The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-30
THE LESSON STORY.

/. Paul was reclxOned a god
by the Barbarians OF Malta
VS.. 1-6.
The Alexandrian grain-vessel, break
ing to pieces on the sandbar, discharged
its human freight into the boiling sea.
Through the foaming pillows the whole
human freight.-alike Julius and his
political prisoners. Paul and his com
panions, the soldiers and the Sailors
reached the beach alive.
The shore at this unfrequented place
appeared to the bewildered mariners in
the early morning light an utterly
strange coast. They were accustomed,
having at this period neither chart nor
compass, to take bearings by the stars;
and during two long weeks the stars had
been hidden. They had conjectured
that they were being all the while driven
southwark to Africa When in the
misty morning land appeared, therefore,
they strained their eyes to recognize
some landmark of the Lbyan shore.
But when they we're once on the land it
was speedily made known to them that
their course had been westward rather
than southwark, and they were now
cast upon the northward side of Melita,
or Malta. To find themselves still on
their course to Rome. and scarcely
veered from the accustomed route, was
to the mariners reason for gratitude.
Their vessel, to be sure. was beyond re-
covery lost; but the political prisoners
could now be delivered at Rome.
But how will the inhabitants of the
island receive the stranded travellers?
Pagans are not won't to show friendly
regard to Jews; and Christians they
probably have never heard of. For the
Roman Julius and his soldiers of course
they may have respect; but how will
these Pfenician colonists. with ances.
trail dislike of the Jews, treat these un.
fortunates the sea has cast upon the
shore, and upon whom the pitiless storm
is still beating?
Luke seems to have special satisfac-
tion in recording that they we're of praise
worthy humane spirit. The barbarians.
he says, shosoed as no common kindness;
for they kindlsd fire, md received as
all, because of the present rain and be-
cause Of the cold. Afterward they
opened their homes TO the strangers with
a hospitality which Luke we'll calls
philanthropy. They are named barbar-
ians, let ur recall. because they we're not
Greeks; but in their acts these islanders
proved themselves nobly human.
1t was an impossibility for Paul to re-
main in obscurity. An incident, very
simple in itself, served now to bring him
to the front. With his characteristic
activity he, with the soldier to whom he
was chained. joined in the search for
brushwood and stubble, to replenish the
fire. When he had cast bundle OF this
fuel on the flame. from his arms, some
sort OF reptile. regarded by the islanders
as venomous, fastened itself on his hand.
This was startling to the superetitious
natives. They saw that Paul was pris-
oner. With natural conjecture they
said among themselves, No doubt this
man is a murderer. arhom, though he
hath escaped from the sea, get Justice
hath not suffered to live. They assumed
that Nature is against a murderer; al
belt their conception of the truth was
crude. They fixed their eyes on Paul.
They expected TO see an unnatural swell
ling of Paul's flesh or to see him fall in
a paroxysm Of fear, cringing to death
under his dreadful fatality. But Paul
quietly shock the reptile, whatever it
was, into the fire. He continued in his
cheerful normal state. The sstonish-
ment of the beholders grew. They no
longer thought him to be a murderer,
but god. They regarded him with the
homage they were accustomed to give
to the magicisns. How Paul would
himself regard this ascription to himself