The Python Advantage: Python for excel in 2024

Hayden Van Der Post pdf download

https://ebookmass.com/product/the-python-advantage-python-for-
excel-in-2024-hayden-van-der-post/

Explore and download more ebooks at ebookmass.com

We have selected some products that you may be interested in
Click the link to download now or visit ebookmass.com
for more options!.

Health Analytics with Python: A Comprehensive Guide for

2024 Van Der Post

https://ebookmass.com/product/health-analytics-with-python-a-
comprehensive-guide-for-2024-van-der-post/

Algorithmic Essentials: Trading with Python: Your

Comprehenive Guide for 2024 Van Der Post

https://ebookmass.com/product/algorithmic-essentials-trading-with-
python-your-comprehenive-guide-for-2024-van-der-post/

Financial Architect: Algorithmic Trading with Python: A

comprehensive Guide for 2024 Van Der Post

https://ebookmass.com/product/financial-architect-algorithmic-trading-
with-python-a-comprehensive-guide-for-2024-van-der-post/

Market Master: Trading with Python Van Der Post

https://ebookmass.com/product/market-master-trading-with-python-van-
der-post/
Power Trader: Options Trading with Python Van Der Post

https://ebookmass.com/product/power-trader-options-trading-with-
python-van-der-post/

Python Fundamentals for Finance: A survey of Algorithmic

Options trading with Python Van Der Post

https://ebookmass.com/product/python-fundamentals-for-finance-a-
survey-of-algorithmic-options-trading-with-python-van-der-post/

CALCULUS FOR DATA SCIENCE Hayden Van Der Post Vincent

Bisette

https://ebookmass.com/product/calculus-for-data-science-hayden-van-
der-post-vincent-bisette/

Data Universe: Organizational Insights with Python:

Embracing Data Driven Decision Making Van Der Post

https://ebookmass.com/product/data-universe-organizational-insights-
with-python-embracing-data-driven-decision-making-van-der-post/

Financial Analyst: A Comprehensive Applied Guide to

Quantitative Finance in 2024: A Holistic Guide to: Python
for Finance, Algorithmic Options Trading, Black Scholes,
Stochastic Calculus & More Van Der Post
https://ebookmass.com/product/financial-analyst-a-comprehensive-
applied-guide-to-quantitative-finance-in-2024-a-holistic-guide-to-
python-for-finance-algorithmic-options-trading-black-scholes-
stochastic-calculus-more-van-de/
THE PYTHON
A D VA N TA G E
Python for Excel

Hayden Van Der Post

Johann Strauss

Reactive Publishing
 CONTENTS

Title Page
Chapter 1: Introduction to Python for Excel Users
Chapter 2: Python Basics for Spreadsheet Enthusiasts – Enhanced
Chapter 3: Mastering Advanced Excel Techniques with Pandas
Chapter 4: Unraveling Data Analysis and Visualization
Chapter 5: Exploring Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
Chapter 6: Streamlining Excel Operations with Python Automation
Chapter 7: Bridging Excel with Databases and Web APIs
Additional Resources for Excel
Guide 1 - Essential Excel Functions
Guide 2 - Excel Keyboard Shortcuts
Python Programming Guides
Guide 3 - Python Installation
Step 1: Download Python
Step 2: Run the Installer
Step 3: Installation Setup
Step 4: Verify Installation
Step 5: Install pip (if not included)
Step 1: Download Python
Step 2: Run the Installer
Step 3: Follow Installation Steps
Step 4: Verify Installation
Step 5: Install pip (if not included)
Guide 4 - Create a Budgeting Program in Python
Step 1: Set Up Your Python Environment
Step 2: Create a New Python File
Step 3: Write the Python Script
Step 4: Run Your Program
Step 5: Expand and Customize
Guide 5 - Create a Forecasting Program in Python
Step 1: Set Up Your Python Environment
Step 2: Prepare Your Data
Step 3: Write the Python Script
Step 4: Run Your Program
Step 5: Expand and Customize
Guide 6 - Integrate Python in Excel
Step 1: Set Up Your Python Environment
Step 2: Prepare Your Excel File
Step 3: Write the Python Script
Step 4: Run Your Program
Step 5: Expand and Customize
 CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION TO
PYTHON FOR EXCEL
USERS
Understanding the Basics of
Python

