The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-17
RELIGIOUS NEWS
tConcl,hled from Page 10. ]

town in SYRIA the residence Of the Roman Cover.
nors of that province, was selected to be the
new center OF Christian activity. -Four hunired
miles north OF Jerusalem, it was wholly freed
from those influences which would make the new
religion reformed judaism. The church. planted
about the time of Stephens martyrdom (Acts.
Si 19), had rapidly increased in numbers and
influence, and the disciples, mark CT their
advanced thought, were there first called Chris
t;ans. (Acts 81. 2G.) Besides there were the
eminent ministers who had come TO labor with
the church. both prophets and teachers (verss y,
those who very eloquent speakers and thosc
who were we'll vcrsed in Scripture. Simeon ana
l.ucius and Manacn were there the last naned
being tic foster brother Of Hcrod. and to these
were added Barnabas and Saul. after their return
from Jerusalem. (.cts. xiii 25)
SEPARATION able ministers in one
church. preaching. teaching. praying, counseling.
would certainly come TO enlarged views OF the
gospel. lnrcstraincd by the conservatism OF the
apostles they were ready Tor any new dspart'lrc
AT length the same spirit which had been
poured on the disciples at rcrtecost (Acts II, %
spoke to the church Ncrses and ~ The COM
mand was given to separate two Of the five to
the work to which they were called. that OF for.
egn missions. Paul had he1n designated to that
field at the time Of his conversion tActs. il 10,
hut now Barnnbas is mentioned with him and
vi, ~, SO now. conlpanonship in service was
deemed important. The church at Antioch
obeyed the voice of God, without consulting the
church at Jerusalem, even the apostles. The
ceremony of ordination very simple--:herc
WAS fasting. prayer, and the imposition OF hauds,
the form employed in consetratins the deacons.
(Acts, vi, 81
DEPARTURE.--B -Barnabas and Paul went forth
under the prompting and guidance OF the Holy
Spirit. Cvcrscs 4 and 50 Their journey was
first directed toward the Island Of Cyprus, the
former ho,Gc OF Barnabas. tacts. iv, So ORR
enallv colonzed b.. the Phoenicians, Cyprus was
the early meeting place Of oriental and Greek
forms Of social life. At the time it must have
lad large population, because in revolt half
century later, more than two hundred thou.
tand lives were lost (see Cassius) Proceeding
80 Scencia, the seaport oi Antioch, the two mis-.
sionares sailed the sea and landed at
Salans. on the southern coast, the capital OF ths
island in the days Of historic Greece. The gos'
pei had gone there before them (Acts, 81. l0.o0),
with what result do not know, but they
entered into the synGsogucs Of the Jews and
preached No record is made OF these !abors,
perhaps because Luke the historian, only intend.
ed to give account OF missions directed toward
the Genti!eS.
PApHOS--From Salams Barnabas and Saul
iorrneycd westward 10 the extremity Of the
island. distance of a hundred miles. They
may have halted at Ctium the birthplace OF
Xcnos, the Stole, hut no incident is recorded un-
til they reached the town of Paphos, busy
haven with an extensive commerce. This place
is celebrated the scat OF worship Of the god.
dcss' Venus. who, it claimed. out OF
lie sea. The orgies performed in her honor We're
both degrading and revolving. Here lived Ser.
gius Paui,s the pro-consul, a man Of unusual
,tol ol,. al sN,-
forms us. The educated Romans OF that day
were dissatisfied with the nutional religion, and
hence the prsconsr,l had taken into his home rs
a teacher, Jewish impostor. named Bar.Jasis,
who had avroSatod to himself the title Elymas,
or Wizard. Ncrses o and -
OPPOSITION same feelings which led
Sergus Pauhis to domicile the sorcerer induced
linn to invite the missionaries on their arrival.
But the position of soothsayer TO the pro.consu.
short lived as it (Clssh,s declares that oil
such appointments lasted but one year,, was too
distinguished and lucrative TO be abandoned with.
out struggle. Verse 81 Elymas therefore
sought to turn the deputy away from the faith.
An open controversy was the result, an argument
in which the arts OF the pretender were pre-
seuted in conflict with the principles oi the
gospel. This the first time that Christianity
had met the heather world. and opportunity
offered for the display Of the piety and
scholarship Of the men who represented Christ
EXPOSURE.-Saul came to the front, showing
himself superior 10 his companion. It required
much courage to withstand one who occupied a
position of high consideration in the household
OF noble Roman, but the apostle did not shrink
from the encounter. 81 we'll did he conduct HIM
self on this occasion that he afterward called
Paul (vcrss 9), it being customary to signalze
great events by applying new names As the
spirit of Elymas appeared moro clearly, Paul IVES
filled with burning Indignation Fixing his
steady gaze upon the sorcercr, he exclaimed:
"oh, full of all guile and vi!liauy, thou child Of
the devil. thou foo OF righteousness" Oerse l0.)
Having exposed the hypocrite by this bighting
invective, he predicted the judgment Of Cod
The denunciaton took effect. Blindness seized
upon the man and he reached ont his hands for
some one to lead him. (VcrSe ~
BELIEF.-This startling display OF power, fol.
lowing the discussion, made strong impression
upon tine pro.coIsul. (yerse 12) We have 10
means OF determining the nature OF his belief,
whether it was deep'seatcd and permanent.
Probably he gave only an intellectual assent to
the truths uttered ,y Paul. But that result was
by no means unimportant. The gospel il first
OF all system Of doctrine, and the mind IL tile
proper doorway to the heart. In the conquest OF
the world to Christ the outposts have been taken
when that doctrine has been received. Scrsius
Paulus will forever be better man, more friend
ly TO Christianity, because the truth has been
accepted, even though he does not surrender his
life 20 Christ or enter the church. II the intel.
lect Of Roman rulers can be swaycd, then Rome
itself, and the millions dominated by her, will
enter the Kingdom Of Emmanuel
CONCLUSION Paphos and sailing
northward. Paul and Barnsbas (for their names
are now transposed) came to Perga In Pamphylis