They knew of some of the Saints in Judea who could not stand a famine;
in fact, many of them had given all they had to the Church; so "every
man according to his ability determined to send relief unto the brethren
who dwelt in Judea." Paul and Barnabas were chosen as the messengers of
relief.
[Sidenote: Famine.]
It was well they did so, for the famine came just as Agabus had said it
would. Luke tells us that it happened in the days of Claudius Caesar
(44 A. D.), and profane historians inform us that it was so severe that
even the emperor himself was insulted in the market place by those who
were starving.
[Sidenote: Persecution Under Herod.]
At about the time that the two elders were sent from Antioch to
Jerusalem, there was a bitter persecution, waged against the Saints;
and "Herod the king began to vex certain of the Church, and he killed
James, the brother of John, with the sword." Those were the days in
which Peter was imprisoned and chained to his guards, but through the
miraculous intervention of God, was delivered by an angel. Paul and
Barnabas were probably present in the house of Mary the mother of John
Mark, joining in prayer for the preservation of Peter's life, when, as
we have already learned in the lessons on Peter, Rhoda announced Peter
at the door.
[Sidenote: Return to Caesarea.]
After witnessing this wonderful manifestation of the power of God
in behalf of His servants, Paul and Barnabas probably witnessed
how God sometimes punishes the wicked. If so, it happened on this
wise. Their duty as messengers for the Saints in Antioch had been
faithfully performed, and the relief sent to the members of the Church
in Judea properly delivered to those who should have it in charge.
They had spent many days renewing old friendships, and enjoying the
companionship, even in persecution, of the leaders and members of the
Church of Christ. They were now ready to return and report their labors
to the Church in Antioch. Their return journey took them to Caesarea.
Perhaps they visited Cornelius, whose home, you remember, was there.
At any rate, some who have carefully studied the life and travels of
St. Paul tell us that on his return from Jerusalem at this time, he
witnessed the death of the wicked King Herod. Weed describes the scene
as follows:
[Sidenote: Death of Herod.]
"The Roman Emperor Claudius had obtained great victories in Great
Britain. On his return to Rome there was great rejoicing. Herod thought
he would gain great favor with the emperor by a grand festival in his
honor in Caesarea, to which he hastened from Jerusalem. On the morning
of the second day the theatre was filled with a mass of human beings
to witness the inhuman exhibition of gladiators who fought one another
for public amusement. Herod appeared in a magnificent robe, sparkling
with silver. As the rays of the early morning sun fell upon him, the
eyes of the beholders were dazzled by the brilliant robe. Flattered by
their foolish cries of admiration he made an oration to the people who
gave a shout, crying, 'It is the voice of a God and not of a man.' He
was willing to be so called, though this was blasphemy, giving to a man
what belongs to God alone. "Immediately the angel of the Lord smote him
because he gave not God the glory." This was very different from the
experience of Peter in prison when the angel of the Lord came upon him,
and smote him upon the side; and led him from death.
"The smiting of Herod by the angel was with a dreadful disease such
as had caused the death of his grandfather. He was carried from the
theatre to his palace where he lingered five days in agony until death
closed his life in the fifty-fourth year of his age. It was the fourth
year of his reign over the region where had ruled his grandfather,
whose wicked example he had followed to a like inglorious end."
"When in the theatre the scene was suddenly changed from the
gladiatorial and other wicked amuesements to the judgment on the king,
the multitude fled, rending their clothes according to the custom in
horror."
[Sidenote: John Mark.]
All these things and many more, Paul and Barnabas would report to the
Saints upon their return to Antioch. Luke informs us that after they
had fulfilled their ministry they returned from Jerusalem, and "took
with them John whose surname was Mark."
[Sidenote: The Report.]
Interesting meetings were held in Antioch, at which the report of the
mission of Paul and Barnabas was given. In attendance at these meetings
and reasiding in Antioch at the time were certain prophets and
teachers, Barnabas, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manean, which had been
brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the
Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, "separate me Barnabas and Saul
for the work whereunto I have called them." They had performed one duty
well and faithfully, and were now better prepared for a greater one
for which the Lord had chosen them. This was a special mission to the
Gentiles.
