Evening star., 1921-12-03
Announcements of Church News, Activities and Services
Sunday School Lesson

prisoners to Rome. ii was In tho
Discouri, a vessel that had been dedi-
Gated to the pagan twin gods, Castor
and Pollux. who were the patrons of
sailors and whose figures adorned the
vessels PROV" that Paul sailed to-
ward the pagan capital. The first
stop was at Syracuse, where they tar
ried for three days, and then sailed
by circuitous route, when they
would have gone direct, except Tor
the unfavorable winds. to Rhegium,
which is located opposite to Messina.
upon the straits known by the latter
name. They probably saw as the%
passed northward the lofty mountain
range-of Etna on their left. and as
they sailed toward Naples they
passed old Stromboli, which was send
ing forth regularly her liquid fire.
After a days sail from the Messina
straits they entered one of the hand
soonest harbors of the world. II Is
doubtful, as Paul surveyed that mag
nificent view. that he dreamed that
a sleeping volcano was buried in IN"
height upon his right which was COY
cred with vines and green. He prob
ably never thought that the fair
cities at the base of Fesuvius would
in a few years become ruins Hk"
Sodom and Gomorrah. and that IN"
Jewish princess who had SO lately
conversed with him in his prison at
Caesarea would find her tomb in that
ruin with the child she had borne 10
Felix"
When the vessel touched the docks
of Purteoli there was a crowd present
to watch them land and unload the
corn from Egypt, for Italy then de-
pended upon that land for much OF
her food supply. Among the number
there may have been many orientais.
for Juvenal tells how here 'the Syrian
OrenteS first disgorged Its crowds on
Il. flQf ar
bers of the Puteolian Church werr
there to welcome Paul and invite him
to visit them. They had looked for
ward for long time for the coming
of the great apostle, but It is doubt
full IL they had expected to greet him
julius gave his consent, and tie
Christians of Puteoli and OF Maple.
which was only a few miles awaN.
enjoyed a weeks ministry. The u 4.
was all too short for Paul and tho
church. for he had many things that
he desired to say to them.
The news of Pauls coming reached
Rome during the week, SO his journey
differed from that of the ordinary
prisoner who approached Rome ~
chains, for members of the church in
Rome sent delegations to greet him
on the way. After the apostle had
gone thirty-three miles from Puteoli
he found himself at Capua. travelling
upon the famous Appian Way, which
ran from Brindisi to Rome The
first reception committee greeted the
weary prisoner of the Lord at the
forty three miles to welcome Paul,
and after they had escorted him thir-
teen miles they were Joined at the
Three TaSerns by another delegation,
who gave the right hand of fellow
ship to the apostle. Their coming
Oh h Nhafv nj inn g h \
served to remove any feeling of de-
spondence that might have filled
Pauls mind as he contemplated the
effect of his entrance into Rome as
prisoner.
He entered as a conqueror when he
walked through the arch of Drussus
into the imperial city. His chains
were more powerful than Caesars
crown. His life, labors and letters.
inspired by the spirit of his Divine
Master, were destined to oyerturn not
only the classical religions of the en-
pire but the very throne and empire
itself. Three days after he entered
Rome. Paul started his campaign to
win the imperial capital for Christ
by calling the Jewish leaders to his
home for a conference. He tried to
disarm their prejudice by assuring
them of his loyalty to the Jewish
faith. In his reference to Jesus as
.the Hope of Israel there is an un-
mistakable declaration that the true
faith and hope Of the Jew is the
same as that possessed by the Chris
tians. Israel had hoped for the com
ing and revelation of the Messiah;
the Christian believed that in the
person of Jesus, His life and resurrec-
tion. there were fulfilled the hoped-for
Messiah's coming and revelation.
Their attitude was more friendly
than he expected. but after appealing
to the Scriptures the best that Paul
could secure was a division among
them concerning Christ. so he turned
to work among the Genti!es. teaching
those things which concerned the
Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence.
no man forbidding him." to all who
came to his hired house to hear the
gospel Ramsay believes that. III
view of this brief reference to Paufs
life in Rome, Luke planned TO writ"
another book which would take US up
to his death as a martyr under Nero.
finishing his ministry with joy and
faithfulnesS.