STORY for so

much," mentioning the amount of money Ananias had

handed

in.

"Yes, for so much," she said, without a blush.

"How

is

it

you have agreed together

that

to

tempt the

Spirit of the Lord.?" asked Peter.

Before she could answer he added,

husband are

that have buried your

"Hark

!

the feet of those

at the door,

and they

will

carry you out."

"My

husband buried!"

I

can almost hear her crying.

"Ananias dead!"

A moment later she too collapsed and died, men

"carried her out

and the young

and buried her beside her husband."

came upon the whole church." No Holy Spirit, by whom such mighty miracles had been wrought, was not a power to be

"And

great

fear

wonder! They could played with

—or

They saw

see that the

lied to.

too the great difference between Barnabas, the

son of encouragement, and Ananias, the son of discouragement.

One brought osity, blessed

selfishness,

of person

cheer, the other fear.

One, by

the church with happiness.

plunged

we want

it

into sorrow.

to be.

his gracious gener-

The

other, by his

We must decide which kind

PART ONE

STORY

6

Man With

THE DEATH

of

the Shining Face

Ananias and Sapphira struck the

first

sad note in the story of the early church. But it was not the last. Many more followed, one after another.

came grumbling. One group of believers thought it as much money from the general fund as another group. These people said their widows were overFirst,

was not getting

looked while others were given plenty. I

am sure Peter He just had

another.

was trying nessman,

Then,

The

and

a great

priests,

many

things to do. Like Moses, he

and a

teacher, a judge

and

a busi-

the same time, and nobody, not even an apostle,

many

jobs properly.

too, the

number

of believers

was growing every

Bible says that they "multiplied greatly in Jerusalem,

day.

It

too

to be a preacher

all at

could do so

never meant to favor one group above

many

of the priests

must have been

were obedient

thrilling to see so

joining the church, but caring for

to the faith."

many them

people, even all

soon be-

31

THE BIBLE STORY came such

a big task that the apostles

had no time

There were twelve of them again now,

to preach.

man

for a

called

Matthias had been chosen to take the place of Judas. But even so,

they couldn't possibly look after the needs of so large a con-

gregation and keep on with their preaching at the same time.

So they called a meeting and not right that

we

said to the believers, "It

should give up preaching the word of

to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out

from among you

men of good repute, full of the Spirit and whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will seven

selves to prayer

The

and

Stephen, "a

man

to the ministry of the

were pleased

believers

full of faith

When

was

the election

wisdom,

word."

at this suggestion

and of the Holy

and chose

men were

and

Spirit,"

over, the apostles "prayed

hands upon them." These seven

their

of

devote our-

Timon, Parmenas, and

Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor,

is

God

the

Nicolas.

and

laid

first

dea-

Stephen, the head deacon, was a remarkable man.

He

cons of the Christian church.

might well have been an apostle Galilee. "Full of grace

signs

into

among many a

the Messiah.

if

Jesus

had met him

the people."

He was a great speaker, too, and who said that Christ was

debate with people

And

in

and power," he "did great wonders and

"they could not withstand the

got

not

wisdom and

the spirit with which he spoke."

For a while he took the spotlight from John, and the rest of the apostles.

What

Peter,

a deacon

So powerful a preacher was he that the elders and thinking he must

32

be

the

ringleader

of

the

James,

he was! scribes,

followers

of

MAN WITH THE had him The charge

Christ,

SHINING FACE

arrested

and brought before the Sanhedrin.

against

him was

that he never ceased "to

speak words against this holy place and the law" and that he

had

said, "Jesus of

Nazareth will destroy

change the customs which Moses delivered wasn't true, of course.

It

As

will

just twisting

words,

in that selfsame place.

peace with God.

"And gazing his face

and

to us."

for Stephen, he stood there calmly, without a trace of

fear, his heart at

I

They were

had done when Christ was

as they

this place,

was

at

him,

all

who

sat in the council

saw

that

an angel."

like the face of

doubt that any of those councilors had ever seen an

angel, but

somehow

Stephen's face,

all

aglow with

trust

and

confidence in his beloved Lord and Saviour, was so radiantly beautiful that

When

it

made them

think of angels.

the high priest asked

him whether

the charges

great

him were true, Stephen defended himself with power. Showing a marvelous grasp of the Holy Scrip-

tures,

he reminded the council

made

against

from the days of Abraham

how God had

until that very

led His people

moment. He

talked

Moses and the deliverance from Egypt and of Solomon and the building of the Temple. But when he reminded them

of

(\^^

Mw^

THE BIBLE STORY ,t

Most High does not dwell

that "the

hands" they began to get

and

told

them

"You

restless.

the straight truth he

stiff-necked

his heart

"uncircumcised in

said,

Holy

heart and ears, you always resist the

Spirit.

As your

do you. Which of the prophets did not your

fathers did, so

fathers persecute.?

And

they killed those

who announced

forehand the coming of the Righteous One,

now

made with

they should hear.

felt

he

people,"

in houses

So he unburdened

betrayed and murdered, you

delivered by angels

The members

who

and did not keep of the council

whom

be-

you have

received the law as

it."

ground

their teeth in anger.

Suddenly, looking up, Stephen cried aloud, "Behold,

hand

right

standing

I

at the

God."

of

"Blasphemy!" shrieked the their ears, they rushed city

man

heavens opened, and the Son of

see the

councilors.

upon him and

"cast

Then, stopping

him out

of the

and stoned him." the hail of stones, flung by those cruel and angry men,

As began saying,

to strike

"Lord

him, Stephen

Jesus, receive

this sin against

fell

my

on

spirit.

his knees .

.

.

them."

"And when he had said this, he fell asleep." So died the man with the shining face. He was the

first

and prayed,

Lord, do not hold

martyr of the Christian church.

PART ONE

STORY

7

Seeds in the

THE STONING

of Stephen

Wind

was a great shock

to the

thousands of behevers in Jerusalem.

