The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-07-03

return OF tne messengers sent py lne
Antioch church to the Council at Je.
susalem. Paul proposed to Barnabas
that they revisit the churches found.
ed on their first journey. Barnabas
agreed to the proposition, but insisted
on taking John Mark with them, to
which Paul objected. Like Christians
ought always to do, they agreed to
disagree, and apparently divided the
field. Barnabas took John Mark with
him and sailed unto Cyprus and out
of the history. 1t will be recalled that
he was of Cyprus himself, and that
Mark was his nephew, his sisters son.
1t is well to remember also, that Paul
had reason in the coming years, to
form higher estimate of Marks char
acter than he entertained at the time
of the separation of Barnabas and him
self;-also that Mark subsequently
wrote the second Gospel.
Paul chose Silas or Sylvanus, as his
assistant, though it is not certain that
he started from Antioch when Paul did
Some think he Joined his chief at
Lystera. 1t is well to note that be-
fore his departure, Paul was command
ed to the grace of God, by his broth
ern. 1t is probable that the same is
true of Barnabas. Pauls course led
him northward at first, and then west
ward, after passing the northeastern
extremity of the Mediterranean Sea.
He confirmed the churches in SYRIA
and Cilicia." These latter are suppos-
ed to be churches founded by himself
when he was known as Saul of Tar
sus," and before he was called to the
passionate of Antioch. Paul probably
visited his native city of Tarsus. Cross
ing the Tarsus mountains, through the
Gate of Judas" he was again on the
high table land OF Asia Minor and we
next find him at Derbe. where his first
journey ended, and then az Lystra.
where he had been stoned. At this
latter place ne again meets Young Tim
othy who seems to have developed
into a preacher of some repute. Be-
cause his mother was a Jewess. Paul
advised that he be circumcised, which
was accordingly done, and he became
member of Paul's company.
AS they visited the different cities
they made known to Christians every
where. the decision of the council at
Jerusalem; and it appears that where.
ever they went, there followed great
revivals of faith, and great ingather
ings of members.
They went through "Phrigia and Gal
alta" but were forbidden by the HOLY
Spirit ito speak the word in Asia.
The veteran portion of what we cal
Asia Minor, constituted the Roman
province of Asia" 1t included the
city of Ephesus, and all the cities
wherein were situated the "sever
churches" of the Apocalyptic vision. II
was the most fertile and most pros
porous portion of the peninsula. We de
not know how, or why, they were for
hidden to preach there at that time
We may be sure that there was & &c 70
reason for it. Gods electing grace
effects nations as well as individuals
Reaching Mysia, which seems to have
been part of Asia, along the western
coast, they attempted to pass through
it to go into Bithynia, which lay north
ward along the Black Sea, but were
again hindered by the Holy Spirit.
So they came to Troas, on the sea
coast, where Paul had a remarkable
vision. In the night time he saw g
man of Macedonia, European stand
ing "beseeching him. and saying, Come
over into Macedonia and help us.
Some have thought that Luke himself
the writer of the book we are study
ing,-"the beloved physician" Of
Paul's travels and imprisonments, was
the man of Macedonia This opinion
rests largely on the fact that Luke
Joined the company at that place.
Gathering from the vision that Goo
directed them to enter Europe, they
sailed across the Aegean Sea, stoppini
at Samotherace, and reaching Neap
oils next day. Ten miles inland wa.
the city of Philippi, the principal cit!
of the province, and Roman colony
That is, it was governed like Rom,
was so far as practicable, and wa
distinctively, city of Europe. Their,
seems to have been but few, if any
Jews living there. When the Sabbatl
day came round, the evangelist
sought place on the river side, whicl
they supposed was used as a place O
prayer. A few women met there 70
some purpose, and as Paul talked +
| them, God opened the heart of on
named Lydia. dealer in cloth, who's
home was in the Asiatic city of Thys
tira, and she believed in Jesus as tn
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