The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-10


They passed on. without tarrying. to
Apollonis, thirty miles farther westward.
Little can be learned of this place; its
exact site has not been determined.
During this journey the pilgrims
passed through grand and memorable
scenery. The mountains OF Macedonia
were at the north of them; the Egean
Sea was at the south. They we're on
historic ground. 1t could scarcely have
been matter of indifference to Paul,
the Grecian scholar, that they in their
journey passed near the birthplace OF
Aristotle and the tomb of Euripides.
Thirty-sev miles farther to the west
ward. one hundred miles from Philippi,
the missionaries came to Thessalonica.
This was the chief city of Macedonia.
1t was known five hundred years before
as Therma; its name occurs in the pages
of Herodotus and Thucydides. Its name
was changed to Thessalonica in honor
has in more modern times been one of
the important towns of European Tur-
key. Under the name OF Saloniki it was
long the bulwark of Christendom against
the Saracens in the Middle Ages. 1t was
captured by the Saracens AID. 904; then
by the Crusaders in 1884; again by the
Saracens in 1880. Its present popula-
ton is seventy thousand. 1t has been,
we recall, very recently involved in the
war of Turkey against Greece.
Here the missionaries tarried.
1. Paul Reasoned with the
Jews out of the Scriptures in the
SynagOgue,-vs. IA.
The commercial prosperity of Thessa-
lonica had attracted the Jews; and here
under general Roman protection, the
Jews maintained a synagogue. 1t could
have been, however, but general Ro-
man protection. Thessalonica was free
city; that is, Rome conceded to it the
right of a large degree of self govern
ment. Athens, Ephesus and Tarsus we're
free cities of the same class. These
municipalities we're not held under mil
itary rule. No Roman garrison was
quartered within their walls. Thessa-
Ionica was governed by seven "poli-
tarchs;;" and these peculiar officers ap-
pear to have been but opponents of the
popular will. The customary Roman
protection to the Jews in maintaining
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been but general.
The missionaries had no sooner OBJ.
tanned lodging with Jason, and secured
employment at Paul's trade of tent-mak
ing for personal sustenance. than they
sought the Jewish synagogue. 1t is
probable that Paul yet bore the scars of
his rough treatment at Philippi; never
theless to him was extended the GUS
tomary courtesy of the synagogue hos.
pitality. He embraced the opportunity
to appeal to his Hebrew brethren. COM
mending to them the Gospel. For three
Sabbath days reasoned he aCith them
| from the scriptures.
We have in brief outline Paul's argu-
ment. He showed the Jews that, &C.
cording to the provision of the prophets,
1T behooued Christ to suffer. How easy
to show that the Crucified One was Is-
rael's sheep led to the slaughter. Ee
maintained Furthermore that it behooved
Christ to rise again from the dead. How
else could there be victory for Christ?
Could man who had been literally and
finally destroyed by the Christ of God?
Only by raising a Victor over death
could he demonstrate that God was
with him. The conclusion reached by
his argument is stated. This Jesus.
,Uhom, said he, proclaim unto you, is
the Christ.
The argument was by some Jews re-
garded as unanswerable. They con-
sorted acith Paul and SiLds. They
adopted the Christian law of life. Many
of the Greeks also were converted. They
were captivated by the direct personal
attractions of Jesus, the Martyr, the
Revelator of Immortality. The devout
Greeks who were converted to the Cos
pei soon became great multitude. And,
more astonishing still, the Gospel with
its regenerating power entered the cir.
cles of Grecian culture and fashion. or
the chief women of the city not few
became confessors and followers of the
Nazarene.
The wayfaring missionaries still. af
ter weeks had psssed. PERSISTED in earn
ing their own bread. They did not de-
viate from this rule save when. on two
occasions, they received contribution
from the church at Philippi. There was,
the historians tell us. at the time, fam.
inc in Thessslonica. Wheat rose to six
times it's customary price. The mis-
sionaries demonstrated by their daily
lives that they came not to add to the
burdens of the people. They asked
only to be candidly heard.
The mission prospered about three
months before the inevitable disturb
ance began.
2. The Obstinate Jews Stir up
a Violent OppOsitiOn,-vs. SO.
1t is matter of course that the resist
ing Jews of the city were moved NTH
Jealousy. By their plausible charges
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