men and women who would seek for more light on the doctrines of the
Gospel. The result was that Paul made scarcely enough money to pay for
his food and clothing; and if the good Saints in Philippi had not sent
him relief, he and Silas would perhaps have been in actual want.
Not many Jews believed, so Paul and his companion turned to the
Gentiles, many of whom believed, "of the devout Greeks a great
multitude, and of the chief women not a few."
THE STORM GATHERS
[Sidenote: A Mob.]
But when the unbelieving Jews saw great numbers accepting this new
Gospel, they became very jealous and angry. They went among a low,
ignorant class of the citizens, "certain lewd fellows of the baser
sort," and told them that these Christians are setting the whole world
in an uproar, and ought to be driven out of the town. So they gathered
a mob, and surrounded the house of Jason where the elders lodged.
[Sidenote: Missionaries Warned.]
But, fortunately, Paul and Silas were not in, and could not be found.
Perhaps some friend, or it may be the Spirit of the Lord, had warned
the Lord's servants not to go home just at that time. Not finding the
elders, the mob dragged Jason and some other brethren before the rulers
of the city and said:
[Sidenote: Jason Seized.]
"Those Christians that have turned the world upside down have come
hither also;
"Whom Jason hath received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of
Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus."
How easy it is sometimes to prevert the truth into a lie!
[Sidenote: Paul and Companions Escape.]
Jason and his friends had to give "security;" (by which is probably
meant that they had to deposit money as assurance that they would do
nothing against the government), after which they were permitted to go
free.
But the mob was still bitter against Paul and Silas who were advised by
the brethren to leave immediately. This they did by night, traveling
fifty-one miles to Berea.
AT BEREA
[Sidenote: Many Accept Gospel.]
Persecution and suffering could no more stop these inspired workers
from preaching the Gospel than it could stop them from breathing; so
as soon as they arrived at Berea, "they went into the synagogue of the
Jews." The Jews here were more noble than those in Thessalonica, and
would reason from the scripture, which was the Old Testament, kept
in sacred rolls in the synagogue. So we conclude that the Bereans,
not only listened attentively to what the missionaries told them but
searched the scriptures to see if what they said was in harmony with
the Law. When they found that it was, many believed, "also of honorable
women who were Greeks, and of men not a few."
THE STORMS FOLLOWS THEM
As the Jews had gone once before from Iconium to Lystra, so they came
now from Thessalonica to Berea, "like hunters upon their prey," and
"stirred up the people."
[Sidenote: Silas and Timothy Remain.]
But the seeds of truth had taken root in the rich soil, and while the
storm of persecution threatened to deluge Paul, it served only to
strengthen and vitalize the Gospel field.
[Sidenote: Paul Escapes.]
Leaving Silas and Timothy to continue the work, to bless and encourage
the Saints, Paul became once more a fugitive and was conducted by some
of the brethren to the sea. From some point on the coast he embarked
for Athens.
[IMAGE: MAP, ST. PAUL'S THIRD JOURNEY.]
Footnotes:
1. Touard.
2. 1915.
3. I Thess. 11:9.
LESSON 32
AT ATHENS AND CORINTH
"Sometimes a noble failure serves the world as faithfully as a
distinguished success."
"Life has no blessing like a prudent friend."
[Sidenote: Loneliness.]
Perhaps few if any of the young folks who read these lessons have ever
been alone, even for a short time, in a strange city; but it may be
that some of your fathers or brothers have, if so, you may learn by
asking just how lonesome one can feel when one is in a large crowd, in
a strange city, and out of sympathy with the people around him. To be
"Amid the crowd, the hum, the shock of men,
To hear, to see, to feel and to possess,
And roam along the world's tired denizen,
With none to bless us, none whom we can bless;
This is to be alone; this, this is solitude."
Such must have been Paul's condition after he said goodby to his
brethren, and walked through the streets of Athens alone.
This loneliness impressed him so deeply that he afterwards wrote to
the Thessalonians that he "was left in Athens alone." [1] He had sent
a command back to Berea for "Silas and Timothy to come to him with all
speed;" but until they came, he was the only Christian in the great
pagan city.
[Sidenote: Statues and Deities.]