Some time later, after fasting and prayer, some of the prophets and
teachers laid their hands on the chosen missionaries, set them apart,
and bade them prepare for their journey.
LESSON 26
FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY
"Let your religion be seen. Lamps do not talk, but they do shine. A
lighthouse sounds no drum, it beats no gong; yet far over the waters
its friendly light is seen by the mariner."
Soon after the special meetings mentioned in the last chapter, Paul,
Barnabas and John Mark started on their mission, which is now known as
Paul's first missionary tour.
[Sidenote: At Cyprus.]
Leaving the famous city of Antioch, in Syria, they sailed down the
river to Seleucia, a seaport town on the Mediterranean Sea. Here they
took the boat on the open sea, and sailed southwestward to the island
of Cyprus.
[Sidenote: At Salamis.]
Landing at Salamis, a port of Cyprus, the missionaries began their
labors at once, preaching the word of God in the synagogue of the Jews.
Here Barnabas was at home, and undoubtedly experienced great joy in
preaching the Gospel to his old friends and playmates. But he must have
been deeply grieved to see how many of them rejected his message, and
continued in sin and idolatry.
The Gentiles on this island worshiped the goddess Venus, to whom they
built a temple and offered sacrifices.
[Sidenote: Call to Repentance.]
Their religion, instead of making them purer in their thoughts and
more virtuous in their actions, made them more sinful. So Paul and his
companions found the people very wicked indeed. Wherever they went,
these three missionaries preached the only true Gospel, and called on
men "everywhere to repent."
They traveled the entire length of Cyprus, a distance of one hundred
miles, telling the people about Christ the Redeemer of the world.
AT PAPHOS
[Sidenote: Governor Hears Gospel.]
On the southwestern coast of Cyprus was the chief city of the island
named Paphos. Here is where the Roman governor, or, as Luke says, the
"deputy of the country," lived. As was their custom, soon after the
missionaries entered the city they proclaimed their message to the
people. When the governor, Sergius Paulus, heard about them, he "called
for Barnabas and Paul, and desired to hear the word of God." Luke says
he was "a prudent man," so we conclude that he was sincere in his
desire to know the truth.
ELYMAS THE SORCERER
[Sidenote: A Sorcerer Rejects Gospel.]
But there was living in the deptuy-house at the time a man who was not
sincere, and who claimed to be a sorcerer. He rejected Paul's message,
and opposed his teachings. Bar-Jesus was his right name, and he was a
Jew, and a false prophet. Paul read his wicked heart, and knew that
because of selfishness and love of money he rejected the Gospel.
"Then Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him and said, O
full of subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy
of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of
the Lord?
"And now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be
blind, not seeing the sun for a season.
"And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went
about seeking some one to lead him by the hand."
If in his darkness he had let the messengers of Light lead him they
would have given him eternal sight, just as Paul had received it
through Ananias, in Damascus. But we are led to believe that he
remained blind and bitter.
[Sidenote: The Governor Believes.]
Sergius Paulus, however, believed, "being astonished at the doctrine
of the Lord." Many others believed also, and in the wicked town of
Paphos, where the revellers worshiped the goddess of love, a church was
organized, and a little body of Christians came together to worship the
true God and His Son Jesus Christ.
IN PAMPHYLIA
[Sidenote: A Missionary Returns.]
From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed northward to Perga in
Pamphylia. At this place something happened about which we wish we knew
more. All that Luke says about it is this:
"And John departing from there returned to Jerusalem."
We know that later, this circumstance became a matter of sharp dispute
between Barnabas and Paul, but just why John wished to return we are
not informed. Perhaps he had not intended to travel so far; or it
may be that matters at home needed his attention; or he might have
been over sensitive, and felt that "two were company but three were a
crowd;" but whatever the cause Paul and Barnabas had to continue their
journey without the young man Mark. Later, he resumed his missionary
work traveling with Barnabas. There is no record of his traveling again
with Paul; although the latter wrote of him later as "a comfort, and a
fellow worker unto the kingdom of God."