I
n today's dynamic world of data analysis, Python has become an
essential tool for those looking to work with and understand extensive
datasets, especially within Excel. To begin this journey effectively, it's
crucial to first understand the core principles that form the foundation of
Python. This understanding is not just about learning a programming
language; it's about equipping yourself with the skills to harness Python's
capabilities in data manipulation and interpretation.
Python's syntax, renowned for its simplicity and readability, is designed to
be easily understandable, mirroring the human language more closely than
many of its programming counterparts. This attribute alone makes it a
worthy companion for Excel users who may not have a background in
computer science.
Variables in Python are akin to cells in an Excel spreadsheet—containers
for storing data values. However, unlike Excel, Python is not confined to
rows and columns; its variables can hold a myriad of data types including
integers, floating-point numbers, strings, and more complex structures like
lists and dictionaries.
Another cornerstone of Python is its dynamic typing system. While Excel
requires a definitive cell format, Python variables can seamlessly transition
between data types, offering a level of flexibility that Excel alone cannot
provide. This fluidity proves invaluable when dealing with diverse datasets.
The Python language also introduces functions, which can be equated to
Excel's formulas, but with far greater potency. Python functions are
reusable blocks of code that can perform a specific task, receive input
parameters, and return a result. They can range from simple operations, like
summing a list of numbers, to complex algorithms that analyze and predict
trends in financial data.
Indentation is a unique aspect of Python's structure that governs the flow of
execution. Similar to the way Excel's formulas rely on the correct order of
operations, Python's blocks of code depend on their hierarchical indentation
to define the sequence in which statements are executed. This clarity in
structure not only aids in debugging but also streamlines the collaborative
review process.
One cannot discuss Python without mentioning its extensive libraries,
which are collections of modules and functions that someone else has
written to extend Python's capabilities. For Excel users, libraries such as
Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib open a gateway to advanced data
manipulation, analysis, and visualization options that go well beyond
Excel's native features.
To truly harness the power of Python, one must also understand the concept
of iteration. Loops in Python, such as for and while loops, allow users to
automate repetitive tasks—something that Excel's fill handle or drag-down
formulas could only dream of achieving with the same level of
sophistication.
In conclusion, understanding the basics of Python is akin to learning the
alphabet before composing a symphony of words. It is the essential
foundation upon which all further learning and development will be built.
By mastering these fundamental elements, Excel users can confidently
transition to Python, elevating their data analysis capabilities to new zeniths
of efficiency and insight.
Why Python Is Essential for Excel Users in 2024
As we navigate the digital expanse of 2024, the symbiosis between Python
and Excel has never been more critical. Excel users, standing at the
confluence of data analytics and business intelligence, find themselves in
need of tools that can keep pace with the ever-expanding universe of data.
Python has ascended as the quintessential ally, offering capabilities that
address and overcome the limitations inherent in Excel.
In this dynamic era, data is not merely a static entity confined to
spreadsheets. It is an ever-flowing stream, constantly updated, and requiring
real-time analysis. Python provides the means to automate the extraction,
transformation, and loading (ETL) processes, thus ensuring that Excel users
can maintain an up-to-the-minute view of their data landscapes.
The essence of Python's indispensability lies in its ability to manage large
datasets, which often overwhelm Excel's capabilities. As datasets grow in
size, so do the challenges of processing them within the constraints of
Excel's rows and columns. Python, with its ability to handle big data,
enables users to process information that would otherwise be truncated or
slow to manipulate within Excel.
Moreover, Python's robust libraries, such as Pandas, offer data manipulation
and analysis functions that go well beyond the scope of Excel's built-in
tools. Users can perform complex data wrangling tasks, merge datasets with
ease, and carry out sophisticated statistical analyses—all within an
environment that is both powerful and user-friendly.
The introduction of machine learning and predictive analytics into the
business environment has further solidified Python's role as an essential tool
for Excel users. With libraries such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, and
PyTorch, Excel users can now harness the power of machine learning to
uncover patterns and insights, predict trends, and make data-driven
decisions with a level of accuracy and foresight that was previously
unattainable.
Visualization is another realm where Python excels. While Excel offers a
variety of charting tools, Python's visualization libraries like Matplotlib,
Seaborn, and Plotly provide a much broader canvas to depict data. These
tools enable users to create interactive, publication-quality graphs and
dashboards that can communicate complex data stories with clarity and
impact.
Python's scripting capabilities allow for the customization and extension of
Excel's functionality. Through the use of add-ins and application
programming interfaces (APIs), Python can automate routine tasks, develop
new functions, and even integrate Excel with other applications and web
services, fostering a seamless flow of information across platforms and
systems.
In the context of 2024, where agility and adaptability are paramount,
Python equips Excel users with the means to refactor their approach to data.
It empowers them to transition from being passive recipients of information
to active architects of innovation. By learning Python, Excel users are not
just staying relevant; they are positioning themselves at the forefront of the
data revolution, ready to leverage the convergence of these two powerful
tools to achieve unprecedented levels of productivity and insight.
In the subsequent sections, we will explore the practical applications of
Python in Excel tasks, providing you with the knowledge and examples
needed to transform your spreadsheets into dynamic engines of analysis and
decision-making.
Setting Up Your Environment: Python and Excel
In the pursuit of mastering Python for Excel, the initial step is to establish a
conducive working environment that bridges both platforms. This section
will guide you through the meticulous process of setting up a robust Python
development environment tailored for Excel integration, ensuring a
seamless workflow that maximizes efficiency and productivity.
Firstly, you'll need to install Python. As of 2024, Python 3.12 remains the
standard, and it's important to download it from the official Python website
to ensure you have the latest version. This will give you access to the most
recent features and security updates. After installation, verify the setup by
running the 'python' command in your terminal or command prompt.
Next, let’s talk about Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). While
Python comes with IDLE as its default environment, there are numerous
other IDEs that offer enhanced features for development, such as PyCharm,
Visual Studio Code, and Jupyter Notebooks. Each IDE has its unique
advantages, and it's vital to choose one that aligns with your workflow
preferences. Jupyter Notebooks, for instance, is particularly favoured by
data scientists for its interactive computing and visualization capabilities.
With the IDE selected, you must install the necessary packages that
facilitate Excel integration. The 'pip' command, Python’s package installer,
is your gateway to these libraries. The most pivotal of these is Pandas,
which provides high-level data structures and functions designed for in-
depth data analysis. Install Pandas using the command 'pip install pandas' to
gain the ability to manipulate Excel files in ways that were previously
unimaginable within Excel itself.
To directly manipulate Excel files, you’ll also need to install the 'openpyxl'
library for handling .xlsx files, or 'xlrd' for working with .xls files. These
libraries can be installed with pip commands such as 'pip install openpyxl'
or 'pip install xlrd'.
Furthermore, to leverage Python's advanced data visualization tools, you
should install Matplotlib and Seaborn, essential for crafting insightful
graphical representations of data. These can be installed with 'pip install
matplotlib' and 'pip install seaborn' respectively.
For those who will be using Python alongside Excel’s macro capabilities,
the 'xlwings' library is a must-have. It allows Python to hook into Excel,
enabling the automation of Excel tasks and the creation of custom user-
defined functions in Python. Install it with 'pip install xlwings'.
Another critical aspect is the Python Excel writer 'xlsxwriter', which lets
you create sophisticated Excel workbooks with advanced formatting, charts,
and even formulas. It can be installed via 'pip install xlsxwriter'.
Once your libraries are installed, it's crucial to test each one by importing it
into your IDE and running a simple command. For example, you could test
Pandas by importing it and reading a sample Excel file into a DataFrame.
This verifies that the installation was successful and that you're ready to
proceed with confidence.
For those who may not be as familiar with command-line installations,
there are graphical user interfaces such as Anaconda, which simplifies
package management and provides a one-stop-shop for all your data science
needs.
Visit https://ebookmass.com today to explore
a vast collection of ebooks across various
genres, available in popular formats like
PDF, EPUB, and MOBI, fully compatible with
all devices. Enjoy a seamless reading
experience and effortlessly download high-
quality materials in just a few simple steps.
Plus, don’t miss out on exciting offers that
let you access a wealth of knowledge at the
best prices!
The key differences between Python and Excel in functionality lie in their
unique strengths and use cases within data analysis. Excel, a spreadsheet
application, excels in data storage, manipulation, and simple analysis. Its
user-friendly grid interface is ideal for data entry and basic calculations.
However, it struggles with complex data processing and automation.
Python, a high-level programming language, excels in advanced data
manipulation, statistical modeling, and handling large-scale data. It
outperforms Excel in flexibility, scalability, and handling large datasets.
Python's extensive libraries enable sophisticated operations, like custom
machine learning models and web API integration, which Excel cannot
offer.
Python's advantage in handling large datasets is significant. It can process
much larger volumes of data compared to Excel's row limit. Python's
customization and automation capabilities surpass Excel's, especially with
its vast ecosystem of libraries.
Excel's formulas are convenient for simple tasks but become cumbersome
for complex analyses. In contrast, Python's syntax, though requiring more
learning, offers readability and maintainability, especially for complex
operations. Python also enables reusability and better organization of code
through functions and classes.
In visualization, Python has the upper hand with libraries like Matplotlib
and Seaborn, offering more variety and customization than Excel's built-in
chart types. Python's error handling is more robust, providing detailed error
messages aiding in debugging, unlike Excel's often challenging error
troubleshooting.
However, Excel's ease of use, familiar interface, and real-time collaboration
features make it irreplaceable for certain tasks, such as quick data entry and
pivot table use.
Integrating Python with Excel is made possible through several libraries,
enhancing Excel's capabilities with Python's analytical strength.