Everything had gone so well that nobody had

dreamed anything

like this

would happen. But now word

spread that the Sanhedrin was planning to stamp out the sect before

named

should get any stronger.

men and women

and putting them

Those were sad

whose

One

councilor, a

new

man

Saul of Tarsus, was already going from house to house

arresting Jesus

it

fathers

The

suspected of being followers of

in prison.

days,

and saddest of

all

and mothers were taken away

for the children to

jail.

was a great persecution against Jerusalem; and they were all scat-

Bible says that "there

the church

which was

at

tered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea

and Samaria,

except the apostles."

Hundreds left as

from the city. Whole families Some went north toward Syria,

of Christians fled

quickly as they could.

35

others south to Egypt. for Cyprus, while others

Some took ship from Caesarea may have traveled as far as Italy,

Spain, and even England.

As this

and

the priests

rulers

one another, "This

said to

is

saw them

go,

we

the last

no doubt they

shall hear of all

nonsense about Jesus of Nazareth." But they were

mistaken. For "they that were scattered abroad went every

where preaching the word." Like seeds blown by

.^*^^

!^

a strong

wind, the followers of Jesus went ever farther and farther afield, finally settling down and taking root in a thousand

towns and

Roman

villages of the

had not been long

It

Empire.

since the priests

thought to finish with Jesus by nailing only to learn later that as they

hearts

He

had

risen

sought to crush the work

and

lives of

men, they saw

ing everywhere.

The more

and stronger

became.

One

it

of those

who

it

the

to

had

from the dead. Now, in the

growing and spreadkill

it,

the bigger

Jerusalem at this time was

Philip, the second of the seven deacons.

maria and began

rulers

to a cross,

He had begun

they tried to

left

and

Him

He went

to Sa-

preach Christ to the people there. In

power of the Holy

Spirit

he performed miracles of

healing as the Master Himself had done.

The

response was marvelous.

to Jerusalem for help. Peter

A

messenger was sent,

and John went

what God had wrought. They p was

at

once to

see

It

must have been hard

that this could their eyes,

and

happen it

was

for

some of the Jews

in Samaria, but

clear proof that

it

to

beUeve

did, right before

Jews and Samaritans

could become one in Christ.

The most important called

He was

Simon.

of influence in the

convert in Samaria was a

man

and he had had

a lot

a magician,

city.

But

now

and John worked

Philip, Peter,

he was nobody, for

far greater miracles

than

He

even

he had ever performed.

How

he craved the same power they had!

offered to

"Your

buy

it!

silver

perish with you," Peter said to him,

"because you thought you could obtain the gift of

with money!

You have

for your heart

is

not right before God. Repent therefore

of this wickedness of yours, possible, the intent of

For

I

bond

see that

God

neither part nor lot in this matter,

and pray

your heart

you are in the

to the

may

Lord

that, if

be forgiven you.

gall of bitterness

and

in the

of iniquity."

Simon was repentant. He hadn't understood that some things money cannot buy. "Pray for me," he said, "that nothing of what you

there are

may come upon me."

PART ONE

STORY

8

An Old Book Glows

PHILIP

was

Samaria when

in

still

God

sent

him on

another errand. "Rise and go toward the south to the road that

goes

down from

Jerusalem to Gaza," said the heavenly mes-

senger.

That was

all.

Just

go

As he walked along God wanted him to go

!

So he went.

the road he to

must have wondered why it be that he was to

Gaza. Could

preach the same message there as he had in Samaria.''

God something

By and by he heard clop, of horses' hoofs

and

the familiar cloppety-clop, cloppety-

and the squeaking of wooden wheels

axles.

Looking up, he saw a fine chariot

a well-dressed Ethiopian going

and recognized him

of Candace, queen of Ethiopia,

country.

38

Or had

else in mind.''

The man had been

as

one of the chief

and the

treasurer

to Jerusalem to

by in

officials

of that

worship

God

AN OLD BOOK GLOWS in the

Temple and was returning home by

Suddenly a voice

said to Philip,

the desert road.

"Go up and

join this

chariot."

Philip ran, no doubt wondering

what

to say to this well-

to-do stranger.

Seeing Philip running toward him, the Ethiopian told his servant to rein in the horses.

As

the chariot stopped, Philip

noticed that the

man was

book of

So he asked, "Do you understand what you

Isaiah.

reading from a

scroll

containing the

are reading.?" It

met

was

a strange question to ask of a

before, but the Ethiopian

man

he had never

was not offended.

invited Philip to get into his chariot

and began

Instead, he

to ask questions

about the text which says that God's Servant will be "led as a sheep to the slaughter."

"About whom, pray, does the Ethiopian.

the prophet say this.?" asked

"About himself or about someone

else.?"

Philip couldn't have wished for a better chance to talk

about Jesus.

Now

he

along the Gaza road!

knew why God had told him to walk Of course! God had known that this

honest seeker after truth would be traveling this way. fortunate that Philip had obeyed the call!

How

!

And now, good news of

What In a

"beginning with

it

was

just the

same Bible study that

it

was given by Philip

to

Jesus

had

Emmaus. Only an Ethiopian on the way to Gaza.

given Cleopas and his friend on the

now

he told him the

must have been

a Bible study that

way

this scripture

Jesus."

way

to

True, Jesus began with Moses, and Philip began with Isaiah.

But that didn't matter. They both came

to the

same

conclusion. I

am

sure there wasn't a prophecy about Jesus in all the

Old Testament

that Philip left out, nor a question about

Him

that the Ethiopian didn't ask.

As

the

precious old

two men journeyed

Book they held

together, the

in their

glowed with the glory of God. Both the

hands

felt that

King of glory was speaking directly to them.

And

can't

you hear Philip saying

wonderful Bible study drew Jesus as your to

Ethiopian as

to the

to a close,

this

"Won't you accept

Lord and Saviour? Won't you give your heart

Him now?" "Yes," said the Ethiopian, "I will indeed."

At

that

moment

"See, here

vent

my

is

they happened to pass a pool of water.

water!" said the Ethiopian.

