Part 267 (1/2)

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THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL.

On his first journey Paul went by sea from _Seleucia_, the port of Antioch, to the _Island of Cyprus_. He crossed the island from east to west. He landed at _Salamis_ and set sail from _Paphos_. He arrived at _Perga_ in Southern Asia Minor, and then set out for a campaign of about two years in the great Roman province of Galatia. It is for the most part a wild and desolate country. There were snowy mountain ranges with perilous pa.s.ses infested by robbers, rus.h.i.+ng torrents, and precipitous roads, before he could come to the cities which lay behind the mountains. He was often in great danger, and many times suffered persecution. The places mentioned are _Antioch, Iconium, Lystra_, and _Derbe_. Then he and his companions came down to Perga, setting sail from the port of Attalia for _Antioch_ in Cilicia.

Companions: Barnabas and John Mark.

I

PAUL AND BARNABAS SAIL FOR CYPRUS.

_At Paphos a Roman n.o.bleman is Won to the New Faith_.

(There having been a time of famine, Paul and Barnabas had been sent by the Christians at Antioch to Jerusalem with relief to the Christians in that city. When they returned they found new work awaiting them.)

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

A CORNER OF OLD WALL AT DAMASCUS.

Where, tradition says, Paul was let down by a basket. The square building is a modern structure

From a photograph belonging to Mr. S. E. Bridgman, and used by his kind permission

”When the Moslems took Damascus in 634, the great cathedral was divided between Mohammedans and Christians. Seventy years later it was absorbed by the conquerors, and was rebuilt to become one of the greatest, if not the richest, of the mosques of Islam. The rebuilding destroyed all the Christian features, except that which, still above the south portal, preserves this prayer and prophecy: 'Thy kingdom, O Christ, is an everlasting kingdom, and Thy dominion endureth for all generations.'”--_G. A. Smith_ [End ill.u.s.tration]

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Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ”Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of G.o.d in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John as their attendant.

And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus; who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of G.o.d. But Elymas the sorcerer withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith. But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, and said, ”O full of all guile and all villainy, thou son 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.”

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And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

II

FROM CYPRUS TO ANTIOCH.

_Paul's Sermon at Antioch_.

Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. But they, pa.s.sing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, ”Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.” And Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said,--