1. Pandas: Essential for data analysis, Pandas allows efficient data

manipulation and easy reading/writing of Excel files.
2. OpenPyXL: This library excels in creating and modifying Excel
.xlsx files, including automating complex file creation.
 3. Xlrd and Xlwt: These are vital for handling older .xls files,
ensuring compatibility with legacy formats.
4. XlsxWriter: Focuses on creating Excel files with an emphasis on
formatting and presentation.
5. PyXLL: Integrates Python with Excel's UI, allowing Python
functions to be used as spreadsheet functions.
6. XLWings: Offers deep integration between Python and Excel,
including user-defined functions and Excel automation.
7. NumPy and SciPy: While not Excel-specific, they are
fundamental for numerical computations in Python.
For Excel users transitioning to Python, understanding core concepts is
crucial:

1. Variables and Data Types: These are fundamental in Python,

akin to Excel's cell values and formats.
2. Lists and Dictionaries: Python's data structures comparable to
Excel's rows, columns, and named ranges.
3. Control Structures: Python's if-else statements and loops
automate tasks, similar to Excel's conditional formulas.
4. Functions and Modules: These resemble Excel's custom
functions in VBA, allowing reusable code segments.
5. Exception Handling: In Python, this is akin to Excel's
IFERROR(), managing errors gracefully.
6. File Operations: Python's strength in file manipulation extends
beyond Excel's capabilities.
7. Object-Oriented Programming: Understanding this helps when
using complex Python libraries.
Mastering these concepts enhances Excel users' abilities to automate tasks,
handle larger datasets, and perform sophisticated analyses.

Python vs. VBA: A Deep Dive into Their Strengths and Weaknesses
Python's Superior Versatility and Performance Python stands out as a
high-level, versatile language with clear, intuitive syntax. Its broad
application range extends far beyond Excel, allowing for integration with
various databases and web applications, and excelling in complex statistical
analyses. Python's robust performance across different operating systems
and its efficiency in managing large datasets give it a significant edge over
VBA, especially for tasks surpassing Excel's row limits.
The Robust Ecosystem and Community of Python Python's ecosystem,
enriched with libraries like Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib, specifically
caters to data analysis and visualization, offering tools that are essential for
Excel users. The extensive and active Python community provides abundant
resources, documentation, and forums for support, overshadowing VBA's
more niche community.
VBA: The Comfort of Accessibility and Compatibility VBA, integrated
into Microsoft Office applications, offers immediate accessibility to Excel
users, eliminating the need for extra installations. Its direct interaction with
Excel sheets, forms, and controls makes it a convenient choice for small-
scale automation and tasks closely tied to Excel's interface.
Learning Curve and Development Time: A Balanced Perspective
Python might present a steeper learning curve for those without prior
programming experience, yet its syntax facilitates a smoother and quicker
learning process over time. VBA's specialized and less intuitive syntax can
make development faster for simple Excel tasks due to its in-app
integration.
Maintenance and Scalability: Python as the Future-Proof Choice
Python is easier to maintain and scale, with its readable code and cross-
platform functionality, contrasting with VBA's Windows and Microsoft
Office limitations. Python's broader applicability makes it more future-
proof and scalable.
Security and Updates: Python's Progressive Edge Python continuously
integrates the latest security features and best practices, while VBA, as an
older language, may fall short in modern security standards. Microsoft's
increasing investment in Python for Excel indicates Python's growing
preference for future developments.
Python's Extensive Integration Capabilities Python's ability to connect
with various data sources, APIs, and services far surpasses VBA's
integration, mainly confined to Microsoft Office applications. This
capability is crucial for those aiming to broaden their data processing scope.
Conclusion: Python vs. VBA for Excel Users While VBA remains
suitable for straightforward, Excel-focused tasks, Python emerges as the
more powerful, versatile, and forward-looking option. Despite an initial
learning curve, Python's advanced data handling and analysis capabilities
make it an invaluable asset for Excel users seeking to excel in a data-driven
world.
Pandas: A Vital Tool for Data Manipulation in Python
Transitioning to data mastery with Python, one encounters Pandas, a key
library for enhancing data manipulation in conjunction with Excel. This
section explores Pandas' fundamentals and its transformative potential for
data work.
Understanding Pandas: A Data Analysis Catalyst Pandas, born from the
needs of data analysts, is a Python library offering structures and operations
for handling numerical tables and time series. Its name, derived from "Panel
Data," reflects its focus on handling structured, multidimensional data sets.
DataFrames: Pandas' Core Feature The DataFrame, akin to an advanced
Excel spreadsheet, is a mutable, two-dimensional data structure with
labeled axes, capable of processing millions of rows effortlessly. This
feature is central to Pandas' role in data manipulation.
Mastering Data Manipulation with Pandas Pandas streamlines tasks like
merging datasets, pivoting tables, and managing missing data, surpassing
Excel's capabilities. Its I/O functions allow for smooth interaction with
various file formats, enhancing Excel's functionalities.
Sample Pandas Code for Excel Users
python
import pandas as pd

# Read Excel file

df = pd.read_excel('financial_data.xlsx')
# Filter data based on 'Revenue' criteria
filtered_df = df[df['Revenue'] > 10000]

# Export filtered data to a new Excel file

filtered_df.to_excel('filtered_financial_data.xlsx', index=False)
This code exemplifies Pandas' efficiency in performing tasks that are more
complex in Excel.
Advanced Data Transformation with Pandas Beyond basic
manipulation, Pandas offers sophisticated functions for complex data
transformations, including groupby operations, time-series analysis, and
custom lambda functions, enhancing data manipulation granularity.
The Excel to Pandas Transition For Excel users, moving to Pandas
represents a significant upgrade in data handling capabilities. Pandas
addresses Excel's limitations with large datasets and repetitive tasks,
opening doors to advanced data analysis techniques.
Pandas in the Data Ecosystem Pandas is a component of a broader data
toolkit, integrating seamlessly with libraries like NumPy and Matplotlib,
forming a comprehensive toolkit for any data analyst.
In summary, Pandas is not just a library, but a gateway to advanced data
manipulation, empowering Excel users to manage larger datasets, perform
faster analyses, and achieve more accurate results. The upcoming sections
will delve deeper into Pandas' capabilities, equipping you to revolutionize
your approach to data analysis with Python and Excel.
Transitioning from Excel to Python: Practical Advice
Moving from Excel to Python can be both exciting and challenging. This
segment offers practical tips to smooth the transition from a graphical
interface to a scripting language.
Adopting a Pythonic Mindset The transition starts with embracing
Python's philosophy, which emphasizes readability, simplicity, and
explicitness. Familiarize yourself with Python's syntax and conventions,
and start thinking in terms of automation, reusability, and scalability.
Using Excel as a Bridge Utilize your Excel skills as a foundation. Many
Excel concepts have Python parallels, like Excel formulas corresponding to
Python functions. This familiarity can make learning Python's data
manipulation tools more approachable.
Structured Learning Approach Develop a structured learning plan. Start
with Python basics, then explore data-specific libraries like Pandas and
NumPy. Focus on understanding data structures, control flows, and
functions, before delving into data manipulation and visualization.
Learning by Doing Practical application is key. Translate simple Excel
tasks into Python, writing scripts for routine data processing. This hands-on
approach solidifies understanding and builds confidence.
Sample Python Script for Excel Users
python
# Define a list of prices
prices = [100, 200, 300, 400]

# Apply a discount and calculate the total

discount_factor = 0.9
discounted_prices = [price * discount_factor for price in prices]
total = sum(discounted_prices)

print(f"Total after discount: {total}")