"What

is

to pre-

being baptized?"

"Nothing," said Philip. to stop,

and

Philip baptized

him

So die Ethiopian "commanded the chariot they bodi went

down

into the water."

And

then and there.

When

they

came up out

of the water Philip disappeared,

being caught away by the Spirit of the Lord.

As tell

for the Ethiopian,

he "went on

his

way

rejoicing," to

the wonderful story of Jesus to his queen and countrymen.

^f^f

PART ONE

STORY

9

Enemy Becomes

OF

ALL

was

the enemies of the early Christians the worst

Saul.

Jesus.

Champion

a

As

The

a Pharisee, he hated the followers of

Bible

tells

"made havock

us that he

of

the church."

Having done

his worst in Jerusalem,

low those who had

left

the city

he decided to

fol-

and were preaching about

Jesus in other parts of the country.

"And

Saul,

still

breathing threats and murder against

went

the disciples of the Lord,

him

to the

for letters to the synagogues at

found any belonging

to the

high

priest,

Damascus,

Way, men

or

and asked

so that

if

he

women, he might

bring them bound to Jerusalem."

With

his

mind

in short order,

men who

he

full of

starts

are to help

on

him

plans for wiping out the Christians his journey, leading a

in his

wicked work. For

company

of

several days]

they travel northward over the rough, winding roads.

They

are almost at Damascus, within sight of the city,

Si.

when

a wonderful thing happens.

It is

midday. Everybody

is

Suddenly a light "above the brightness of the sun" shines about them. The whole party is struck down. The caravan comes to a dead stop.

hot, tired,

and

thirsty.

Blinded by the dazzling light and unable to hears a voice calling to him, "Saul, Saul, cute Me.?"

"Who "I am

are

You, Lord.?" he

Jesus,

whom

rise,

why do you

asks.

you are persecuting."

Saul perse-

Saul

road?

astounded.

is

Can

How can Jesus be here on the Damascus

this be the very

has risen from the dead? they claim?

If so,

person

Is

He

who

the Christians declare

indeed the King of glory as

what a dreadful mistake he has made

in

treating His followers so cruelly!

A few moments before, Saul was a proud, self-important man; now he is humble; he sees how foolish he has been. "What shall I do. Lord?" he asks. "Rise,

what you

At

and enter the

city," says Jesus,

"and you

will be told

are to do."

this

Saul staggers to his

feet,

while his friends,

still

trembling with fright, crowd around, offering to help him.

But there is

is

nothing they can do save lead him by the hand.

He

blind.

So Saul

arrives in

Damascus. Not

ing proudly at the head of a group of

as

he had planned,

men sworn

the Christian faith; but stumbling forward, tent, to learn the will of Jesus

In the city Judas,

and

at last,

serve

to

he neither

him on

the

strid-

stamp out

humble and

Him

peni-

faithfully forever.

Saul goes to stay with a

there, for three days,

Shocked by what happened

44

and

to

eats

man

called

nor drinks.

Damascus

road.

ENEMY BECOMES A CHAMPION wants only to pray.

for all his mistakes, he

and sorry

what

do

to

About

next.

time Jesus appears to Ananias, one of His

this

ciples in

Damascus, and

Straight,

and inquire

named

Ananias

"Lord,

I

and go

is

The

to carry

well,

and

all his

many of this man," he Thy saints at Jerusalem."

replies,

of Tarsus

person he wants to meet

last

He knows him

"Go, for he

My name

man

praying."

have heard by

But Jesus

dis-

to the street called

in the house of Judas for a

alarmed.

is

he has done to

Mine

says, "Rise,

Saul; for, behold, he

Saul of Tarsus.

evil

And

him and show him

here on his knees he asks Jesus to forgive

is

says,

is

cruel deeds.

"how much

a chosen instrument of

before the Gentiles

and kings and the

sons of Israel."

Ananias obeys. ing, as Jesus

had

He

said.

finds Saul in the

home

of Judas, pray-

There, putting his hands on him, he

says,

who appeared to you on the sent me that you may regain

road

"Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus

by which you came, has sight

and be

At once the

first

tizes

filled

with the Holy

Saul's eyes are opened.

person he looks upon

him

into the church.

is

your

Spirit."

He

can

see again.

a disciple of Jesus,

who

And bap-

/

I That was

said

a very lovely thing that

—"Brother Saul."

It is

hard to

call

Ananias

someone

To

brother

who

ears

must have sounded very beautiful

it

deed.

It

has been unkind to you.

may have

in leading

him

His sight

to

helped more than

make

Saul's in-

we know

his decision for Christ.

and a baptized member

restored,

of the church, Saul begins to witness for his

Lord. "Straightway" he preaches Christ in the synagogues, "that

Some

He

Son

the

is

of

God."

of the disciples refuse to have any-

thing to do with him, remembering

how he

persecuted the Christians in Jerusalem. But he that he

insists

now

loves Jesus as

much

as

they do.

As to

for the Jews

who had

stamp out the Christian

they are at

first

expected

faith in

him

Damascus,

amazed, then angry. They

plan to take Saul's

life,

but news of the plot

is

brought to Saul, and while the Jews watch the city gates

night and day to

kill

him, some of

him in a basket, and in the dead of night let him down over the wall. Thus Saul of Tarsus escapes from Damasthe disciples put

cus to

become Paul the

apostle to the Gentiles,

one of the greatest champions Jesus has ever had.

^

PART ONE

STORY

10

The Antelope Lady

FANCYAnd

calling a lady

did.

Her

that real

an antelope

!

But that

is

what they

what she was.

is

name was

Tabitha, but the people of Joppa

gave her the nickname Dorcas, meaning "gazelle," or "antelope."

And I know

why.

as quickly as she could

It

was because she was always running

from one needy person

to another.

But not only are antelopes swift-footed; they are gentle

and friendly creatures

too,

and

so

big bright eyes as they do

—eyes

and tender sympathy

them

for

was Tabitha. Perhaps she had that

This wonderful lady was the

life

was always thinking up new ways others. The Bible says that she was acts of charity."