As Paul walked through the streets of Athens, he saw many statues and
memorials built in honor of men and mystical gods. Some of these were
the statues of the great men of Athens, "such as Solon the lawgiver,
Conon the admiral, Demosthenes the orator." Among her defied heroes
were Hercules, Mercury, Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, Minerva, and many
others, and in one place, in the center of all these was an altar to
the "Twelve Gods." "There were more statues in Athens than in all the
rest of Greece. It has been said as almost a truth that it was easier
to find a god in Athens than a man." [2] There were altars erected also
to Fame, to Modesty, to Energy, to Persuasion, and to Pity, and Paul
saw one inscription,
"To the Unknown God."
[Sidenote: The Market Place.]
In the city was a common meeting place called the Agora. Here the
Athenians gathered to talk about and discuss the questions of the
day. Idlers and professed philosophers mingled together eager to hear
anything new. While Paul was waiting for his companions, he visited
this gathering place daily, and conversed with those whom he met.
From him the crowd heard, for the first time, about Jesus and the
resurrection.
He also attended the service in the synagogue, and disputed with the
Jews.
[Sidenote: Interest Awakened.]
So Paul, though lonely and discouraged, and perhaps gloomy because of
the ignorance and wickedness he saw around him, "began to stir the
city" because of the message he announced. The Athenians and strangers,
too, began to get curious; for some of them, Luke tells us "spent their
time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing."
Then certain philosophers began to hear about him, and took notice of
him. Some said,
"What will this base fellow say?"
And others,
"He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods; because he preacheth
unto them Jesus and the resurrection."
[Sidenote: Mars' Hill.]
On the top of the hill of Areopagus was a platform which was reached by
a flight of stone steps leading immediately from the Agora. On this had
sat the leading judges who had, for time immemorial, decided important
questions of religion, or passed sentence on the greatest criminals.
Because Mars was supposed to have had his trial there, it was called
"Mars' Hill:" On the brow of this hill was built the temple of Mars.
To this important and memorable spot, the philosophers led the Apostle,
saying,
"May we know what this new doctrine whereof thou speakest is? For thou
bringest certain strange things to our ears; we would know, therefore,
what these things mean."
[Sidenote: A Memorable Address.]
Paul accepted the invitation, and delivered one of the most memorable
addresses in the world. You will notice, however, that he does not
even mention the name of Christ, but tries to influence his hearers A
by leading them from what they were interested in to that in which he
wanted them to be interested. [3]
[Sidenote: Interrupted.]
As soon as Paul mentioned the resurrection of the dead, he was
interrupted. Some broke out into laughter and made light of his remark.
Others were more courteous, and said, as they withdrew from him, "We
will hear thee again on this matter."
[Sidenote: Converted Dionysius.]
Paul must have felt almost crushed with the thought that his sermon had
been an utter failure; but he had done his duty and the seeds of truth
had been sown. They bore fruit in the conversion of Dionysius, a member
of the court of the Areopagus, and of a woman whose name was Damaris,
and "others with them."
After remaining a short time, "he left Athens as he had lived in it, a
despised and lonely man." Yet that short visit, and that interrupted
speech, characterized, as both were, by a sincere desire to call the
erring and wicked to repentance, have made Paul more famous than any of
the philosophers, so wise in their own conceit, who mocked and spurned
him.
AT THE CLOSE OF THE SECOND MISSION
[Sidenote: Alone in Corinth.]
It is probable that Timothy joined Paul in Athens; but if so, he
returned immediately to the churches in Macedonia. Thus it was that
Paul sailed from Athens alone, and having landed at the seaport of
Cenchrea, walked eighteen miles to Corinth. Here he found many Greeks
and Jews. There were crowds also of strangers who came to see the great
games and races for which Corinth was noted. Corinth, at that time, was
a great commercial center, and merchantmen and other traders from far
and near made up its population. If Athens was a learned city, Corinth
was a wealthy and wicked one. So Paul's loneliness here must have been
just as keen as it was in Athens. Indeed, he says himself that he went
there "in weakness and in fear and in much trembling." [4]
[IMAGE: ST. PAUL AT ATHENS. "And when they heard of the resurrection of the
dead, some mocked and others said, we will hear thee again on this matter."]
[Sidenote: Aquila and Priscilla.]