IN PISIDIA
[Sidenote: Through Mountain Passes.]
From Perga in Pamphylia, Paul and Barnabas continued north to Antioch
in Pisidia. Day after day, these two missionaries traveled on foot
through a mountainous region, where very few people resided. Sometimes,
perhaps, they could find lodging with some shepherd, but more often,
they would sleep in caves or among the trees. But they had a message of
salvation in their hearts and so were happy. After about seven days of
wearisome and dangerous travel, they reached Antioch in Pisidia.
[Sidenote: In the Synagogue.]
When the Sabbath day came, as was their custom, the missionaries went
into the synagogue, and sat down in the congregation. After the leaders
had read the law and the prophets, they asked the visitors if they had
"any word of exhortation for the people." At this, Paul stood up and
delivered a most impressive sermon, so much so, that the people invited
Paul to speak again on the next Sabbath. Many who were present accepted
the Gospel. [1]
"And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear
the word of God.
[Sidenote: Turn to Gentiles.]
"But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and
spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and
blaspheming." Their opposition and contradiction made the missionaries
only more earnest and emphatic. Finally, when it was apparent that the
Jews would not accept the truth, Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said,
"It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken
to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo we turn to the Gentiles." When the Gentiles heard
this announcement, they were delighted and many of them accepted the
principles of the Gospel.
[Sidenote: Jews Jealous.]
But the Jews were jealous; they became filled with envy and determined
to drive the missionaries "out of their coasts." This they did with the
aid of "the devout and honorable women and the chief men of the city."
The persecution became so bitter that Paul and Barnabas "shook off the
dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium."
IN ICONIUM
[Sidenote: Again in Synagogue.]
Filled with the joy that comes from true service to one's fellowmen,
Paul and Barnabas began their preaching in Iconium. Entering the
synagogue here, as they had done in the city from which they had just
been driven, they spoke "boldly in the Lord, who gave testimony unto
the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by
their hands."
[Sidenote: Again Opposed.]
Jews and Greeks also rallied around the standard as unfurled by these
great missionaries; but Jews and Greeks also organized to oppose them.
The result was that the city was divided; "and part held with the Jews
and part with the Apostles."
Hearing that a plot was on foot to do them injury, and to stone them,
Paul and Barnabas withdrew from the city, and went to "Lystra and
Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about."
Footnotes:
1. See Paul's sermon, Acts 13:14-41.
LESSON 27
FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY--Continued
AT LYSTRA AND DERBE
"Outward attacks and troubles rather fix than unsettle the Christian,
as tempests from without only serve to root the oak more firmly in the
ground."
"As sure as ever God puts His children in the furnace, He will be in
the furnace with them."
[Sidenote: Among the Heathen.]
At Lystra, Paul and Barnabas found a people who were almost entirely
heathen for they worshiped Jupiter and Mercury and other false deities,
and knew little or nothing about the true God. There were Jews amongst
them, but not of sufficient numbers even to build a synagogue.
The country was wild and rugged, and the inhabitants were like the
country. They were "villagers of little learning, and rude in dress and
manner." Such people are usually shy of strangers, and slow to accept
anything new. But once they begin to get confidence in the stranger,
they may be easily swayed by him; not having very definite opinions of
their own.
The doctrine preached by Paul and Barnabas was new to them, and after a
time began to arouse their curiosity, and then awaken their interest.
[Sidenote: Choice People Among Them.]
Some of the most intelligent comprehended the truth, and accepted it.
Lest you boys and girls might think that there were no superior people
among these heathens, you must be reminded of the fact that in Lystra
there was at least one choice family of whose membership in the Church
the Bible makes mention, and in Derbe there were others.
[Sidenote: Timothy.]
In these towns, out of the persecution and affliction heaped upon them
by the ignorant and wicked, Paul and Barnabas brought to the faith some
of the choicest members of the early Church. Among these were Timothy,
whom Paul afterwards called his son; Eunice, Timothy's mother, and
Lois, Timothy's grandmother, whose "unfeigned faith" Paul commended in
later years. Undoubtedly, the friendship alone of these noble people
more than paid Paul for all the persecution he suffered during this
first mission.
