John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men with you there?” Paton knew no men were present — but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
A modern-day account of angels protecting believers? We can’t say for sure, but the Bible teaches that angels minister to believers today just as they did with Jesus and saints of the past.
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Version from Rev. Robert D. Fetterhoff’s sermon “Angels in My Life?”, Kerux sermon #22055:
In the 1860s the missionary John Paton evangelized what is now the Pacific island of Vanuatu. It was a very hostile environment. One night armed men surrounded his mission headquarters, intent on setting it on fire with the Paton family inside.
John and his wife prayed throughout that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came, they were amazed to see the attackers gone. They thanked God for delivering them.
A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Mr. Paton asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them. The chief said, “who were all those men you had with you there?” The missionary answered, “There were no men there; just my wife and me.” The chief insisted that they had seen many big guys in bright clothes with drawn swords surrounding the station. Paton and his wife gave the credit to protective angels.
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[see also notes with #19043 on this incident and similar ones]