Evening star., 1925-12-12

while waiting for favorable oppor-
tunity to push on toward the Imperial
City. 1t is quite possible that Luke
who was a physician, may have rem
dered the apostle assistance In un-
usual medical mission work and mod
estly kept himself in the background.
Paul attracted the attention of the
sharp-eyed, superstitous ma We S
around the fire, which they had
started so that the stranded. ship
wrecked sufferers might dry their
clothes and remove the chill of the
bleak Autumn day. They saw a half
frozen reptile, that had been warmed
by the fires heat, suddenly dart and
fastened Itself upon the apostles hand.
They knew that the viper" had i'm
bedded its fangs in this apostles s
hand and looked for him to die quick
ly. They had the conception, which
lies at the foundation OF all natural
religion. that there exists q connec-
ton between wrongdoing and retribu-
ton, so that none can escape the re-
suit of their sin. They looked upon
Paul as murderer whom God was
Furnishing for his crime They were
surprised when Paul shook the rep
tile into the fire.
Ramsay claims that the apostle s
that it was constictor and not las
Luke calls iD a viper, which darts
and strikes but does not cling. There
Is found in Malta q species Of the
constructor, which is in appearance SO
like a viper as to deceive even q
skilled naturalist. unless he examines
1t closely. and the action Of this
species would be exactly like what
Luke describes" When Paul did not
die, as they expected, they commenced
to consider the apostle, although in
chains. to be a god
Pubiius Lentulus, the governor eX-
tended the hospitality of his home to
Paul and his companions. He could
not have done this unless he had the
approval of julius. the centurion.
Paul showed his appreciation of the
unusual honor extended to him and
his party by healing the governor g
father, who was i'll with fever and
dysentery, the two diseases which
are still common in the island, accord
Ing TO the reports OF their physicians
The apostle, probably to remove the
false conceptions, due TO the failure
of the reptile to injure him. placed
the hand, which had been bitten upon
the fevertsh brow and then prayed
for the man. who had been weakened
by disease and advancing years. The
reports of the divine healing spread
quickly through the island. with the
result that both Paul and Luke were
continually being called upon to heal
the sick. which gave them many op-
portunities to preach the gospel to
the generous citizens. who showed
their appreciation by providing every
thing needed for the members Of
Paul's party when they started for
Rome at the opening OF navigation
Entering Rome.
julius impressed into the govern.
ment service an Alexandrian boat
that had Wintered In the harbor to
take his prisoners to Italy. They sail
ed in the Discount, a vessel that had
been dedicated to the pagan twin
gods, Castor and PolluN, who were the
patrons of sailors and whose figures
adorned the vessels PROV" They
tarried at Syracuse, the first port at
which they stopped. for three days.
Cnfavorable winds prevented them
going direct. so they sailed to Rhegium.
modern Reggie, which was destroyed
with the city of Messina by the great
tidal wave that engulfed both Of these
places at the mouth Of the Straits of
Messina about 20 years ago following
the earthquake which did great dam
age both to Sicily and the mainland
OF Italy near the Stats Of Messina
He may have seen Etna in action as
he sailed northward from Syracuse to
Reggie. Certainly. when with favor
able wind he passed through the
Straits Of Messina and sailed direct
for Naples he saw old Stromboli send
forth her liquid fire at regular inter
walls. After days sail from Reggie