Just about that time a Roman emperor named Claudius issued a decree
that all Jews should be banished from Rome. Among those who had to
leave were a man named Aquila and his wife Priscilla. Whether they were
Christians before they came to Corinth is not known. At any rate, they
were among the first friends Paul met in that city. It may be that they
became acquainted because Aquila and Paul had the same trade. At any
rate, Paul lived with them, and (if they were not Christians before)
converted them to the Gospel, to which they remained staunch and true.
These friends were a help to Paul in furnishing him employment, but in
a greater way by proving to be true friends indeed.
[Sidenote: In the Synagogue.]
Every Sabbath day, these three friends and fellow-laborers would lay
aside their unfinished tents, and go to the synagogue to worship
the Lord. Paul, as usual, would speak to his countrymen and to the
converted Greeks, and proclaim to them the glorious message of the
risen Redeemer. He would reason with them from the scripture, and
persuade them to become Christians.
[Sidenote: Timothy and Silas Join Paul.]
For some time, he seems to have been less energetic than usual. He
was more discouraged than enthusiastic. But, just at that period, he
was joined by his two dear friends, Timothy and Silas. Their coming
gave him new heart, or as Luke says, "he was pressed in the spirit,
and testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ." Judging from the
strength Paul received from the companionship of these friends, he
realized that,
"A true friend is the gift of God, and He only who made hearts can
unite them."
[Sidenote: Jews Reject Truth.]
But the more boldly and earnestly Paul preached, the more bitterly
those unconverted Jews opposed him. Finally, when they blasphemed the
name of God, and refused to accept the truth, Paul "shook his raiment,"
and said, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from
henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles."
[Sidenote: Crispus Converted.]
But many were converted, and among these was--Crispus, the chief ruler
of the synagogue--"he and all his house." His conversion, with the
crowds of Corinthians who were baptized also, only made the Jews more
bitter than ever; and they began to threaten Paul.
[Sidenote: Comfort.]
About this time Paul wrote his second letter to the Thessalonians. In
it he asks, especially, for their prayers that he might be delivered
from the wicked men around him. "Pray for us, brethren," he pleads,
"that the word of the Lord may be preached freely; and that we may be
delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all have not faith." [5]
And Paul prayed, too, and he received a direct answer from the Lord,
who said: "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
"For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I
have much people in this city."
[Sidenote: In the House of Justus.]
When Paul left the synagogue, he held meetings in a house that "joined
hard to the synagogue;" that is, it was perhaps next to it. Here Paul
and his two companions continued preaching. This so exasperated the
Jews that they concluded to try to get Paul either expelled or punished.
[Sidenote: Before Gallio.]
Now it so happened that just at that time a new governor was appointed
over Achaia. His name was Gallio, and he was known as a very "kind and
gentle man." Thinking he would be easily influenced, the Jews had Paul
arrested, and dragged him before the "judgment seat," saying falsely,
"This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law."
Paul arose, or beckoned some way that he desired to answer the charge;
but Gallio stopped him, and addressing the Jews, said:
"If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason
would that I should bear with you; but if it be a question of words and
names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such
matters."
And he drove them from his presence.
[Sidenote: Persecutors Punished.]
So Paul was not harmed, just as the Lord promised. But the Jews were;
for the Greeks took their leader and whipped him even before the
"judgment seat."
Paul remained in Corinth one year and a half, and established there a
strong church.
Then, as the time for the Passover at Jerusalem was drawing near, he
bade goodby to the Saints; and taking Aquila and Priscilla, Silas and
Timothy, his faithful friends and companions, he set sail for Ephesus,
thence to Caesarea, and Jerusalem.
Footnotes:
1. I Thess. 3:1.
2. Weed.
3. Read and explain sermon Acts 17:22-31.
4. I Cor. 2:3.
5. II Thes. 3:1-2.
LESSON 33
PAUL'S THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY FROM ANTIOCH TO EPHESUS
"No man taketh this honor unto himself but he that is called of God as
was Aaron."
[Sidenote: A Promise.]
When Paul stopped off at Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem, as mentioned
in the previous lesson, the Jews to whom he preached asked him "to
tarry a longer time with them." Not being able to do so, he promised
them to "return again if God will." This promise, as we shall see, Paul
literally fulfilled.