When

showed

in their trials

interest in people

and sorrows.

of the Joppa church. She of

showing kindness

"full of

to

good works and

she didn't have her hands full nursing

somebody's sick child or talking to some blind person or taking flowers to a shut-in, she

made garments

of

all

sorts for the

poor.

47

THE BIBLE STORY Yet, busy as she was, ever rushing

from one thing

to

another, she was always patient and sweet-tempered, radiating

courage and good cheer everywhere she went.

No

wonder everybody loved her!

whole church was plunged

was taken

How

and

died.

did she

die.? I

ill

worn out helping sick person for It

was the custom

wonder,

when

too, the

she suddenly

don't know. Probably because she was

Maybe

others.

whom

No

into sorrow

she caught a

germ from some

she was caring. in those days to bury a dead person

right away, but the people of Joppa couldn't bear to part with their beloved

little

antelope lady. So they put her body in an

upper room and waited.

THE ANTELOPE LADY Somebody

"If only Peter

said,

And somebody

else said,

"Where?" asked everybody "At Lydda, he healed a

just a

were here!"

"But he

is!"

at once.

few miles away. Only a day or two ago

man named Aeneas who had

been sick in bed for

eight years." "Let's send for

him then!"

cried

all,

out for Lydda. Finding Peter, they told

Tabitha and begged him to come

and two men

him

at once.

He

set

the story of agreed,

and

the three hurried back to Joppa as fast as they could.

Coming lying, Peter

into the

found

it

room where full of

the

body of Dorcas was

weeping widows

whom

Dorcas

had helped during her

They showed

lifetime.

made

other garments she had

Gently he asked them

Peter coats and

for them.

all to leave.

Then he

knelt beside

the bed and prayed.

What

a picture!

knees before

How

God

earnestly he

The

asking

big fisherman of Galilee on his

Him

to give life to a

must have prayed,

the dead son of the "great

woman!

dead

just as Elisha

prayed for

Shunem,

long, long

woman"

of

before. I

him

can almost hear

will, restore this

dear

needs her. Dorcas, they

—a

gazelle,

saying,

woman

"Dear Lord,

to Hfe.

call her,

if it

Thy church

be

Lord, and such she has been

an antelope, leaping from one good work

another for the sake of

Thy needy

ones.

Make

it

to

possible for

her to continue her ministry of love for the glory of

50

Thy

in Joppa

Thy

THE ANTELOPE LADY As he "Tabitha,

from

rose rise."

he turned to the body and

his knees

"And

she opened her eyes,

said,

and when she saw

Peter she sat up." I

in her so

am

And I

last

whom

she had heard

stories.

hand

then, of all things, Peter held out his

am

long as she

to help

sure she never forgot that simple kindness as

lived.

And

the smile of joy

his noble, friendly face, stayed

Now,

person she expected to see

the famous apostle of

many wonderful

her up.

The

sure she did.

room was

calling the saints

and thankfulness on

with her forever.

and widows who had been waiting

impatiently outside, Peter "presented her alive."

They could hardly believe their eyes, and knew no bounds. Their dear, kind antelope

their happiness

lady was back

with them again!

As

for Dorcas,

In no time at in need.

all

I

am

sure she didn't stay

around very long.

she went hurrying off to help

somebody

else

PART ONE

A FTER

/A -X.

Animals

in the

here

many it

was

days in the

He had

Sky

Peter stayed

life,

home

on

in

of Simon, a taimer.

had a very strange vision. noon while he was waiting

that he

happened one day

It

lunch.

11

bringing Tabitha back to

Joppa for

A. And

STORY

at

gone up on the

flat

for

roof of the house to spend

a Uttle while in prayer.

He

liked this place, not only because

see the sea that

there

from here he could

he loved so dearly, but because on the housetop

was nothing between him and heaven, where Jesus sitting at the right hand of God.

his

Lord and Saviour was

Presently, as he looked

up

into the sky, he thought he

something strange coming down.

down by As

It

was

saw

like a great sheet, "let

upon the earth." came nearer and nearer he saw that kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds.

four corners

it

full of all

Then

a voice said to him, "Rise, Peter;

Peter

was hungry. The Bible

says so.

kill

the sheet

and

was

eat."

But he was not

52

In his vision Peter saw a great sheet let down full of all kinds of birds and animals. By this means God taught him that he should call no man common or unclean.

from heaven

hungry enough

The

for this.

animals were

all

unclean accord-

ing to the laws of Moses.

"No, Lord," he that

is

common

Then cleansed,

said, "for I

have never eaten anydiing

or unclean."

the voice spoke again,

you must not

call

saying,

"What God

has

and the

ani-

common."

This happened three times.

Then

the sheet

mals went up into the sky again and disappeared. Peter was greatly troubled by sure he

had been given

was

Did God want him

It?

what he had

this vision for

seen.

He

felt

some purpose, but what

to eat unclean food.? Surely not.

There must be some other explanation.

While he was

still

thinking about

the sky he heard a loud knocking

Then someone

all

those animals in

on the gate of the house.

called in a loud voice,

"Does Simon Peter

>*-^:

says.

Peter."

they refuse to believe.

Meanwhile, ,>H-

his

!

heard him!" she

know

the

outside

"I

getting

Peter

is

impatient,

l:'^

THE BIBLE STORY afraid that he

may

be discovered out there on the

street.

He

goes on knocking.

At stands.

last

they

all

go

to the

door and open

They can hardly beUeve

"Peter!" they cry. "Is

it

it.

And

really you.^*"

and they give him

such a welcome that he has to beg them to be quiet, soldiers

come and

wonderful story of

By morning

From one

find

him

how an

all

to another the

Down

angel

word

spreads like wildfire, "Peter has

wag and

people chuckle from one

at the prison there

No

is

wonder, with

"no small all

stir"

He

Herod

is

over the miss-

those soldiers supposed to

be guarding him! But nobody saw anything.

