The Acts of the Apostles

xl
INTRODUCTION
is the case in every enthusiastic reHgious movement,
« wonders and signs '^ really occurred, and especially
that class of phenomena with which what is to day
called " Christian Science " is concerned. But only
he that is acquainted with the religious charlatanism
of that age and the extravagancies of its productions
can know from what a mass of esoteric rubbish, of
fraudulent magic, and pious absurdity the author has
kept himself free. All these things we know found
their way even into Christianity at that time or
soon afterwards. From these St. Luke, however, kept
himself free.
We must also in this connection remember the
fact that St. Paul (Col. iv. 14) calls St. Luke
expressly, and in a context where the epithet has
doubled weight, " the physician, the beloved." He
had therefore tried him and approved him as a
physician and a friend^ and from his experience of
St. Luke he is impelled to give him this public
testimony. If one now compares how modestly and
yet with what firm assurance St. Luke cursorily
mentions his successful cures (Acts xxviii. 9-10 . . .
iOepairevovTo, Of koi TroWaif Ttjuai^ eTL^r}(Tav ^fxag—
Ramsay has justly laid stress upon the fact that in
verse 8 the word used of St. Paul is idcraTo)^ one
by no means receives the impression of some wild
enthusiast who cured diseases, but of a man who
continued to practise his profession of physician with
success, and who in it had earned the permanent
esteem of a man of such high temper as St. Paul.
That he took account also of cures in answer to
prayer, that his attitude towards them was uncritical,