Utilizing Online Resources and Community Leverage online resources
like tutorials, forums, and coding communities. Engage with the Python
community for guidance and shared experiences.
Exploring IDEs and Integration Tools Get acquainted with Integrated
Development Environments (IDEs) like PyCharm or Visual Studio Code,
which offer features enhancing productivity.
Building a Project Portfolio Apply Python skills to real-world projects,
documenting them in a portfolio to track progress and showcase abilities.
Patience and Persistence Be patient and persistent. Learning a new skill
takes time, and every challenge is a learning opportunity.
Staying Updated and Adaptable Keep up with Python's evolving
landscape. Stay adaptable to incorporate new tools and techniques.
Transitioning from Excel to Python opens up new potentials for data
analysis and automation. By embracing Python's principles, leveraging
Excel knowledge, and applying skills to practical problems, you'll soon
master a language at the forefront of modern data science, embarking on a
new chapter in your analytical journey.
Setting Ambitious Goals with Python and Excel Integration
Integrating Python with Excel equips you with a potent toolkit, synergizing
Python's programming capabilities with Excel's spreadsheet functionalities.
This section outlines ambitious goals achievable through this powerful
combination.
Enhanced Data Analysis and Automation One primary goal is to boost
your data analysis capabilities using Python's libraries like Pandas and
NumPy, facilitating the handling of large datasets and tasks challenging in
Excel. Automate repetitive tasks with Python scripts, transforming manual
processes like data cleaning and report generation into efficient, automated
operations.
Advanced Data Visualization and Real-Time Data Feeds Python extends
Excel's data visualization tools with libraries like Matplotlib, Seaborn, and
Plotly, enabling sophisticated, interactive visualizations. Set up automated
data pipelines with Python to maintain real-time data feeds in Excel,
eliminating manual data imports.
Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics Leverage Python's machine
learning libraries like scikit-learn to build predictive models, and use Excel
for analyzing and presenting model outputs. Apply this to sales forecasting,
customer behavior analysis, and other predictive applications.
Custom Excel Functions and Efficient Collaboration Develop custom
Excel functions using Python, bridging Excel's simplicity with Python's
functionality. Enhance collaboration features with Python's networking
capabilities, ensuring effective team coordination with up-to-date data.
Building Scalable Data Processing Pipelines Aim to construct a scalable
data processing pipeline encompassing data ingestion, processing, and
output generation, integrating error handling, logging, and performance
optimizations.
Expanding Career Opportunities Python and Excel proficiency broadens
career prospects, positioning you for roles like data analyst, financial
modeler, or business intelligence expert.
Empowering Decision-Making Ultimately, integrating Python with Excel
aims to empower decision-making with advanced analysis techniques,
providing deeper insights and more accurate forecasts.
Embrace this journey as a continuous learning process. Each milestone
paves the way for more complex, rewarding projects, pushing the
boundaries of data analysis and automation. Let your ambition guide you to
new heights of analytical prowess with Python and Excel.
 CHAPTER 2: PYTHON
BASICS FOR
SPREADSHEET
ENTHUSIASTS –
ENHANCED
Advanced Data Types in Python
for Excel Users

I
n the dynamic world of data management and analysis, a deep
understanding of data types forms the cornerstone. As we embark on a
journey through Python's landscape, recognizing and utilizing its diverse
data types becomes imperative. This becomes particularly salient when
contrasting these with Excel's familiar data types. This section aims to serve
as a comprehensive guide, bridging the gap between Python and Excel data
types, facilitating a seamless transition for those adept in Excel delving into
the Python domain.

Python's data types form the backbone of its versatility. Beginning with the
essentials: integers, floats, strings, and booleans – these are crucial. A
Python integer is comparable to Excel's whole number, sans decimal points.
Floats in Python are akin to Excel's numbers with decimals. Python's strings
are character sequences, mirroring Excel's text format. Booleans in Python
are essential, representing binary truth values – True or False, analogous to
Excel's logical TRUE and FALSE.

Excel aficionados typically organize data using rows and columns. Python
introduces lists and tuples for storing ordered data collections. Lists are
dynamic, allowing post-creation modifications, while tuples remain static.
Envision lists as Excel rows or columns, permitting value alterations or
additions. Tuples resemble a constant set of Excel cells.

Python's dictionaries resemble Excel's two-column tables, with unique keys

in the first column and corresponding values in the second. These
dictionaries facilitate rapid data retrieval and storage, akin to Excel's
VLOOKUP or INDEX-MATCH functions for data associated with unique
identifiers.

Python also presents sets, unique item collections. Imagine an Excel

column devoid of duplicates – sets automatically remove redundancies,
proving beneficial for Excel users frequently dealing with duplicate
removal.

Transitioning from Excel to Python primarily involves acclimatizing to

DataFrames, courtesy of the Pandas library. These DataFrames mimic Excel
worksheets, offering a two-dimensional data structure with rows and
columns, enabling operations akin to Excel but with enhanced power and
efficiency.

Grasping these data types is critical as they govern Python's data

manipulation and analysis capabilities. For instance, understanding the
impossibility of performing mathematical operations on strings, or the
immutable nature of tuples versus the modifiable lists, is vital when
scripting Python interactions with Excel data.

In practice, transitioning data between Excel and Python entails mapping

Excel's data types to Python's equivalents. This is pivotal when importing
data into Python for analysis or exporting it back into Excel for
presentation. A profound understanding of these data types not only eases
Visit https://ebookmass.com today to explore
a vast collection of ebooks across various
genres, available in popular formats like
PDF, EPUB, and MOBI, fully compatible with
all devices. Enjoy a seamless reading
experience and effortlessly download high-
quality materials in just a few simple steps.
Plus, don’t miss out on exciting offers that
let you access a wealth of knowledge at the
best prices!
Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
then out toward the great multitude of shouting people and said in a
gentle voice which reached out over all the throng, “Father, forgive
these people. They do not know what they are doing.”
A few who came back later had another story which they told but
they couldn’t make anybody at Tarsus believe it. They said that
some of the followers and friends of this wonderful Teacher from
Galilee declared that they had seen Him alive after He was crucified.
Some of these followers said they had heard Him speak just the way
He used to do before He was crucified, and they claimed that He
told them when they were on the way going up to Jerusalem that He
would be crucified, but that He would come back to life again.
When Saul heard these strange reports he was at first very much
moved by them. He could not sleep at night because he thought so
much over the stories he heard from the travellers. But little by little
he made up his mind that they were just idle tales such as travellers
love to tell to those who stay at home. He said to himself: “It isn’t
likely that there really was any such person in Galilee as this one
they tell about. I should have heard about him while I was in
Jerusalem, for he could not have got his power suddenly and if he
was beginning to do these wonderful things then, it would have
been known in the city. But nobody had heard of him at all. If he got
his power suddenly, without any preparation and without studying in
any of the schools, it is probable that some evil spirit, like Beelzebub,
has helped him and revealed secrets to him. It is almost certain that
he was not sent by God, for the books of the law do not tell about
any such Teacher who would come and die for his truth, and the
words they bring about his teaching are not at all like what we know
of God from our sacred books. No, either there was no such person,
or, if there was, he was deluded and misguided.”
But when Saul was talking one beautiful evening with his mother,
who seemed now much older than when she talked about the
commandments with her little boy, suddenly Saul said: “Wouldn’t it
be strange, Mother, if what that Galilean Teacher, of whom the
travellers talk, said about God were really true—I mean, that God is
a Father and loves men, even men who do wrong and sin. My tent-
maker thinks that God is a great Spirit who dwells in everything and
is everywhere. But this is more wonderful, that God is full of love
and tenderness for all kinds of people in the world. It cannot,
however, be true, for the Rabbis would have known it if it had been
so!”
And the mother answered: “Ah, yes, no doubt the wise Rabbis
would know. But is there not something just a little like that in some
of the beautiful psalms which we sing in the Synagogue—‘Like as a
Father’?”
“But, Mother, this man, they say, died on a cross, and no good
man, whom God approved, could die that way, for our law says that
all who are hanged on trees are cursed and disapproved of by God,
so that we need not think any more about him.” But try as he would,
Saul could not get these things out of his mind.
 VII