Nobody heard

just disappeared.

furious, but

cution.^ There's

As

the

city to the other.

ing prisoner.

anything.

lest

Then he tells them the rescued him from the prison.

there.

Jerusalem has heard the exciting news.

escaped again!" Tongues

end of the

there he

their eyes.

no one

what can he do but

call of?

the exe-

to execute!

for Peter, a great thankfulness

rills

more His beloved Jesus has rescued him. With new courage and hope he goes even greater work for the King of glory he

his heart.

Once

forth to do an adores.

PART

II

Stories of the First Christian Missionaries (Acts 13:1-28:31)

PART

STORY

A

S

TROUBLE

1

Becomes Paul

Saul

AA

TWO

grew worse

in Jerusalem,

more and more

who believed in Jesus moved away to other -i- Jk- cities. Many went to Antioch in Syria, about three hundred miles to the north. Here they found a warm welcome. In no time at all they were telling their new friends all people

about the beloved Carpenter of Nazareth. As a result "a great

number

and turned unto the Lord."

believed,

When

this

wonderful news reached the apostles they

asked Barnabas to go to Antioch and find out what was going on. His friendly nature

on such

a mission.

he so cheered the

made him

What new

just the right

person to send

he found made him very happy, and

believers that

many more were "added

unto the Lord."

About

who had

this

time Barnabas became worried about Saul,

disappeared.

A

true "son of encouragement,"

—about

traveled as far as Tarsus

search of him.

When

hundred miles west

he found him he asked him

10-5

At Antioch, where the disciples were first and Barnabas and Mark were ordained as missionaries to carry the gospel to Cyprus and lands across the sea.

called Christians, Saul

a

to

he

—in

come and 65

!

THE BIBLE STORY new church he had

help strengthen the

And

Saul agreed.

so

two good men, which brought

these

raised

up

in Antioch.

began the wonderful partnership of

much

so

blessing to so

many. in Antioch.

Those must have been great days says that the disciples

doubt the kindly of Saul

spirit of

had much

to

wanted

that people

were

The

Bible

No

called Christians there.

Barnabas and the forceful preaching

do with to

first

it.

Both of them

belong to

Him

and

so uplifted Christ to be

known

as

His followers.

One day

the presence of

very special way.

From

the

God was Holy

felt

Spirit

"Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the

in the church in a

came

work

to

message:

this

which

I

have

called them."

There was no mistaking what God wanted. These two

men, who had been such

now

to

a help to the

Antioch church, were

go and preach the good tidings of

Jesus' love to others.

This was something new in those days, and there

was no

adventure.

little

I

imagine

excitement as plans were laid for the great

The church members

could talk of nothing

else.

Their beloved pastors, with young John Mark, a cousin of Barnabas', as their assistant, were going to travel hundreds of

miles to establish other Christian churches on the island of

Cyprus and it

all

through Asia Minor!

must have seemed

At

last

came

and praying, they I

am

to

How

the farewell meeting laid their

sure that crowds

big and important

them then when,

after

fasting

hands on them and sent them

went down

to the

docks

off.

at Seleucia to

SAUL BECOMES PAUL wave good-by and

and

girls,

were

Yet, as they shed their tears I

Mothers

as the ship sailed out of the harbor.

fathers, boys

wonder whether any

figures standing

and shouted

them

of

there for the great occasion.

all

their last

good wishes,

realized that those three lonely

on the deck of that

vessel

little

were the

who would go

of a long, long line of missionaries

first

overseas to

preach the gospel.

A on the

few hours

later the travelers arrived at Salamis, a port

east coast of

to stay they

went

Cyprus.

first to

As soon

as they

ing the story of Jesus to the Jewish leaders.

on

across the island until they

the west coast.

had found a place

one synagogue, then

Here they ran

came

to another, tell-

Then

they journeyed

to the city of

into quite a

Paphos on excitement.

little

After they had been in town awhile Sergius Paulus, the

Roman

proconsul, sent for them.

strangers

them to do,

He was

curious about these

He wanted

and the things they were talking about.

to explain their

and

he,

an

message to him. This they were glad

intelligent

Barnabas arid Saul could

man, became much

see that

interested.

he was on the verge of ac-

cepting Jesus as his Saviour.

Then came an

interruption. !

"Don't believe them " cried a sneering are saying

is all

nonsense."

voice.

"What

they

!

THE BIBLE STORY was Elymas,

It

a local magician,

see that if the proconsul accepted

who was keen enough

what

these preachers

to

were

saying he wouldn't want a magician around any more. But

he soon wished he had kept

quiet.

him with burning words of rebuke. He anyone should get in God's way like this and

Saul turned on

was angry try to

that

keep

of

all

Roman

this fine

"You son

ofl&cer

out of the kingdom.

of the devil," he said to Elymas, "you

righteousness, full of

all

deceit

and

enemy

villainy, will

you

not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord.?

And

and you

shall

now, behold, the hand of the Lord

is

upon

you,

be blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Barely had Saul spoken

when

!

"I can't see

!

I

can't see " cried

his

words came

true.

Elymas, putting his hands

to his eyes.

"Mist and darkness" seeking people to lead

fell

him by

upon him, and "he went about the hand."

Deeply impressed, the proconsul gave "for he

As

we

was astonished for Saul,

God,

to him too. Just how, moment on the Bible calls him new name was the same as that of his

from

Paul. Strangely, this

this

important convert, Sergius Paulus. Perhaps Barnabas,

equally

amazed

house, gave a

his heart to

teaching of the Lord."

something happened

are not told. But

first

at the

man

mighty

it

to

at

what had taken place

httle in stature, little in his

in the

in the proconsul's

him. For Paul means "Uttle."

power of God

own

sight,

And

here was

but oh,

how

PART

STORY

TWO

2

Mistaken for Gods

SAILING

from Paphos, the three missionaries reached

the mainland again at Perga in Asia Minor. Here John

Mark

said

good-by to Paul and Barnabas and

home. Maybe he got too

sick

on

left

for

that last boat trip, or perhaps

he couldn't stand the hardships of travel in those days. Any-

much

way, he packed up and returned to Jerusalem,

to Paul's

annoyance.