[Sidenote: Salutes the Church.]
Whether he arrived in Jerusalem in time to attend the Passover we do
not know. In fact we are led to infer that he did not, for all that we
know of this visit is that he "saluted the church," and went down to
Antioch.
[Sidenote: Beginning of Third Journey.]
After spending some time with the important church in Antioch, Paul
started on his third missionary journey. Just what course he followed,
it is difficult to determine; but since Luke tells us that he went
"over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order," we may safely
conclude that he visited his old home in Tarsus, as well as the cities
of Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and possibly Antioch in Pisidia. The good
people in Galatia also would again have the pleasure of meeting the
apostle who first preached to them the Gospel, and to whom they had so
kindly administered in affliction.
Neither do we know of a certainty who were his companions. Timotheus,
undoubtedly, was one who accompanied him on the whole of his journey.
APOLLOS
[Sidenote: An Eloquent Preacher.]
While Paul and Timothy are visiting the churches in Galatia and
Phrygia, let us hasten ahead of them to Ephesus; for there is a man
there whose acquaintance we should make. His name is Apollos and he
came from Alexandria. He was, undoubtedly, one of the most eloquent
preachers of the Gospel in that day.
But when he first came to Ephesus, he "knew only the baptism of John."
He had accepted the message of John the Baptist, but he had not heard
the Gospel as it had been taught by Jesus and His disciples. He seemed
to have been ignorant of the mission of the Holy Ghost.
With him were twelve other men who held the same incomplete belief.
[Sidenote: New Light.]
Believing they had the truth, these men went to the same synagogue
in which Paul had preached when the Jews asked him to tarry longer,
and Apollos spoke to the people. In the congregation sat Aquila and
Priscilla. These good Christians perceived at once that Apollos did
not understand the Gospel; so, they invited him home with them and
"expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly."
Shortly after this, Apollos left Ephesus for Corinth, taking with him a
letter of recommendation from the Saints in Ephesus.
THE HOLY GHOST GIVEN
Thus it was that when Paul arrived in Ephesus he met the twelve men who
had been taught the Gospel as Apollos had known it. When they told Paul
that they believed the Gospel, he asked them, "Have ye received the
Holy Ghost since ye believed?"
"We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost," they
answered.
"Unto what then were ye baptized?" asked Paul.
"Unto John's baptism," they replied.
"John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance," said Paul,
"saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should
come after him that is, on Christ Jesus."
They were then baptized by the proper authority, in the name of the
Lord Jesus. Paul then "laid his hands upon them" and "the Holy Ghost
came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied."
[Sidenote: Three Months in the Synagogue.]
For three months Paul continued to preach in the synagogue, "disputing
and persuading the things concerning the Kingdom of God." During this
time, he worked at his trade supporting himself "with his hands." Daily
the Church grew in strength, and daily its enemies became so bitter in
their opposition that Paul left the synagogue, and held his meetings in
a schoolhouse where taught a man named Tyrannus.
[Sidenote: Two Years at Ephesus.]
In this place, Paul labored for two years, a period in his life marked
by wonderful manifestations from the Lord. Sick people were healed by
the power of faith in most miraculous ways. Sometimes when Paul could
not visit in person those afflicted, they would be healed by simply
touching a handkerchief or an apron he had worn. Thus "the name of the
Lord Jesus was magnified."
MEN WHO ACTED WITHOUT AUTHORITY
[Sidenote: Sons of Sceva.]
Among those who witnessed these miracles were some vagabond Jews who
made a living by deceiving the people by pretending to be magicians.
When they saw Paul heal the sick in the name of Jesus, they thought
they could do the same, and thus make a great deal of money. So one
day these seven men who were sons of Sceva, meeting a man who was
afflicted with an evil spirit, said, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul
preacheth," to come out of him.
"Jesus I know," said the evil spirit, "and Paul I know, but who are
ye?" And the man leaped on them, and overcame them, so that they fled
out of the house naked and wounded.
[Sidenote: A Big Bonfire.]
The treatment that these seven men received through their hypocrisy,
soon spread over the city. Many who had practiced such arts as the sons
of Sceva had, brought all their books of magic and made a bonfire of
them. Paul saw burned that day about $10,000 worth of books and papers.
