The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-05-15

The Scripture we study this week
brings us to the end of the first mis-
sionary journey. We left Paul and
Barnabas at Iconium, where they be-
gan preaching in the synagogue of
the Jews. Their preaching met with
ready acceptance by great multitudes
of both Jews and Greeks. Opposition
was soon fomented by the unbeliev-
ing Jews, and the city was divided
into two parties. The Lord permitted
signs and wonders" by the hands Of
the apostles, in attestation of the truth
of their message. Whether these
were punitive, as in the case of Ely.
mas, or benevolent as the one in the
lesson, we have no means of knowing.
This division continued "a long time, -
till those who opposed the truth, real
izing that they were losing ground,
began plotting violence by appealing
| to the mob spirit. Their schemes be-
coming known to their intended vic
time, they fled unto the cities of
Lycaonia Lystra and Derbe, and the
regions round about" This carried
them still further eastward towards
Tarsus, Pauls native city.
At Lystra a man who had been a
cripple all his life was healed by a
word from Paul. The circumstances
recall the healing Of the cripple at
the Beautiful Gate of the temple by
Peter and John. A curious question
miracle. Paul saw that the impotent
man had faith to be made whole.
Was any faith required on the part of
Elymas before he was stricken with
blindness? Or shall We understand
that the blessings only, come where
there is faith, and that judgments
and warnings are sent where there is
no faith; or gather, as a result of a
lack of faith?
healing was a natural one, in a land
of pagans especially among those who
believed in a multitude of gods, ana
that these gods appeared to men in
different forms. At this time they
came lin the likeness of men," From
his commanding appearance, Barna-
bas was called Jupiter, and Paul was
called Mercury, because he was the
chief speaker" There was a cur
rent legend that long years before
that time, Jupiter and Mercury had
visited that region, and transformed
peasants hut into a splendid palace |
1t was natural that the people should |
ascribe supernatural powers to none
but the gods. The priest who kept |
the temple of Jupiter, hard by the
city gate, at once made preparation
to honor his god. Oxen, bedecked |
with garlands of flowers, were led
to the place where the supposed gods
were, ready to be sacrificed IN the
sight of all the people. BY the most /
strenuous actions, vehement dissua-
sions and powerful appeals to reason |
and natural religion, the apostles
scarcely restrained the multitudes |
from doing sacrifice unto them"
We read of no synagogue at Lystra
but we know that there was one home
there where the Scriptures were daily |
taught; and whether the apostles were
stopping there or not, the miracle and
the attempted sacrifice brought the
people together, and we may be sure
the apostles did not neglect such an
of preaching Jesus as the :,
Savior of sinners.
Those who were melting the mob
at Iconoum, followed the missionaries
to Lystra, and by some means so
wrought upon their passions, that a
mob was raised. There is an apocry-
phal New Testament book, called THE
Acts of Paul and Thekla," which mar
rates that Thekla, a young woman,
heard Paul preach, and was so i'm
pressed with the truth, that she re-
fused to marry her pagan lover, Than
rvs. In his rage Thamrys had both
Paul and Thekla apprehended. Paul
was stoned, dragged out of the city
and left for dead, while Thekla, per-
5istting in her adherence to the new
faith, was condemned to death. They
we're unable to Stay her however, and
she spent a long life in Christs SER
vice.
We are tempted to wonder at whose
feet their clothes were laid, who
stoned Paul. We are not certain who
he disciples were, that stood around I
he supposed corpse, but unless Tim {
thy was different from most boys
e was one, who saw Paul, when ne