IN JERUSALEM AGAIN

All through the quiet period in Tarsus while Saul was learning his
trade and living with his father and mother in the dear old home
where he had been a boy, he was wondering what his life was going
to be. He always felt, even as a little boy, that a great life-work lay
before him. It was too sacred and solemn to talk about and he did
not tell even his mother, but all the time, down deep in his soul, he
dimly knew that he was destined to have an unusual life and to do
something signal and wonderful. When he lay ill and everybody
thought he would die, he felt very sure that he was not going to die
yet, for the great work of his life was still to be done! He had often
been in great danger, on his journey up to Jerusalem and on the
ship coming back to Tarsus, and many times before he left home,
but he always knew that somehow he would come through the
danger and be spared.
He was eager now to find his life-work and to start in on his great
career. He was, therefore, very happy when a traveller of his own
race, coming from the holy land, brought him a letter from the
authorities in Jerusalem saying that they had work for him to do in
that city. They wanted a young and learned Rabbi to teach the Jews
living in Jerusalem who spoke Greek and who were called
“Hellenists.” There were, my readers must know, two kinds of Jews.
There were the Jews, first, who lived all the time in Palestine. They
could keep the law more perfectly and more completely than other
people could. They thought of themselves as the truly real Jews and
as the inner circle of God’s own people. Then, secondly, there were
the Jews who lived and did business in the great cities of the Roman
Empire—cities like Rome and Alexandria, and Ephesus and Antioch
and Philippi and Corinth and Tarsus. They could not keep themselves
as pure or as perfect as the Palestine Jews could, for they had to
meet and mingle with Gentiles who were not pure according to the
law and who defiled those that came in contact with them. Then,
too, these out-dwellers could not get to the temple very often to
make sacrifices and to keep the requirements of the law. They used
the language which the worldly people around them used. That was
generally Greek. They had their Scriptures translated into Greek and
many of them did not know and could not read Hebrew at all. But
these Hellenists, or Greek-speaking Jews, went up to Jerusalem as
often as they could and when it was possible for them to do so, they
would stay in Jerusalem for long periods in order to be near the
temple. They had a synagogue of their own in Jerusalem where they
went for their lessons and for their Sabbath services and where their
little children were taught while the parents were staying in
Jerusalem. It was to this Synagogue that Saul, the young Rabbi, was
to go, to teach the Jews who came from all the far-away countries to
sojourn in Jerusalem.
It was very different for him, going to Jerusalem now from what it
had been for the fifteen-year-old boy the first time he went. Now he
was going, not for a few years, but for life. Now he was setting his
hand to carry out the great dreams and hopes of his life. Now he
was leaving his mother, perhaps for the last time. His father would
still continue to go to the Passover and Saul would perhaps see him
there, but his mother would never leave home again and it would
surely be many years before he would come back through the
mountain-gate, or up the Cydnus River, to his birth-place. Nobody
knows just what goes on in a young man’s heart when he takes this
great venture and pushes out from the home he loves to begin his
real life in the strange and difficult world, where some succeed and
where some fail, where some keep pure and good, and where some
go wrong.
Many things seemed to have changed in Jerusalem during the
short period since Saul had left it. Everybody was talking of the
strange events that had taken place recently. A new people had
appeared in the city. They called themselves “the people of the way,”
or “those of the way,” or “those of Jesus’ way.” Others called them
“Galileans,” or “Nazarenes.” They were men and women who
believed that Jesus the great Teacher of Galilee was the Messiah and
they declared that He was still alive and would soon return to be
king and lord. They were growing fast in numbers and spreading in
every part of the city. They met every day from house to house and
ate their evening meal together in great joy and fellowship. They
took care of all their poor people and their sick and they shared
everything they had with one another as though they were all
brothers and belonged to one great family.
The rulers in Jerusalem, however, did not like to see them
spreading through the city. They watched them carefully and
arrested the leaders when they found them doing anything to attract
attention or trying to get others to join them. They did not like to be
told that the person they had Pilate crucify was the Messiah, or that
He was raised from the dead and was now alive. It was easy to see
that there was sure to be trouble in Jerusalem, if these people went
on increasing and if they would not keep quiet.
There were some of “those of the way” in the Synagogue where
Saul was to be Rabbi. They were always ready to talk about their
wonderful Teacher, who had been crucified and they were eager to
prove that He was the real Messiah that had been so long expected.
Saul thought he could very soon teach them sense and show them
how foolish they were. He would quickly prove to them that Jesus
could not be the Messiah, for the Messiah would surely never be
crucified! He would come in splendour and glory, and if the Romans
tried to crucify Him He would call down from heaven an army of
angels and destroy all His enemies in a moment! And He would
break the Roman Empire all to pieces, as one breaks an old jar of
pottery. It would be only a few days, Saul felt sure, when he would
be able to stop all this talk about a crucified Messiah. He would
argue them down and make them ashamed to say such things any
more. But Saul did not know how hard his task really was. He was to
discover that some things in this world cannot be hushed up, or
argued down!
 VIII

