The city of Antioch, in Syria, was full of fugitives from other
countries.
Many had come from Jerusalem, many also from the adjacent island
of Cyprus, others again from Cyrene; and when the truth was
preached to them, a great multitude turned to God.
Tidings of this went to Jerusalem, and St. Barnabas was appointed
to go to Antioch to instruct the converts more fully in the
doctrines they had received, and shortly afterwards, Saul went to
assist his labours.
{38}
The people of Antioch gave the name of "Christians" to these
followers of Christ. Before this the disciples had called
themselves "brethren," or "saints," while the Jews in scorn
termed them "Nazarenes."
St. Barnabas, with the help of Saul, had been teaching about a
year, when some prophets came down from Jerusalem, one of whom,
named Agabus, proclaimed a famine throughout Judea.
When the Christians at Antioch heard of the great price of food,
and the consequent distress among their brethren in Jerusalem,
they collected together a sum of money, and St. Barnabas and Saul
conveyed this gift to the sufferers.
But a greater evil than famine troubled the Christian Church--the
persecuting cruelty of Herod Agrippa, who had killed James, the
brother of John, and now would have taken also the life of St.
Peter, had not God interposed, delivering him by the help of an
angel.
{39}
When St. Barnabas with Saul returned to Antioch, they were
accompanied by a young man named John Mark, and probably they
would have continued long in their united work, had not the Holy
Ghost inspired them to begin that mission to heathen lands to
which they were more directly called.
It was about this time that Saul exchanged his name for Paul--a
name more pleasing to the ears of Greeks and Romans.
Somewhat near the Feast of Pentecost, in the year 44, the
Apostles started from Seleucia, the nearest seaport to Antioch,
arriving, after a few hours' sail, at Salamis, a large city on
the coast of Cyprus, the birthplace of St. Barnabas.
{40}
They began at once to preach in the synagogues, but with no very
marked success; however, neither Jews nor idolaters attacked
them, or made any opposition to their teaching, until they came
to Paphos.
The governor of the island at that time was Sergius Paulus, who,
though a Roman and a pagan, was not content with the false
deities he had been taught to worship.
At his court there was a false prophet and sorcerer named
Bar-Jesus, who had called himself "Elymas," which signifies "the
wise one."
When Sergius Paulus heard of the arrival of the Apostles he sent
for them to come to him. Perhaps some hope was roused in his
heart of hearing from these strangers some truth which would
satisfy him.
{41}
When St. Barnabas taught of Christ, Elymas the sorcerer began to
deny and contradict his words, until the governor said he knew
not whom to believe.
St. Paul, appealing to Heaven, called down the punishment of
blindness upon this impious man, which so strongly impressed
Sergius Paulus with belief in the power of God, that he at once
avowed himself a Christian.
"Oh, full of all guile"--thus had the Apostle addressed the
sorcerer--"Oh, full of all guile and of all deceit, child of the
devil, enemy of all justice, thou ceasest not 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
time."
{42}
Even as the servant of God spoke, a mist came before the eyes of
Elymas, then light faded into a deep, terrible darkness, and
blind and helpless he was led to his own home.
Their mission to Cyprus concluded, the Apostles journeyed to
Pamphylia, landing at Perga, where there was a celebrated temple
dedicated to Diana.
On arriving here, the young companion of Barnabas, "John Mark,"
determined to return to Jerusalem--probably he shrank from the
difficulties and perils which threatened their missionary life.
Together then did Paul and Barnabas proceed on their way, through
mountain passes, and across bleak plains, until they reached
Antioch in Pisidia--not the city of Antioch in which they had
already laboured.
{43}
Upon the Jewish Sabbath they directed their steps to the
synagogue, where they were invited by the "elders" to address the
people.
St. Paul stood up, and in forcible, eloquent words gave a rapid
sketch of the history of the Jewish nation, showing that the
promises to the line of David were fulfilled in the coming of
Christ.
He next proved to them that from this Saviour, this God-man, who
had lived and died in their own day, all might receive pardon of
sin, and, lastly, he warned his hearers not to incur the dreadful
punishment which awaited those who rejected the word of the
Almighty.
Some who heard these things were deeply impressed, and followed
the Apostles to receive instruction; some had listened with
delight to an appeal which showed the preacher's familiar
acquaintance with the traditions of their forefathers, but their
hearts were not gained for God.
{44}
When the next Sabbath came, an immense throng made its way to the
synagogue, and this public demonstration of interest roused the
anger of the unbelieving Jews, who uttered terrible blasphemies
against the name of Jesus, and tried to silence His Apostles.
But neither St. Paul nor Barnabas was afraid. They told these
angry Jews that to them had God's grace first been offered, they
had been His own chosen and beloved people, but now, as they
would not hear, the Divine message was sent to the Gentiles.
Enmity against the Apostles now ran so high that they were forced
to leave the city, and on passing out they shook from their feet
the dust of Antioch, as Christ had commanded them to do in such a
case.