The two Antioch in

men now went on

older

Pisidia.

alone and

preached a great sermon, proving that Jesus

Son

of

came

to

Invited to speak in the synagogue, Paul is

David but the Son of God. "Through

not only the this

man," he

declared, "is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins."

After the meeting the Gentiles outside asked the

same sermon

to

them.

day came almost the whole

He

him

to

preach

"And

the next sabbath

city together to

hear the word of

did.

God." This upset the Jews. They didn't want to share anything

69

^^'

THREE TAVERNS APPII

FORUM ""x^ 't;'

PUTEOU

ITALY

^,

e

AAITA'

c

G

LIBYA

R

^

save us. This

Him;

let

is

the Lord;

we have

us be glad and rejoice in

His salvation"

(Isaiah 25:9).

In that day

all

who

have died beUeving

from the dead and, with be "caught up ... to meet

in Jesus will be raised

the Uving saints, the

Lord

in the air"

And

Jesus

will

(1

Thessalonians 4:17).

smile

bridegroom smiles upon will take

them home with

mansions"

What

He

upon them as a bride, and He

his

Him

to the

"many

has prepared for them.

a day of rejoicing that will be!

Will you be glad

to see

Him

too?

t/

'm^km.

PART FOUR

STORY

9

Good Wins

NOW

John looks

at Last

far into the future. It

that a thousand years go by. sees a beautiful city gliding

mering

seems to him

of a

sudden he

the skies, shim-

like a star. ^

reminds him of Jerusalem. But it isn t burned it. he knew before the Romans sacked and more glorious than any he ever saw

Something about die old city

it

No, indeed. It is a city or dreamed about. Its foundations, aglow, shining like

Gently of

Then down

it

many

settles

upon

walls,

and rooftops are

all

colored jewels. the earth.

Within

it

are the people

were raised from die dead and those who radiantly Christ's second coming. They look

God— those who

were translated at happy after a thousand years in heaven.

Now John's attention is called to another amazing scene. are coming Wherever he looks graves are opening and people He has never seen so out of diem. Millions upon millions. saints inside the many. Yet diey are all far different from the 201

THE BIBLE STORY city.

Compared with them they look

Their faces are hard and

small and shriveled up.

cruel.

Suddenly John understands. This must be the resurrec-

wicked Jesus told about long ago.

tion of the

Now

John

one

is

who knows he

revenge.

It

has caused beginning.

a

sees

There

the crowds.

tall,

an

powerful figure moving

evil

among

look on his face, the look of

has been beaten and

who wants

to take

who

Satan himself, the archenemy of Christ,

is

all

and sorrow on the earth

the trouble

Now

he

since the

spurring the wicked to attack the

is

beautiful city. "Its streets are

made

"Let us go up and take those within

it.

of gold,

it.

We

Let's go! Let's

Stirred with envy, greed,

its

gates of pearl," he cries.

are far

more

number than

in

go!"

and hatred, the mighty mass

moves forward, marching up "over the broad earth" and rounding "the camp of the But that

is

as far as the

saints

and the beloved

wicked

get.

At

sur-

city."

moment God

that

steps in.

Says John: "I saw a great white throne the dead, great

and

.

.

.

,

And

I

small, standing before the throne,

saw

and

books were opened. Also another book was opened, which the book of

life.

And

ten in the books, by

the dead were judged by

what they had done."

what was

is

writ-

r And what a scene it is! Everyearth is present. All the good the on body who ever Uved bad people outside it. people are within the city and all the It is the final

In His wisdom

same time

what

He

judgment.

God

so that all

is

has brought everybody together at the understand what He has done and

may

going to do.

He

wants

all

of

His creatures in His

His ways are right and good. whole vast universe to do the As the books of heaven are opened, not only

wicked discover that

know

that

God

has kept a record of everything

whole story of sin from they ever said or did, but they see the it and overcome it. meet to did God what and beginning its sort of giant television it will be shown on some itself. perhaps against the background of the sky

Maybe

^>»^*««X^

^^fe^ ^^fjfc.

screen,

THE BIBLE STORY They They will earth,

will see

with

not be destroyed.

As

began, and Satan's part in

sin

he brought the

sad results.

all its

pay the penalty of

dying that

how

see

how

They

will see Christ offering to

sin in order that the

And

men might

they will see

Him

He

sent to them.

to help

Maybe Satan

ready to admit his dreadful mistake. But

They should have done

chance was

At

cross,

live.

last,

this

them.

many

even be sorry that they didn't heed the

repent.

might

race

the wicked look and listen they will realize that there

repentance

^

human

hanging on the

was nothing more God could have done

may

it.

spirit of rebellion to this

Some

calls to

himself will be

it is

now to when the

too late

long before

theirs.

one by one, the books are closed. The record has

been read. The story has been

There

told.

is

nothing more

to say.

As John wonders what of light sweep

will

happen next he

down from heaven

the great struggle between

good and

as

God

evil to

sees a blaze

mercifully brings

an end.

came down from heaven and consumed them, and

who had

deceived

Thus, though

them was thrown it

And

"fire

the devil

into the lake of fire."

takes a long, long time,

good wins

at last.

g

PART FOUR

STORY

10

All Things

WHEN

New

smoke has cleared away and John is him again it seems that every-

the

able to see around

thing has changed. Everything.

The so that

the

earth

first

is

different.

is

is

different.

sin

made

promised.

it

He

over again.

has

made

He

much for

left

looks as

it

must

created

it.

God

He

new."

Deserts have disappeared. So have

tiles.

so

has restored Eden, just as

"all things

the great barren canyons

dead

And

can be seen anywhere. Every-

The whole earth beginning when God

gloriously beautiful.

have appeared in the has

sky

says, "I

Nothing marred by thing

The

saw a new heaven and a new earth; heaven and the first earth had passed away."

