The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-10-27
INTRODUCTION.


As result of the persecution growing out
of the martyrdom of st. Stephen the early
Christians were scattered abroad and in every
direction preached the Gospel. We find them
in all three eastern continents as represented
by Phenice, Antioch, and Cyrene; in islands,
as Crete and Cyprus; in cities, as Phenice,
Antioch Cyrene. We hear them among Gen
tiles well as Jews. So greatly did the work
grow in Antioch that SITS. Baruabas and Paul
came to the help of the Christians there.
twelve-month passed away aud very many be-
came followers of the new religion. The
preachers declared Christ and him crucifed.
1t was quite natural that they who attached
themselves to Christ received the title Christ
ans. Antioch will always be distinguished az
the place where disciples of Jesus were first
called Christians. Now there were devotees of
the new religion also in distant parts. They
all, however. felt their unity. II any part
suffered the rest sympathized. The Christ
ians in and about Jerusalem were specially
prosecuted. Even in good times their lot was
miserable. When famine came there was great
distress and want among them. Then Christ
ians in foreign parts came to the rescue. The
religion of Christ became practical power.
The Church became body of brethren "
". 29) fraternity, beneficiary. There were
then bills of exchange-no money postal
offices. Offerings were freely presented and at
length carried to Jerusalem by SITS. Barnabas
and Paul.
/. HERoD AGRIPPA u.s. ST. JAMES.
i. Data.
Acts, IL: e.
2 Place
Jerusalem.
g. Time.
We may date A. d. 40. About that time"
~ IL The time referred to may be that COW
cred by the events mentioned in IL 1890.
Our lesson followed soon after said events.
Verses aud show it was in the Spring of
the year about our May LIST. st. james WAS,
it may be- slain before the feast began. By
Z" the days of unleavened bread" ~. b we
understand the Passover of the Jews. The
time corre5ponded with our Easter season.
". ~ We cannot suppose the king would
order st. James slain while the feast was in
progress.
4. Herod
This Herod vas Herod Agrippa. He was a
grandson of Herod the Great through son of
Herod the Great, TO wit, Aristobuius. who died
before his fathers decease. When Herod the
Great died he left three sons. Archelaus. Philip
and Herod Antipas. Archelaus ruled Judea,
Idumea Samaria: Philip Iturea, Trachouitis;
Herod Antipas, Galiiee, Perea. The father
of Herod Agrippa was Arstobulus his mother,
Bernice; his sister, Herodias who figured
against st. John Baptist; his wife, cousin.
Cypros. Arehe!aus had been bauished; Hsrod
Antipas exiled; Philip had died. All the ter
ritory ruled by these uncles fell TO Herod
Agrippa and he thereby had territory prac-
tically equal to that over which Herod the
Great had reigDed.
5. 81. James.
He was known as ST. James the Greater to
distin gui5h him from James of AlpheuS.
The ST. James of the lesson was son of Zsbedee
and Salome, brother of st. John the Eyangel. |
ist He stood at the head of the Church at
Jerusalem. His prominence a Christian
made him conspicuous figure for revenge
and hatred.
6. Notes.
1. Herod did not in person kill st. James,
but issued an order to the proper officials, who
executed the Apostle.
2 We notice the superior power of Herod
The Jewish Sanhedrim did not dare to put
criminals to death. Such capital cases were
referred to the Roman authority. 1t seems
the Governor had control of life and death to
the citizens and could at his will order SUBJ |
ject to be slain.
3. st. James was killed with sword. va |
1t is generally understood he was beheaded. |
The Jews stoned to death. The Romans cruel |
fed many victims.
L. Stretched forth his hands," ". IL |
He excrted his power-made it his business. |
The hand is the symbol of authority. To |
stretch forth the hand is to set in operation |
ones official power.
s. The object of King Agrippa-what was
it? He wanted to vex annoy, Certain Christ
ians of Jerusalem. Why? because he saw it
pleased the Jews" ". 81 He was politician
of the demagogic order. He wanted to get
the people in general ON his side. He knew
how they had treated Christ and how they
felt toward his followers. He believed they |
would become the more attached to hiui if he |
opposed the sect. The moving power in |
Is SoIx 81.
thought how he can please the masses but how |
he may in certain serious cases convince them |
of better way. Men sometimes are obliged |
to stand alone. The majority is not always |
most right. man must not please at the |
sacrifice Of principle. III mau, in explanation |
of certain act, can assign no nobler impulse |
or motive than the wish to please the multitude, |
he is not to be ranked among heroes nor re-
formers. We have reason to believe that
Herod, SO polite as he was, would have been
content to tolerate the early Christians, had
not direct appeals been made to him by the |
Jews urging him to rout out the hated Sect |
In their state of mind against Christians they
would measure acceptance or otherwise OF |
new ruler by his attitude Of favoritism or re-
sistance of the religions innoyators. We see |
how bitter the feeling was against Christians. |
We see how weak and unprincipled Herod |
was, who consulted rather personal ease and |
than religious tolerance aud LIBERAL |
Ity, self-interest more than the right.
6. Dr. John Kitto says: There is in Jerusa-
lem, upon Mt. Zion, within the walls, the Ar |
menian convent OF st. James the son of Zabe- |
dec 1t is the largest establishment of the |
kind in the place and is capable of atfording /
to 900 pilgrims. Here is q |
fine Library, agreeable gardens. the most ex-
tensivo in the city. and church larger and
more handsome than any other in Jerusalem.
The building is supposed to cover the site of
ST. James's martyrdom, and the very spot
where he died is pointed out. 1t was in the
seventh century that monastery was first
built over the spot"
Williams, in his work titled I" Holy City"
and Kitto find difficulty in accepting this
above tradition, in view of the fact that even
Herod would not do such violence to jewish
law and custom as to order the execution of
victim within the city walls.
ii. HERoD AND AGRIPPA U.s. ST.. PETER.
1. Data.
Acts, ~: 3-19, inclusive.
q Time and place
See on paragraph above.
g. Herod AgripDa