Evening star., 1921-08-06
Sunday School Lesson

oeen won, SO far as the record tells
us. until at Paphos, a great victory
was Won, and a new leader appears
When they reached the political
sui, Sergius Paulos. invited them to
appear before him and explain their
teachings. His invitation was equiva-
lent TO a command. Luke's accuracy
as d historian appears in his refer
ence to the governor as proconsul
Ihe discovery of Gen. Cesnola Of IAN
inscription upon the northern coast
OF cyprus" which is dated lin the pro-
consulship Of Paulos." has confirmed
the reliability of Luke's history of
the Acts of the Apostles. While the
position and authority of Paulos. who
evidently was a shrewd man of af-
iairs and interested in science and
philosophy, made him the leading man
in the island. yet interest centers in
an apostate jew, who claimed to be a
| WISE man and magician.
When Bar-Jesus, who was a mem
per OF the governors court, detected
the pleasure of the proconsul in
listening to the gospel preached by the
| the mind of the proconsul by his
attacks upon the system. He feared
that he might be supplanted in his
position by the missionaries in his
religious and scientific work Paul
who before had been called Saul
stepped forward and in a few words
showed up the fakir and pronounced
punishment upon the man, who had,
Tor the sake of gain, left his faith
and refused to heed to message of
light. The loss of the wizards sight
made profound impression upon all
present. with the result that the gov
ernor accepted the message of the
gospel.
Luke merely refers to the transfer
of names, leaving the reader to find
out for himself the meaning Of Saul's
adoption of the Roman name of Paul.
In many bilingual countries one would
fnd Hellenfstic Jews with two names.
one thoroughly Jewish. as Saul. and
the other to represent the nation
with whom they lived. The more
important thing> is the fact that
heNceforth Paul's name is mentioned
first. indicating that with the change
of the name there was also a change
OF positions in reference to the lead
ership of the expedition. There was
deeper reason. Saul was on the
eve of breaking with the religion of
Gentiles. He saw that he must an
proach them, not as a Jew, but as a
Roman citizen.
Possibly this may account for the
retirement Of John Mark. who is
spoken Of both as a nephew and
/ cousin or Barnabas in the Scriptures.
It was when they reached Pamphilia
that the break occurred. which made
a deep and painful impression upon
hPau!, who for long time consid-
cred Mark as a Stacker and would
sionary tasks with him. Pamphilia
was in the Roman province of GAL
alta. Paul, in his letter to the Gala
tians, refers to their welcoming him
even when he was suffering physical
infirmftfes. No one knows the nature
of this sickness which interfered with
his work and prompted Paul to seek
Antioch of Pisidia. 1t is possible that
malaria with its fever. ague shaking
to seek the change of climate that he
knew he would find in Antioch of
Pisidia. which was 1000 feet above
sea level on the trade route between
Tarsus and Ephesus. When Paul and
Barnabas started upon their weeks
journey "over rocky, slippery road,
| beset by robbers and wild beasts,
, where it was safe to go only with a
| company of merchants or shepherds.
or number of other travellers"
Mark returned to Jerusalem.
1t was at this time, some have sug-
gested, that Paul met and won Luke
the beloved physician. for the Mas
ter, upon the first Sabbath after his
the synagogue of Antioch OF Pisidia.
which resulted in the establishing of
the first Gentle congregation entirely
i separated from the Jewish syna-
SOgue. Inc Two strangers entered
the place Of worship upon the Sab
bath, and Paul responded to the invi-
| tation to address the assembled con-
gregation of Jews and God-fearing
Gentiles. Luke has reproduced for us
| the sermon that aroused the bitter
| opposition of the Jews and filled the
| Gentiles with joy. The thought of
| Stephens sermon can be seen, as
Paul traces the inadequacy of the
/ law and the suficiency of faith in
| Christ Jesus. He pointed out that
| justification included the forgiveness
| Of sins in a sermon that secured n
| popular request for him to speak
| again, but his second address created
/ such a bitter feeling that Paul recog-
| nized the hand of God leading him
| to turn to the Gentiies with the gos-
pei of Gods love. life and liberty
for all men.