{45}
The Jews perfectly comprehended the meaning of this ceremony.
They, when they reached the borders of their own land, were in
the habit of carefully wiping from their sandals the smallest
particle of dust, so that not so much as a grain of the sacred
soil might fall on ground which was unblessed.
When, therefore, they saw Paul and Barnabas pause and shake from
their feet the dust of Antioch, they knew that _they_ were
regarded as heathen and idolaters--no longer the people beloved
of God.
Some hundred miles eastward stood Iconium, and there the Apostles
made their way, preaching with such power in the synagogue that
great numbers both of Jews and Gentiles believed.
{46}
But again the hard-hearted multitude made efforts to raise a
persecution against these messengers of Christ, although they
were not so violent as the Jews of Antioch, so that, in spite of
opposition, the Apostles remained some time in Iconium,
performing by God's power many miracles there.
These wonderful proofs of Divine greatness caused much
excitement, and the enemies of the Christian party became so
infuriated that they would have stoned the Apostles to death,
unless they had escaped and fled to Lystra.
In that city was a poor cripple who had been lame from his birth.
He was known by every one, yet none pitied, none cared for him;
and as he heard St. Paul tell of the love and compassion of
Jesus, he longed to know more of One Who was so good and kind.
{47}
The eye of the Apostle had noted this man who heard him with such
rapt attention, and he was inspired by God to heal his infirmity.
"Stand upright on thy feet," commanded St. Paul, and immediately
the cripple leaped up from the spot where he had been
crouching--not standing only, but walking as perfectly as though
he had possessed the power from his infancy.
We can partly imagine the excitement such a marvellous event
would cause amongst the people, and in their surprise they
shouted, "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men."
Old pagan stories told that the gods sometimes assumed a human
form for the purpose of visiting and helping the people of earth,
and therefore these idolaters believed St. Barnabas must be their
own god Jupiter, while St. Paul, by reason of his wonderful
eloquence, could be none other than Mercury.
{48}
The report spread rapidly throughout the town, and when it
reached the ears of the priest of Jupiter, he hastened to show
his reverence to these visitors who were supposed to have
descended from heaven. Meantime the Apostles had gone quietly to
the dwelling of some Christians, who entertained them during
their stay in the city. Presently they were disturbed by the news
that two bulls, decorated with garlands, had been brought to the
gates as an offering, and that a vast crowd of people had met
there for the purpose of worshipping them.
{49}
The Apostles were very much troubled, and, rending their
garments, as was the custom of the Jews in any moment of great
grief, they hastened to prevent the people offering the proposed
sacrifice, telling them that their only desire in visiting the
city was to persuade them to turn from such idolatry, and worship
the one true and living God.
But the enemies of the Apostle Paul had pursued him even to
Lystra, and these, now exercised so strong and so evil an
influence over the fickle people, that they were persuaded to
stone him whom they had sought to worship.
Thinking him to be dead, they dragged St. Paul's body outside the
city gates, exulting over his destruction. But God was protecting
His servant, and, with that power which can do all things, He now
interposed; for, while the little group of Christians stood
mourning and weeping by the side of their teacher, he rose up in
their midst, and reviving, went home with them.
{50}
Next day both SS. Paul and Barnabas left Lystra, and went to
Derbe, a city in which dwelt a man named Gaius, who was rich and
highly esteemed.
In the Epistle to the Romans he is mentioned as one who rendered
many services to the Church, and it is believed that by his
influence the malicious Jews were not allowed to interfere with
the teaching of the Apostles, and therefore multitudes were
converted.
After remaining there some time, SS. Paul and Barnabas returned
to visit those whom they had already converted at Lystra,
Iconium, and Antioch, who received them with great joy.
{51}
Among the new disciples at Iconium was a young maiden named
Thecla, who, during the absence of the Apostles, had been chosen
to risk her life for God's truth--the first female martyr. When
she was dragged before the pagan judges, she firmly resisted all
their attempts to force her to renounce the Christian faith; they
threatened, they tortured her, yet she was not afraid. At last
Thecla was exposed to the cruelty of the wild beasts in the
amphitheatre, but they came crouching to the feet of the virgin
Saint, so beloved of God. The crowd who looked on were so moved
by this spectacle that they demanded the maiden's release, and
the judges dared not resist them; so Thecla ended her days
peacefully serving and praising God. Nevertheless, she has
received the title of "martyr," and her name placed next to that
of St. Stephen, because, in the early ages of the Church, they
who had suffered torments for God's sake, which they could not
have survived excepting by miraculous help from Heaven, were thus
called.
{52}
While SS. Paul and Barnabas made this second visit to the cities
where already their preaching had brought forth fruit, they
formed rules for the orderly government of the Churches. Then,
passing again into Pamphylia, through Perga, to Attalia, and
thence to Antioch in Syria, they closed their first mission.
{53}