The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-24

ports. they chose boat bound to Saia-
mis-, Cyprus. Barnabas' native island. A
days voyaging. with fair wind. would
bring the missionaries to Salamis, the
old. now superseded. Grecian capital of
Cyprus. Here the missionaries preached
in the synagogues of the Jews. OF the
length of the stay, or the success of their
mission, we have no information. One
fact of prophetic significance is that
John Mark was. thus far their minister,
or. as we should say, assistant.
From Salamis the missionaries trav-
elled nearly the whole length of the is.
land to Paphos. its Roman capital Here
Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul,
had bis seat OF government. Sergius
Paulus was in his character altogether
an exceptional Roman officer. In the
general ignorance and superstition, so
fruitful for astrologers and sorcerers. he
felt unsatisfed spiritual need. He kept
in his court one Bar Jesus. or Son-of-
Jesus. a Magician.-a Jew who profess
eddy dealt in sorceries. At this source
because he knew none better, the COVER
nor inquired concerning the hidden life.
The fame of Barnabas and Paul had
preceded them. They we're known as
preachers of the Gospel in Cyprue. The
governor, on hearing of their presence in
Paphos, requested their presence in his
palace. His retainer. self styled Elymas
the Wise, seeing his own office endan-
gered, withstood the missionaries. He
endeavored to prejudice the governors
mind against the message the newcom-
ers we're offering to him.
3. The SOrcerer Blinded,-vs.
GLIB.
The self-styled Wise Man, no doubt.
was eager for discussion with Barna-
bas and Paul. AS a representative of
the East. he could assume wisdom be-
fore which he expected the strangers to
quail. In the presence of the governor
and many witnesses he made his plea
against the Gospel. Then Saul Ito be
known through all the ages from this
time by his Roman name. PAUL. replied.
To answer the magician in detail, by
patient argument. might have been the
method of the calm Barnabas. But the
impetuous Paul was moved by the
Spirit to make an answer at once more
comprehensive and brief,-an answer
hot ax,fl IL, 10 he <f ho
sorcerer's fraudulent life. The apostle
and the magician looked each other in
the face. in the magician's eyes was
cunning, but in Paul's eyes was the
consciousness of power. The CLEAN of
Paul's eyes magnetized the sorcerer aud
caused him to cringe. o full of all guile
and all Uillany, said Paul, thou son of
the devu mot of Jesus). thou enemy of
all Righteousness. aoilt thou not cease to
pervert the right aoays of the Lord? Be-
fore the fire of the Spirit the sorcerer
withered. To the stricken and be-
wildered hypocrite Paul then declared,
what all eyes could see, The hand of the
Lord is upon thee.
Then. in the unexplainable wisdom of
the Spirit, Paul became the Voice of
Judgment: Thou shalt be blind. not
seeing the sun for a season. A mist
Immediately gathered over the sourcer-
er's eyee. 1t deepened soon to darkness.
The famed court magician. who had but
a few moments before come so conf
IDENTIFY to the encounter with the heralds
of the Gospel, was now blind man
cropping in darkness and asking some
kindly hand to lead him away.
The severity was merciful. The gov
ernor was saved from his decisions. The
Christian cause obtained an important
foothold on the island.
The missionaries, when they came to
the island were ranked as Barnabas and
Saul; when they departed they we're
designated as Paul and his company.
The missionaries in due time sailed to
the main land. and disembarked at
Perga in Pamphyia. Here John Mark
deserted them. We suspect that he was
not pleased to see his kinsman Barnabas
superseded in the leadership of the Gen.
tile church. Mark nevertheless has in
him the elements of nobility; he will be-
come ashamed of the smallness OF spirit
he now exhibits.