But to the people generally, the message was strange and
incomprehensisble. They could not separate the doctrine of Christ from
their heathen deities as was shown by a remarkable experience.
[Sidenote: A Miracle.]
Paul and Barnabas and a few converts were holding a meeting one day in
the "open air." In the audience sat a man "impotent in his feet," who
had been a cripple from birth, and who had never walked. This fact, of
course, all the people knew, for many of them were acquainted with him,
and had seen him carried to the meeting. "The same heard Paul speak,"
and conviction entered his weary heart that what Paul said was true.
Paul looked at him, and "perceiving that he had faith to be healed,"
said, "Stand upright on thy feet." This he commanded by the power of
the Redeemer.
[Sidenote: Effect.]
"The man leaped to his feet and walked." When the people saw this, they
created an uproar in the city, and they said in their language, which
was a mixture of Greek and Syrian:
"The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men," and they named
Paul and Barnabas after their gods. Barnabas was tall, so they called
him Jupiter; and Paul, being short and a gifted speaker, they called
Mercury, because Mercury was supposed to preside over learning and
eloquence.
[Sidenote: To Offer Sacrifice]
Some time after the meeting, the priests of Jupiter, who officiated in
the temple of Jupiter that was in the city, decided to offer sacrifice
to their gods as personified in Paul and Barnabas. So with the people,
they gathered at the gates of the city, brought oxen and began to
prepare to offer sacrifice.
[Sidenote: Missionaries Protest.]
When Paul and Barnabas heard of it, they ran among the people, and
"rent their clothes" in protestation against such sacrifice. To
rend their clothes was to express intense feeling and the people so
understood it. Besides doing this they cried: "Sirs, why do ye these
things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you
that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made
heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein."
[Sidenote: Paul Stoned.]
However, they could scarcely make the people refrain from worshiping
them; but there were certain Jews there who had followed the
missionaries from Antioch and Iconium, "who persuaded the people"
that Paul and Barnabas were deceivers, and that the miracle which had
been performed had been done by the power of the evil one. These Jews
swayed the people to such an extent that instead of worshiping Paul and
Barnabas, they picked up stones and stoned Paul until he fell to the
earth, apparently dead. Thinking he was so, the mob then dragged his
body out of the city and left it.
[Sidenote: A Many Headed Monster.]
What a many-headed monster this mob was! First they were ready to
worship the men as gods, and then in just a few minutes became so
bitter that they would stain their souls with murder! Shakespeare
called such a crowd
"The blind monster, with uncounted heads.
The still discordant, wavering multitude."
[Sidenote: Paul Regains Consciousness.]
The mob dispersed, and around the still bleeding, silent body on the
ground, stood the few intelligent, faithful disciples who had believed
the true Gospel. How delighted and thankful they must have been when
they saw Paul move, and later regain consciousness.
He had been stunned, but not seriously injured; so a little gentle
nursing gave him strength to stand on his feet, and he walked back to
the city.
[Sidenote: Gaius.]
The next day he left Lystra and traveled twenty miles to Derbe. Here he
preached boldly and effectively, and converted many to the truth, among
them a man by the name of Gaius, who proved to be a staunch and true
friend to Paul and to the Church generally.
[Sidenote: Another Branch Organized.]
As they had done in other cities, so the missionaries did in
Derbe--organized a branch of the Church and ordained elders over it.
These they instructed, and met with them and with the Saints in fasting
and prayer, "commended them to the Lord," and bade them goodby, for the
time had come when the first missionaries from Antioch should return
home.
[Sidenote: Return Home.]
They visited all the branches, preaching the Gospel, instructing,
blessing, and comforting the Saints in Lystra and the regions round
about. They then returned forty miles to Iconium and sixty miles back
to Antioch in Pisidia. From there, they went to Perga in Pamphylia, and
sailed from Attalia to Antioch in Syria.
Here the Saints gathered and bade them welcome, and heard the returned
Elders report "all that God had done with them, and how He had opened
the door of faith unto the Gentiles."
