XXIX. THE STRIPES. Acts, xvi. 16-24. How happy were Paul and his friends when they first came to Philippi! You do not forget their names- Silas, Timothy, and Luke. Nobody illtreated them, and Lydia loaded them with kindness. But soon there was a great change. The four ministers went very often to the house of prayer. There they used to preach as well as pray. A young slave-girl once met them as they were going, and she followed them, crying out, These men are the servants of God, who show unto us the way of salvation.' How strange it was for a girl to cry out in this way in the streets! She was a poor, miserable girl. The devil had come into her, and made her say wonderful things. Her masters were wicked men, who sent her out to get money by saying what the devil told her. She was called a sorceress. The four ministers were grieved to hear her words, but they said nothing at first. Another day the young girl met the ministers again. Another day she met them again; and so she went on, following them, and calling after them, day after day. One day Paul knew that Jesus would give him the power to cast out the spirit in the girl, so he turned and said, 'I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' And immediately the spirit came out of her. For Was it not a happy thing for this poor girl to be delivered from the tormenting devil? Indeed it was. though what she had said of Paul was true, she told many lies, by which she had got money for her masters. |