Evening star., 1916-11-18
By Rev. H. T. Stevenson.

Paul recognized the strategic value
of the cities in his efforts to evangelize
the world. In his zeal to capture the
great centers of population for Christ
he naturally was eager ''to see Rome
and win the imperial city for the Lord
Jesus 1t was necessary to capture the
political capital so that the gospel
could be preached in all creation un-
der heaven" This weeks lesson, that
brings to an end the studies in the life
of Paul, portrays the realization of the
apostles ambition. The fulfillment Of
the dreams of the ambassador OF Christ
was due to both the Roman officers and
the envious Jews, who were the un-
conscious instruments of the Divine
will ministering to Paul's safety, and
the development of Christianity,
Th. circumstances under which Paul
attained the desire of seeing Rome dr.
fered without doubt from his plan, but
the advantages of the means used OF
the Lord to bring his servant as a pris-
oner to the imperial city have been
proved by the history Of the centuries.
Paul was protected from the fanatical
hatred of his people and through the
soldiers who were fastened TO MS
wrists (the guard being changed every
four or six hours), he had a mafNei'us
opportunity of implanting the SEEDS OF
the gospel. Many OF them mad reason 50
10 thank God for their contact with the
noted prisoner because through tfe
apostle they came to kno" Chrlst Jesus
as their Lord An eminent scAoiaI mas
pointed out how history SHOWS lhht
This was the be ginning of a movement.
dastin.d within three centuries to
permeate the entire army. and compel
Constantine to adopt Christianity as
the religion of the state.
After spending the three winter
months in Melita. or Malta. WIN the
opening of the navigation season julius
impressed into the governmental ser'-
ice an Alexandrian ship that had WIN
tered in the harbo" of the lsiahd: ana
embarked with his prisoners Tor Rome.
.1t was the Dioscuri: that was the
naue IF thr twin gods Castor and Pol
lux who We're the patrons OF sailors
and whose figures adorned the Nes-
soTs nroyy, Perhaps the reference to
."rne Twin Brothers. without hlnt Of
condemnation OF 1ts healhehlSef - ,ta. !.
would as one has suggested, 'ndicate
the seamens appreciation OF their dan
ger 1t is possible that the cause lor
their three days stay at syracuse was
due to the difficulties of navigation at
that season The fact that they made
a circuitous route to Rhegium proves
that the winds were not Wholly IasoF-
able They tarried for day at RheS
ium. the modern Reggie. town that IS
located in the southwest portion OF
Italy. near the straits of Messlna. ana
almost directly opposite the city or
Messina. that with Resglo was de-
stroved by the earthquake about six
years ago. ~
The end of the sea voyage came AT
Puteoii the modern PoZzuoii, IN me
Pay of Naples, which, although ~
miles distant from Rome, was the port
of the imperial city. Its harbor woula
he crowded with shipping from all
quarters, and men of every nation
would be found on the docks ana
streets of the city Among the mum
her. without doubt. there would be
found many orientals, for Juvenal tells
how here "the Syrian Orontes first
disgorged its crowds on the way to
the Roman Tiber." Paul accepted. with
the consent of the centurian 5ulus' Chri
the invitation of the company OF Chrls-