LESSON 28
A GREAT CONTROVERSY
Texts: Acts 15:1-35
"The union of Christians to Christ, their common head, and by means of
the influence they derive from Him, one to another, may be illustrated
by the loadstone. It not only attaches the particles of iron to itself
by the magnetic virtue, but by this virtue it unites them one to the
other."
[Sidenote: Jews Scattered Over Empire.]
As we followed Paul and Barnabas in their first missionary journey, we
noticed that in nearly every city they visited, they found Jews, and
that their preaching was frequently first done in a synagogue. The fact
is, that the Jews were scattered over nearly all of the Roman Empire.
They were on the coasts and islands of Western Asia, on the borders of
the Caspian Sea, and some were even as far as China.
[Sidenote: Jews Kept to Their Religion.]
But no matter where the Jew was living, he always kept his own
religion, and studied carefully the Law of Moses. That is what James
meant when he said, "Moses of old time, hath in every city, them that
preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day." Their
religion taught them not to mingle with the Gentiles in marriage or in
social intercourse.
[Sidenote: Gentiles Would Not Worship With Jews.]
The Gentiles, on the other hand, looked with contempt upon the Jews;
while the "gay and licentious festivities of the Greek and Roman
worship" made the Jews look with contempt upon Gentiles. They would
trade with each other, and mingle together in daily vocations, but as a
rule, that is as far as their intercourse went. They said with Shylock:
"I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and
so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray
with you." [1]
Of course, there were Gentiles who sometimes became converted to the
Jewish religion, and there were some who married Jewish women, but the
line of dislike and suspicion was none the less sharply drawn.
[Sidenote: Peter's Prejudices.]
You remember how difficult it was for the Lord to convince Peter that
the Gentiles were worthy to be baptized into the Church of Christ.
Peter saw in a vision a vast sheet descending from heaven in which
there were unclean animals, and he heard a voice saying, "Arise, Peter,
kill and eat." But Peter said, "Not so, Lord: for I have never eaten
anything that is common or unclean." [2]
[Sidenote: Peter's Revelation.]
When Peter realized the meaning of the vision, his whole Jewish nature
was shocked; for to obey was to break the Law of his forefathers by
associating with Gentiles. The Jewish Christians who were with Peter
from Joppa to Caesarea were "astonished" when they saw "the gift of the
Holy Ghost poured out" on the "unclean" Gentiles. When Peter reached
Jerusalem, he was accused of having not only associated but eaten with
Gentiles, but Peter had learned by revelation that "what God has made
clean" no one should "call common or unclean," that the Lord is "no
respecter of persons," and that "every nation" that accepts Him, and
"feareth Him and worketh righteousness," may receive His blessings.
THE QUESTION AGITATED
[Sidenote: The Church Agitated.]
But there were many Jews in the Church who did not believe this, and
the only condition on which they would accept a Gentile was that he
should obey the Jewish religion also. When this class of Christians
heard that Paul and Barnabas had baptized hundreds of Gentiles, they
became very much agitated in their feelings, and some of them went
to Antioch and began to preach, first privately then publicly, that
unless the Gentiles obeyed a certain Jewish rite, they could not be
saved. Paul and Barnabas had told the Saints that obedience to the
Gospel of Christ would save the Gentiles as well as the Jews, and that
the Gentiles did not have to become Jews. Now these men from the chief
branch of the Church declared that Paul and Barnabas were wrong. No
wonder "those who from among the Gentiles were turned unto God," were
"troubled" and perplexed. Indeed, the controversy became so sharp that
it threatened to lead some out of the Church.
MESSENGERS SENT TO JERUSALEM
[Sidenote: Messengers to Jerusalem.]
So it was "determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of
them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this
question."
The Church in Antioch evidently believed Paul and Barnabas to be in
the right, for when they started on their journey they were escorted
on their way by the Church. As they passed through Syro-Phoenecia and
Samaria, and told the Saints who greeted them how the Gentiles had been
converted, they "caused great joy unto all the brethren."
[Sidenote: Paul's Third Visit.]