THE MAN WITH A SHINING FACE

There was one man in this Synagogue of the Hellenists more

remarkable than any of the other people who belonged to it. His
name was Stephen. I do not know what city he came from. But he
was one of the “out-dwellers,” and he had become a follower of
Jesus, “one of the way”—“a Nazarene.” He was different from any of
the other followers of Jesus. He saw farther than the rest did. He
seems to have been the first of “those of the way” to realise that
Jesus did not come to be the Messiah of the Jews alone and to
purify their customs. Stephen thought He came to bring life and light
and joy to all the world. The other followers of Jesus in this early
period were loyal, devoted Jews. They went every day to the temple
and they kept the law as the other Jews did. They supposed that
Jesus was to be the king in Jerusalem and that only Jews were to be
His people. Those who were not Jews could have no share in the
good news which He proclaimed.
Stephen was so pure and good and wise that he got a new idea of
what the coming of Jesus meant. The truth was far bigger than the
others dreamed, and he began to see it, and to tell about it. If God
is Father, as Jesus kept saying He was, then He must love all men as
well as Jews, and if God is Life and Spirit, then He can come into
men’s lives everywhere without any temple and without priests and
sacrifices. Stephen began to wonder, as he thought about all that
Jesus had said and taught and done, whether His message was not
far greater and more wonderful even than the law of Moses,
whether some day it would not take the place of the old system of
laws and customs and sacrifices and whether even the temple itself
might no longer be needed to worship God in, for men might
worship Him anywhere where they happened to be.
Stephen was so bold and fearless, and he was so full of his great
idea, that he tried to tell the people in Saul’s Synagogue about it.
They all turned upon him and called him a dangerous man. They
tried to make him see that he was not true to the religion of his
fathers, that he was teaching new ideas, that he was turning people
away from the old customs, and that if the people followed his
teaching they would overthrow the whole wonderful system of
Moses, and so make it impossible for the Messiah to come, for whom
all good Jews were waiting and longing.
Saul, with all his learning and his knowledge, thought he could
easily answer Stephen and prove that he was entirely wrong. But
every time he tried, Stephen got the best of him. Saul would quote
texts from the Old Testament and Stephen would rise up and show
that these texts meant something quite different from what Saul had
always thought they meant. He was so powerful and his life was so
noble that all the people who listened felt that even if he was wrong
in his ideas he was great in his soul, and they began to wonder if he
perhaps might be right and Saul wrong. Day after day the discussion
went on without any end to it. At last Saul decided that this would
never do. Some way must be found to stop this dangerous man who
was leading the members of his Synagogue astray. He told the rulers
in Jerusalem that he had discovered a traitor who must be arrested.
“He talks against Moses,” he said. “He does not love our holy land,
or our holy law, or our holy temple, the way all true Jews should.”
Then the Council in Jerusalem had Stephen arrested and brought
before them for trial, and witnesses came in and told all the things
they could think of to make the Council condemn him.
While they were talking against him they all saw a light shine on
his face, and he looked more like an angel than like an ordinary
man, and everybody wondered what he would say in answer to the
charges that were made against him. And Saul must have been
eager to see what was going to happen to this man with the shining
face, whom nobody could defeat in an argument. Then quietly
Stephen began to speak for himself. He did not try to prove that the
things which had been said against him were false. He paid no
attention to his own case. He told the Council that all through the
history of their Hebrew race the people had always failed to see new
light when God brought it to them; they had always missed the path
when God was trying to lead them into a new way, and they had
always misunderstood when God was trying to teach them new
ideas. They cried out against Moses, he told them, in the wilderness.
They worshipped a golden calf just at the time when he was giving
them the law of God, and when the prophets came to teach them
more about God, they served Moloch and other false gods instead of
Him. Their great, wise king Solomon had told them, when he built
the temple, that no temple, however wonderful, could contain the
great God who fills the universe, but the people did not understand
his words and seemed to think that God lived only in their temple.
“You have always failed to see the truth,” Stephen cried. “You have
always persecuted prophets when God has sent them to you. You
have killed those who told about the coming of Jesus. And now you,
yourselves, have betrayed and killed Him when He did come. You
talk about the law and you say that God gave it through angels. But
you do not understand it and you do not really keep it.”
That was more than they could stand. They forgot that they were
judges and were having an orderly trial. They all rushed at Stephen.
They showed their teeth at him and howled him down. But he was
as calm and steady as though everything were peaceful. In the
midst of the uproar, they suddenly heard him say: “I see Jesus!
There He is, up there in the open sky, at the right of God in His
glory.” Then they all stopped their ears, so that they might not hear
what he said, and they rushed at him and dragged him out of the
city and stoned him. As the people who stoned him pulled off their
garments so that they could throw the stones better, they gave their
garments to Saul to hold. He did not join in throwing the stones, but
he approved of what the others were doing and he ran along with
them and carried the garments. And he could see Stephen’s
wonderful face which was shining more than ever now! He did not
say one hard word against those who were killing him. But just at
the end, Saul heard him say: “Lord Jesus, do not blame these people
for what they are doing”—“Wilt thou now receive my spirit to
Thyself.” And then, with the stones raining round him, the brave,
good Stephen died—with the light still on his face.
Saul never forgot that face. He thought Stephen was wrong and
he believed that he must be stopped or he would bring harm to
God’s people. But he had never seen anybody die like that before!
And the more he meditated and thought about it, the more he
wondered at what Stephen had said, and still more over his dying
words and his happy, shining face!
 IX

ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS

This young man who now unexpectedly found himself a

persecutor was by nature kind and tender-hearted. He had never
wilfully hurt any creature or given pain to anybody. He had come up
to Jerusalem for his life-career with the highest hopes and the
noblest aspirations. His whole being was aflame with a passion for
his nation. Ever since he was old enough to know the story of his
own people he had dreamed of the splendid future that was soon to
dawn. All that the greatest prophets had seen in distant vision, he
believed he should one day see with his own eyes. He had tried,
with almost superhuman effort, to make his own life perfect so that
he might be one of the little inner circle of perfect Jews, who would
help to bring the Messiah and the perfect age and who would be
ready for this glorious king when he should come.
Now he suddenly found, in his own Synagogue even, people who
said that the Messiah had come already, that the rulers and
Pharisees who were expecting Him and preparing for Him had not
recognised Him when He did come and had crucified Him. This
seemed to Saul an awful idea—an unbelievable tale. He was sure the
Messiah could not be crucified. But he was afraid that these
enthusiastic and misguided followers of Jesus would ruin his hopes.
Everything that could be done must be done at once to stop their
teaching and to destroy their influence. He saw only one way to
guard the hope of Israel and that was to crush this movement
absolutely and to shut up or kill every person who went about
claiming that Jesus was the Messiah. It was a very disagreeable
task, but it must be done for the good of the nation and, however
hard and distasteful it might be, Saul was resolved to carry it
through and to leave nobody who would ever again dare to say that
Jesus, the crucified, was the long-expected king.
Into the peaceful homes of the “Nazarenes” he went and seized
both men and women and carried them away to prison. He had to
separate husbands from their wives. He had to take mothers away
from their tender little babies. He had to break up meetings and
drag away those who were preaching the new gospel to their eager
listeners. But everywhere he went he found that these people had
something which he did not have. In the midst of their sufferings
and their trials they were calm and peaceful and happy and
triumphant and radiant. When they were persecuted their faces
shone with a light that seemed almost heavenly. They prayed for
those who injured them and were not disturbed by any troubles.
They kept saying most remarkable words about Jesus and their faith
in Him, and they all seemed to believe that He was still alive and
that they would all soon be with Him.
Saul had been trying all his life to be perfect, to be fully righteous.
He had worked with all his might to keep all the law and all the
commandments. But he knew deep down in his soul that he had
failed to reach his aim. He could not do it. He found something in
himself which he could not govern. If he didn’t break one
commandment, he broke another. If he was strong at one point he
was sure to be weak at another. That commandment which his
mother had told him was the hardest to keep—“thou shalt not covet
or desire”—was always bothering him. Even when he did not actually
do wrong things, he found himself wanting to do them, and that he
knew was wrong. It all filled him with discouragement, and
sometimes with despair.
But these people whom he was persecuting and dragging away to
prisons seemed to be good almost without trying. They had found a
new power somewhere that seemed to help them. It made him
wonder whether they were perhaps right and he possibly was
wrong. He hated what he was doing. How gladly he would stop it, if
only he could be sure that God did not want him to persecute these
strange followers of Jesus. But until God should make it perfectly
plain to him, he must go on with his hard duty.
He had heard of some of these “Jesus-people” in the city of
Damascus. He would go to that city and stop them before they had
time to spread. He got documents from the rulers in Jerusalem
giving him power to ride to Damascus and to seize these people and
to treat them as he had treated those in Jerusalem. With his band of
helpers he started off on his journey, looking bold and fearless in his
face, but feeling in his soul that it was the most disagreeable journey
he had ever set out upon, and wishing all the time that he could ride
straight on through Damascus and the Syrian gate in the mountains
to Tarsus, and give up the whole sorry work of dragging mothers
away from their children. As he rode he thought and wondered.
The road took him through Capernaum and around the
magnificent lake where Jesus had done much of His work, where He
had preached His divine messages and where He healed multitudes
of people. Saul could hardly stay at any inn in that country without
hearing some wonderful story of the Galilean Teacher. He might
easily see the father of the little girl who had been raised from her
bed by this Teacher. He might talk with a man whose eyes had been
opened, or with a person who had been delivered from leprosy or
insanity, which the people in that day called being “possessed with
devils.” He might hear men tell how they themselves had heard this
wonderful Galilean talk about God His Father and about the kingdom
of life and love. And he might hear strange stories of what had
happened after the crucifixion—how fishermen who had lived by that
lake all their lives had seen Jesus in glorified form, after He had
been dead and buried.
Saul would ride on from Galilee with new thoughts surging in his
mind. The simple faith of those who saw with their own eyes and
heard with their own ears would stir him with fresh meditation as he
rode over the stretch of country between Gennesareth and
Damascus.
One thing had always made it impossible for him to believe that
Jesus was divine, that He was sent by God or that He was the long-
looked for Messiah: He had suffered and died on the cross. Saul felt
sure that, if God had sent Him and He had been divine, He would
not have had to suffer, but He would have come in glory and power.
But as he rode along in silence and in deep thought, he remembered
that he had heard these followers of Jesus say in their meetings that
the Old Testament was full of prophecies which said that Christ must
suffer. He began to think more carefully about these passages—
especially the one in the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah: “He was
despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow and acquainted with
grief.” “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” “He
was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities.” “As a lamb that is led to the slaughter and as a sheep
that before her shearers is dumb; yea he opened not his mouth.”
“For the transgression of my people was he smitten.” “He poured out
his soul unto death and was counted with the transgressors, yet he
bore the sins of many.”
This might mean that God’s great servant would not be glorious
and full of power when He came but a sufferer. It might be that He
would come and suffer for the sins of others, and that He would do
for men what they could not do for themselves. He might be the
perfect one and He might through His suffering and death bring
them a new power to live by. If he was only sure that God had
raised Him from the dead and had brought Him triumphantly
through His sufferings and His crucifixion, then he could believe that
this Galilean was the Saviour and the divine Deliverer for whom they
had been waiting.
Stephen had cried out in his dying moments, “I see Jesus there, at
the right hand of God.” Saul had heard how others claimed that they
had seen Him alive and glorified. He would be likely to say to himself
as he rode along: “If I could only see Him as these others say they
have done, I would believe as they do. I would stop this miserable
work I am doing and I would follow Him forever and I would make
everybody believe in Him.”
Then in the stillness there suddenly broke in upon this young man
a light which seemed brighter than the mid-day sun in the sky and
he saw Jesus and heard Him speak and call him and his whole life
was forever changed by this wonderful thing that happened on the
road to Damascus.
 X

IN ARABIA

Though dazed and blinded by the light, which seemed to come

from another world beyond this world, Saul nevertheless felt
perfectly sure that he saw Jesus glorified. Through all the rest of his
life, he always said that he had seen Christ—he had seen Him as
Stephen saw Him. He had seen Him as Peter and James and John
saw Him and he never had any doubt any more that He was alive
and victorious over death. He had heard Him speak, too, in that
wonderful meeting outside the gate of the city. He had heard Him
say: “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” “Why persecutest thou
me?”
All the rest of the way into Damascus, he walked in darkness. His
outer eyes were still blind from the light, but in the city his sight
came back again and he could see once more. He knew that a
mighty change had come within himself, but he did not know at
once all that it meant. He wanted to go far away from all the old
scenes of his life, far away from everybody he knew, far away from
the noisy, busy world, and think out what had happened. Even
before talking with Peter and the other disciples of Jesus, he wished
to meditate alone and find his bearing in the new experience which
had so suddenly come to him.
The greatest leaders of Saul’s race had found out the meaning of
life, alone with God, in the wilderness, or in the mountains, or on the
edge of the desert. Moses had come face to face with God on Mount
Sinai. Elijah had heard the still small voice speaking to him, far away
from the rush and din of the world. John the Baptist got his
preparation for his mission in the solitary wilderness undisturbed by
people. Jesus had discovered in the desert how to come forth
victorious over temptation and here he had realised that His
kingdom was not to rest on force and worldly power. So, too, Saul
now felt that he must go away from the city and live for a time in
the heart of nature and open his soul to God.
He decided to go to Arabia for his period of quiet and of
meditation. Perhaps he went, as Moses had gone, to Sinai, or to
some other region of this strange, mysterious land of wilderness,
mountains and deserts. He has not told us a word about his life in
Arabia and none of his friends has given us any reports of these
months of solitude and meditation. To-day, if any man wished to
prepare for a great career of ministry or missionary service, he
would go to some college or university or seminary or training school
and learn how to do the work which lay before him, and he would
train his body with games of skill and athletic courses, so as to be at
his very best in mind and heart and body. Saul had nothing of this
sort open to him. He had finished his years of study but they only
prepared him to be a Jewish Rabbi, a teacher of the law. Now he
wanted to learn how to tell the world the full message, the good
news, which Jesus had brought to men. There was no school where
this was taught. There were no Christian colleges or universities or
seminaries yet. There were only a few followers of Jesus. Most of
them lived in Jerusalem, and they were ignorant people—fishermen,
and tax-collectors—who had had no chance to study. The best thing
Saul could do was, therefore, to go away alone and read and think
and let God teach him.
At first he supposed that the good news which Jesus had brought
was for his own people alone but as he meditated and studied and
listened he began to see that God’s love reached everybody and that
the great Galilean had come to bring new life to all people in the
world. It was many years perhaps before Saul fully realised all that
this meant, but I think he began to see it in Arabia. Another thing
kept coming before him all the time. He was eager to find out why
Jesus had died on the cross, why He had suffered, and what it all
meant. That also took years of thought before he understood it, but
here in the quiet of the mountains he began to see. How we wish he
had written some letters from Arabia and told what he was doing
and thinking! If he had only written to his mother once a week, or
even once a month, and she had preserved the letters, how eagerly
we would read them now! But there is not a word about it all. We
only know that in the stillness his spirit was gathering power and his
soul was growing richer.
At last he felt that he was “ready.” This is one of his great words
—“I am now ready.” The time of quiet was over and the busy life
must begin. He felt sure he could make everybody believe in his
Christ. It was all so plain and wonderful that people would be bound
to listen as he told them what he had seen and known and felt! He
decided to go back to Damascus and begin there—near the place
where he had first seen Jesus and where the great change in his life
had come.
But it was not as easy as he expected. In the first place he soon
discovered that he needed to know more about the life of Jesus. He
had not talked with anybody yet who had been with Him in Galilee
and in Jerusalem. He must learn more about Him before he could
move people with his words. And then he found that the people did
not want to hear about Jesus. The Jews in Damascus all thought
Saul was a traitor. He had started for their city to persecute the
followers of Jesus and now he was one of the followers himself,
trying to make them believe. They decided to seize him and do to
him what he used to do to the followers of Jesus. They would soon
put him where he would not talk any more about this Galilean
Teacher. They watched all the gates of the city so that Saul could not
get away and they had men hunting for him through the streets. But
some of Saul’s friends put him in a great basket and in the dark of
the night, by a long rope, they let him down the side of the wall and
he got far away from the dangerous city before the morning sun
came up.
He must have felt a strange thrill as he passed by the place where
he saw the great light and heard the voice saying: “Saul, why
persecutest thou me?” But he hurried on over the road through
Galilee and came to Jerusalem, which he had left three years before.
He had started out a persecutor. He came back a follower of Jesus.
He had crossed the “great divide.”
 XI

