Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-07-29

in northern Africa. Some went to
Cyprus which was the birthplace OF
the disciple Barnabas who was the
same you remember who ministered to
Paul when he was stricken blind.
Others went to Antioch.
Now while practically all Of the
disciples left Jerusalem, because of the
relentless persecution accorded them
the mother church remained there and
few disciples remained. The church
at Jerusalem of course kept in touch
with the disciples who had gone out to
preach the word and it was gratifying
news to those who had remained be-
hind Of the favor with which the
evangelists were met at Cyprus and
Cyrene and elsewhere.
Antioch.
Among those who had remained at
Jerusalem, was BarnabaS and it was
decided to send him to the assistance
of the field evangelists. He went as
far as Antioch, according to the
Scripture, where he joined other dis
ciples there. Just word about this
city of Antioch. It was named after
Antiochus, the father Of the founder,
and in early days Of Christianity it
became distinguished for its school Of
theology; its bishop ranked as one Of
the four great patriarchs; and 1t was
honored with an illustrious roll Of
martyrs and saints, preeminent among
whom were st. Ignatius and st. John
Chrysostrom. To-day" says Rev.
Francis E. Clark, D. D., "the proud
city with it's half million inhabitants,
has dwindled to little town Of $4,000
people, only 1000 Of whom are Christ
ians, mostly belonging to the Greek
church. There are very few Protest
ants, though a vigorous mission is sus-
tanned here. The Antioch Of today
spreads itself thinly over less than
one-tenth Of the area Of the ancient
city. It's trade has dwinaled to an in
significant business in licorice, corn
and SOAP"
1t was to this great city that Barna-
bas, second only to Paul as an evange-
| list at that time, came and many more
converts were made through his
preaching "for" as the Scripture les
sion says, HE was q good man, and
full of the Holy Ghost and Of faith;
and much people was AIDED unto the
Lord"
A Call for Saul.
So great were the fruits of their
labors after the arrival Of Barnabas
upon the scene that it was soon realiz-
ed that the little band Of disciples
could not stand up to the strain. Per-
haps Barnabas also realized that there
were certain people in Antioch, who
should be reached and whom lie could
not reach, but whom Paul could
Now Paul had been in his native
city of Tarsus for some time, studying
and preaching.
So Barnabas set out for Tarsus to
find Paul and finding him there, had
no trouble in persuading him to come
to Antioch on the plea that he could
be Of much more value to the cause of
Jesus Christ.
So for a whole year Paul and Barna-
bas and the other disciples preached in
Antioch. Maybe they had a big taber-
naclc like Billy Sunday has or more
probably they had big tent, because
Paul, you recall, was a tentmaker by
trade.
Origin of Name "Christian."
The preaching of the great evange-
lists was no doubt the talk of the city.
After each service the respect of the
general public for them increased. 1t
was at Antioch, that the disciples
were first called Christians. Some
commentators say that the name was
applied as term of derision by the
enemies Of their doctrine, but I rather