John

all

the badlands

and

by the Flood. Gone too are

all

and scrawny bushes. All poisonous weeds and repAll birds of prey. All fierce and cruel beasts. All disease trees

germs. Nothing

is

left

that ever brought

harm

or sorrow to

205

THE BIBLE STORY The same wonderful Being who once created the world infinite, painstaking care has now remade it with

with such

and thoughtfulness

like skill

man's eternal enjoyment.

for

Everywhere John looks he

Towering mountains clothed with cedars, pines, trees

and

beauty beyond compare.

sees

stately

redwoods, hemlocks,

oaks. Rolling hills adorned with flowering

shrubs. Grass-covered fields, dotted with masses of

and

and

flowers like a vast, many-colored carpet. Buttercups

daisies,

poppies and marigolds, bluebells and daffodils, hollyhocks and

snapdragons, geraniums and delphiniums, orchids and begonias

—

God

are here again as lovely as

all

There

"no more

is

sea."

No

more

first

made them.

vast oceans separate

people one from another. Instead are beautiful island-studded lakes, fed

from one

sparkling, rippling, cascading stream flow-

ing forever from one central source within the Holy City.

John says he saw crystal,

middle of the

New

for the

It

all

Jerusalem,

John can hardly find words like a

God

Thence

street of the city."

ends of the earth, refreshing

As

water of

this "river of the

flowing from the throne of

most rare jewel," he

.

it

.

through the

flows

nature with the it

bright as

life, .

on

life

to the

of

God.

so very beautiful that

is

to picture

it.

"Its radiance

[is]

says, "like a jasper, clear as crystal."

has "a great, high wall, with twelve gates." Yet

it

isn't like

and the

gates

wall

is

of jasper

of pearl, while the rest of the city

is

of "pure gold, clear as

an old-world

fortress, for the

glass."

John

specially

very different.

206

mentions the foundations, for they are so

They

are not

made

of concrete, or brick, or

ALL THINGS

NEW

the logs, but of all sorts of jewels. As the light from gorgeous throne shines through them they flash and sparkle in

heavy

colorings.

John looks

for a temple, but there isn't one. There's

need for one any more. required, for Jesus

No

made

it

more

sacrifice for sin will ever

"once for

all."

no be

So "God and the

Lamb" are the temple here. "And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon its lamp is the Lamb. it, for the glory of God is its light, and And its gates shall never be shut by day—and there shall .

.

.

be no night there."

What

a

wonderful home the dear Lord

is

preparing for

THE BIBLE STORY who

those

Him! And what

love

He

happy one! For

a

is

going to Uve with His people forever. With tenderest touch

He

"wipe away every

will

sorrow.

No

more and

ness forever

There

No

more cutting words

Only

fighting. will be

the saints go

no more unkindness.

is

No

or cruel deeds.

more

No more

more

quarreling.

impatience.

Only loving

friendli-

homeland

of God's

like to live in this glorious

marching

You may. You

who

No

purest happi-

perfect peace through all eternity.

faithful children.?

say 'Come.'

Only

and always.

Would you and

pain.

no more grumbling.

more

true

and nobody

their eyes"

no more death.

ever.

No

ness always

from

will be

No more

crying.

will be

There

tear

There

will ever be sad again.

And

thirsty

let

Would you

like to

be there

when

in.?

are invited.

him who

"The

Spirit

and the Bride

hears say, 'Come.'

And

let

him

come."

"Come! Come! Come!" Jesus

is

calling you.

He

wants you

to share

heaven with

Him. It is

the last invitation in the Bible; the last in all the

wonderful Bible

Why

story.

not accept

it

now.?

INDEXES Complete Bible

List of the

409

Stories

Men and Women

Great Bible Teachings and Character- building Lessons

Books of the Bible

10-14

\

f

M",

INDEX ONE Complete

of the 409 Stories

Vol. Page

Title

No.

List

2.

the italicized descriptions briefly identify the story titles with their associated scriptures. 13 I Back to the Beginning 17 1 Everything Began _

3.

Great Preparations

Where needed, 1.

How

.

1

maizes the sea and land) 4. Birthday of a World 5. The First Rays of Sunshine

{God

(Sun, moon, and stars appear)

—

A Song of the Silence (Creation of birds and fish)

6.

Out

7.

The Animals Appear God Makes Man Adam's First Meal

8.

9.

10. Fairest

Creature of Creation

11.

(Eve, the mother of Man's Garden Home

12.

A Day

(The world's 13. 14.

15. 16.

18.

19.

first

_

Sabbath)

The The

First Mistake Test of Love (Eve disobeys God)

The Price of Sin One Gleam of Hope (The promise

17.

all living)

Remember

to

.

of a Saviour)

The First Baby The First Quarrel The Marked Man

.

_-

(Cain becomes a fugitive) 20. Adam's Last Birthday 21.

Who Walked Into Heaven Bad Days (World is warned of destruction)

The Man

—

22. Sad,

Shipbuilder

23. God's 24.

The Animals Move

In

Floodgates

25. Heaven's

Open

(Beginning of the Flood)

Voyage

History (The five-month journey of the ark.)