FIFTEEN WONDERFUL DAYS

We have invented a little instrument called a “dictaphone.” If one

of these instruments is hidden away in a room, a person at the other
end of the dictaphone can overhear all the conversation that goes on
in the room where it is concealed, and the entire conversation can
be written down and kept. How we wish now that there had been a
dictaphone in the room in which Saul staid with St. Peter for fifteen
days in Jerusalem. Part of the time James, the brother of Jesus, was
there, too, with them. But the rest of the time they were alone—
talking, talking, talking. St. Peter was telling Saul the things he
wanted to know about the life of Jesus and about His death and
resurrection. What a wonderful story it would be, if we could only
get it all back, word for word! There was that keen and eager face of
the man still young, with all his life-work before him, and opposite
the older man whose whole life had been boating and fishing until
one with authority had said to him, “Follow me.” The older man
knew more about this Galilean life than anybody else knew, unless it
were that other fisherman, named John, and he could answer all the
questions the young man asked so long as they were just questions
about events, for he had seen with his eyes and he had heard with
his ears and he had handled with his hands and he knew.
The pity of it is, not a word of this conversation has been
preserved. We can imagine what some of the questions were and we
can guess what some of the answers would be, but the actual words
are gone. They are lost forever. What we do know, however, is that
at the end of these fifteen days of wonderful talk, Saul went away
from Jerusalem, his mind stored with truth about Jesus. He had
heard from Peter’s lips the supreme facts about the life of the Person
who was henceforth to be Lord and Master of his own life. Peter and
James told all their friends in Jerusalem what had happened to Saul,
how his career had suddenly changed, how the man who once
dragged harmless Christians to prison was now getting ready to give
his whole life to the work of telling the good news about Jesus and
they already saw that a mighty champion of the truth had joined
them and they all thanked God for Saul of Tarsus. When he left
Jerusalem, after his memorable visit with Peter, Saul probably went
home to Tarsus, and he lived and worked for a time in the home
province of Cilicia. There is a long period of his life at this time about
which we know nothing at all. He must have been at work for he
could not settle down and rest. There was a tremendous drive in his
glowing spirit, and wherever he was something was always
happening. If he spent some years in Tarsus, as is probable, it is
certain that many people there heard of Jesus from him and we can
well believe that he went from town to town through the mountain
province to tell in all the synagogues the truth which he had learned.
It is possible, however, that he may at this time have had a long
period of serious illness. He has himself given us one single glimpse
into this unknown period of his life. In the twelfth chapter of Second
Corinthians, he says that a tremendous experience came to him
fourteen years before—that would be in this period. He was
suddenly “caught up” into a higher world where he saw what
nobody can see with ordinary eyes and where he understood the
mysteries of life in a new way. It seemed for a moment as though he
had lost his body and found his soul, as though he had leaped
across all the space of the universe and had come to God’s dwelling-
place and everything lay plain and clear before him. But about this
time, he says further, some terrible illness came upon him, which
was so bad that it felt like “a thorn,” or “a stake in his body”—a
piercing, racking pain that seemed to bore into his quivering flesh. It
was almost more than he could endure. He begged and besought
that he might be relieved of it but it lasted on and on. We do not
know certainly what this painful disease was but perhaps a little
later, as we go on with his life, we may get some idea of what it
was, for it appears to have come back again when he was in Galatia.
What we do know is that, while he was living in Tarsus, a man
named Barnabas thought of Saul and came to Tarsus to find him.
Barnabas was another man something like Stephen. He saw farther
than most of the others did. He was always ready for new things
and he was full of faith and activity. Like Saul, he could not rest—he
wanted to tell everybody what he had discovered. He heard of a new
movement in the great city of Antioch, the capital of the province of
Syria, and he went off to Antioch to see what this movement really
was. When he got there he found that some followers of Jesus who
had been forced to leave Jerusalem, because of the persecutions,
had come to Antioch and had begun a little church there and were
preaching to everybody who would listen. It did not make any
difference to them whether the people who came to hear were Jews
or not. They were as ready to tell the good news about Christ to
Greeks as to the people of their own race. It was the first time and
the first place in all the world that anybody had done this. In
Jerusalem, “those of the way” were all Jews and they had nothing to
do with anybody else. They never dreamed that peoples of all races
were alike and were equally dear to God and that Christ came to
bless and save all men. They made a sharp distinction between Jews
and Gentiles. But in Antioch it was all different. Those who formed
the church in Antioch forgot about race and thought only about
brotherhood. Greeks flocked into the same room with Jews and
together they worshipped God like brothers. And here in Antioch
where this new spirit was born and where this new movement
began, the followers of Christ were for the first time called
“Christians.” In Jerusalem this word was not used or thought of,
because no outside people came in and there was no need of a new
name. But in Antioch where the Greeks joined the movement and
where everybody discovered that a new religion was born they
needed a word to name it with and so they called these persons who
talked so much about Christ, “Christians.” Barnabas was filled with
joy when he found what was going on in Antioch. It looked like the
beginning of a movement that would sweep across the world and
Welcome to our website – the perfect destination for book lovers and
knowledge seekers. We believe that every book holds a new world,
offering opportunities for learning, discovery, and personal growth.
That’s why we are dedicated to bringing you a diverse collection of
books, ranging from classic literature and specialized publications to
self-development guides and children's books.

More than just a book-buying platform, we strive to be a bridge

connecting you with timeless cultural and intellectual values. With an
elegant, user-friendly interface and a smart search system, you can
quickly find the books that best suit your interests. Additionally,
our special promotions and home delivery services help you save time
and fully enjoy the joy of reading.

Join us on a journey of knowledge exploration, passion nurturing, and

personal growth every day!

ebookmasss.com