[Sidenote: Annual Festival.]
Every year in Ephesus, in the month of May, there was held a great
festival in honor of the Goddess Diana. Rich men came from all parts
of Asia, and "paid vast sums of money for the entertainment of the
people. The entertainments were of different kinds. In the theatre were
concerts and shows; in the hippodrome horse-racing; in the stadium
gymnastic games of running, leaping and wrestling. There were noisy
scenes through the day and night. In every hour of the day there were
gay processions to the temple, following the bleating animals crowned
with garland, being led to sacrifice. Idlers and drunkards could be
seen almost everywhere at any time. * * * The shops and bazaars were
filled with all the attractive things of those days which parents and
friends would buy themselves and those left in distant homes. The
special mementos would be little models of Diana and her shrine. The
poorest of purchasers would buy those made of wood; others those of
silver; and the wealthy those of gold." [1]
[Sidenote: A Loss of Trade.]
Paul, no doubt, had told the Ephesians as he had the Athenians, that
God is not made of wood or of silver, or of gold, "neither graven by
art of man's devise." These were hundreds and thousands of people who
believed Paul and worshiped the true God. Consequently, at this annual
feast, there were not so many images of Diana bought as there had been
at other festivals.
A MOB GATHERS
[Sidenote: Demetrius]
Demetrius, a sliversmoth, who made silver shrines for Diana, became
very much agitated when he saw his trade interfered with. He called
together all his workmen and said:
"Sirs, ye know by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and
hear, that not alone at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia, this
Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no
gods, which are made with hands."
He continued to speak to them until they became thoroughly aroused and
cried out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians."
[Sidenote: Paul's Companions Seized.]
Soon the whole city became in confusion. A mob gathered, and tried to
find Paul. Failing in this, they caught Gaius and Aristarchus, two of
Paul's companions, and rushed them into the theatre.
Paul was kept in safety by his friends who refused to let him enter the
theatre, although he insisted on doing so.
[Sidenote: A Howling Mob.]
A Jew named Alexander tried to speak to the mob, but they would not
listen, and continued to howl for two hours, "Great is Diana of the
Ephesians, Great is Diana of the Ephesians."
When they had worn themselves out, the town clerk arose and told them
they had better go home and be quiet, or the Romans might "call them in
question for this day's uproar." He said, too, that if Demetrius had
any case against Paul, he could have Paul arrested and taken into court.
As half the people, as is the case of all mobs, did not know why they
had come, they began to move out of the theatre. "The stone seats were
gradually emptied, the uproar ceased and the rioters dispersed to their
various occupations and amusements."
As Paul had already made preparations to go into Macedonia, he called
the disciples to him, and after embracing them, left Ephesus so far as
we know, forever. Later, however, as we shall learn in the next lesson,
he met some of the Elders and Saints from Ephesus.
Footnotes:
1. Weed.
LESSON 34
THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY--(Continued)
Paul's farewell visit to churches he had established
During the next nine or ten months--from the summer, A. D., 57, to
the spring, A. D., 58--following Paul's affectionate farewell to the
disciples at Ephesus, we know very little of his travels. From the
epistles that he wrote during this period, we learn most of what is
known about his labors and duties "over those parts" in Macedonia.
He first went to Troas, where he expected to meet Titus whom he had
sent to Corinth. Here, he says, "I had no rest in my spirit, because I
found not Titus, my brother." [1]
Worrying over the reports he had heard about the evil conditions in the
Corinthian church, he left Troas for Philippi.
[Sidenote: A Joyous Welcome.]
Here he met some of his most beloved Saints; for the Philippian
converts, though among the poorest, financially, were among the most
faithful of all the churches. Paul had accepted their assistance when
he had refused help from other sources. This is one church which Paul
did not reprove. What a joyous welcome these faithful Saints must
have given the Apostle! How their hearts would rejoice as they retold
their experiences when Paul and Timothy and Silas first preached to
the women by the river side. Lydia and the jailor and a host of other
faithful members would all be there to recall the arrest, the whipping,
the imprisonment, the stocks, the midnight hymns, the earthquake, the
authorities' fears and all the other wonderful experiences of that
first visit to Philippi!
[Sidenote: Paul Depressed.]