26. Strangest

27. Beginning 28.

The

in

Again

First Skyscraper

(The tower of Babel) 29. (rtd Finds a Boy (The call of Abraham) 30. All Aboard for Canaan 31. A Good Man's Footsteps (The altars built by Abraham) 32. Choosing the Best (The selfishness of Lot) 33. Not a Thread or a Shoestring (Abraham refuses king of Sodom's gtfts)

—

34. Children Like the Stars (Abraham's vision) 35. Sarah

Laughs Too Soon

36. Fire Falls From Heaven (The destruction of Sodom)

37. Love's Greatest Test

(The 38.

sacrifice of Isaac)

The Girl With a Kindly Heart (A wife is chosen for Isaac)

21

THE BIBLE STORY Vol. Pace

(Report of the twelve spies) Rebellion {Death of Korah. Dathan, and Abiram) Flowers on a Stick (The budding of Aaron's rod)

The Great

Water From a Rock .\

Sad Farewell (Death of Aaron)

Serpent on a Pole

The Talking Donkey (Balaam, the false prophet) Five Girls Make Histoo' Lonely Journey

(Death of Moses)

The

Scarlet

Cord

(Rahah helps the spies escape) Crossing the Jordan The Captain Appears (foshita meets "captain of the Lord's host")

The Shout That Wrecked a City (Walls of Jencho fall down) Buried Sin (Achan's covetousness) Moldy Bread (Giheonites deceive Joshua) The Sun Stands Still Last Days place of Weepers

Joshua's

The

Seesaw

Davs

(Deborah's i-ictory over Sisera) Burns the Dinner (God's call to Gideon) The Wet-Drt- Fleece

Ad Angel

Three Hundred Heroes {Gideon overcomes Midiatutcs) Saddest Little Girl (Jephthah's daughter)

Much-wanted Boy (Birth of Samson) Strongest Man That Ever Lived _ Gleaner Girl (Ruth and \aomi) ent to the Lord (Dedication of Samuel) Voice in the Night (God's call to Samuel) Dangerous Plunder (Philistines steal the arlO

-An

Unheeded Warning demands a king) a King

(Israel

Choosing

Saul Saves the People's Eyes The Price of Impatience (Saul offers sacrifice)

Brave Young Prince (The courage of Jonathan) Obedience, Not Sacrifice (Saul pays for his folly)

God

Finds .Another Boy

(Samuel anoints David ki^S) David the Lionhearted

Winning

a Princess

(David Weds Michal) in Bed (Michal helps David escape) Tale of Three Arrows ( Jonathan warns David to fiee)

Dummv K

Goliath's

Sword

No.

LIST OF

COMPLETE

THE

409 STORIES Vol. Page

Fed by Ravens 165. The Never-Empty Barrel

___

206. Vision

From Heaven

166. Fire

A

169.

The

209. 210.

Stolen Vineyard

170. Elijah's Prophecy 171. Fate of the Three

Comes True 211. 212.

Captams

(Ahaziah's plots against Elijah Fiery Chariot

fail)

(Elijah's

(Elisha's promise of water 175. Mother's Mysterious Oil Pots

(God honors a widow's

216.

Shunammite woman Maid

Gehazi Secret

Army

Four Surprised Lepers (How the siege of Samaria ended)

218.

(Elisha performs three miracles)

(Ezra's expedition to Jerusalem)

222.

The King's Cupbearer (Nehemiah asks

Arrows of Deliverance

223. Secret

(Death of Elisha) 184.

(Joash proclaimed king)

Boy With a Money Box (The Temple repaired) 186. The King Who Became a Leper

185.

(Uzziah's grave mistake) Set Free

187. Captives

188.

Two

Wonderful Weeks (King Hezekiah's good reign)

189. Great Joy in Jerusalem (Passover re-established) 190.

Heaps and Heaps

191.

Why

192.

Youth With

of Blessings

(God honors Hezekiah's Israel

(God

faithfulness)

a Vision

to the Rescue (Assyrian army destroyed)

194.

The Sun Turns Back

197.

The Bad Boy King The Good Boy King

198.

The

(Josiah recovers the

Last

From

Star Is Born (Mordecai adopts Esther)

234.

(Haman hanged) Day of Victory

235.

Man With Ten

236.

What

Children

and children destroyed)

Job Didn't

Know

True

(Job remains faithful)

book of the taw)

238. All's Well That Ends Well (Job prays for his friends)

239. Swallowed by a Fish

Chance a

A

229. Orphan Girl Becomes Queen 230. Plots in the Palace (Haman's ambitions) 231. Esther's Grand Decision

(Job's flocks

240.

(Jeremiah pleads for reform) 200. Escape

228.

237. Tried and

Call of Jeremiah

199. Judah's

The Plain of Ono (Sanballat's plan fails) 226. Great Joy in Jerusalem 227. Broken Promises (Nehemiah tries to stop apostasy)

(Esther's people saved)

(God's sign to Hezehiah) 195. Visitors From Babylon 196.

to Jerusalem)

225.

calls Isaiah)

Angel

go

232. Royal Invitation 233. The Biter Bitten

Fell

193.

to

Journey

(Nehemiah plans rebuilding of city) 224. Working Together (People rally to Nehemiah's leadership)

The Choir That Won a Battle Baby Hid in the Temple

183.

started)

(Enemies threaten the builders) 219. Cheer Up! Be Strong! (Haggai urges resumption of rebuilding) 220. A Mountain Becomes a Plain (Zerubbabel finishes the Temple) 221. Why Ezra Blushed

Making Iron Float 182.

prophecy)

When new Temple was ( More Trouble

son)

God) Greedy

179. Elisha's

fulfills

The Road Back

(Return of the captives to Jerusalem) 217. Songs and Tears

(Servant of Naaman's wife witnesses for 178.

(Cyrus

comes true)

Kindness Repaid Little

coming revealed)

214. Daniel 215. The Hour of Deliverance

faith)

(Elisha raises a

a vision)

Secret

of Messiah's Sees Our Day

(Elisha becomes Elijah's successor)

177. Faithful

Glorious

(Time

the Bears

174. Valley of Red Ditches

176.

Future

Idol

(God sends Daniel 213. Gabriel's

translation)

Bad Boys and

the

(Nebuchadnezzar sets up golden image) Thrown to the Flames The King Goes Mad Writing on the Wall (God's warning to Belshazzar) Night With the Lions Animals From the Sea ___

172. Heaven's 173.

of

The Golden

207.

Cloud Like a Man's Hand (Rain comes through Elijah's prayer) 168. The Still Small Voice (God speaks to Elijah)

167.

Title

No.

205. Image That Vanished (Daniel describes the ^